Latest news with #AACKC
Chicago Tribune
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters to the Editor: Elgin not at fault for cancellation of this year's Juneteenth event
Elgin not at fault for cancellation of this year's Juneteenth event I am writing to express my disappointment with the article published in The Courier-News on March 11 titled, ' Organizers cancel Elgin's Juneteenth event after date it wanted was given to Michelada Festival.' The headline, along with key omissions in the article, malign the city of Elgin's reputation by creating an unfair implication that the city is being uncooperative and is at fault for the Juneteenth event's cancellation. The article omitted crucial information the city conveyed to the reporter stating that for the past three years, the African American Coalition of Kane County had held its Juneteenth Festival in Festival Park on the weekend of or before June 19. This year, AACKC requested the weekend after Juneteenth. AACKC's request to change the weekend of its event now conflicts with the weekend on which the Michelada Festival was conducted last year and has been requested again for this summer by that event's organizers. The city offered AACKC alternatives, including the use of Festival Park on the weekend before Juneteenth or the Wing Park Band Shell area on their preferred weekend. AACKC declined these options. The article states that a peaceful protest is planned in response to the event's 'forced cancellation.' There was no forced cancellation — AACKC made the decision not to proceed with the alternatives offered by the city. The city told AACKC that going forward, it will refrain from scheduling special events at Festival Park or other alternative venues on the weekends immediately before or after June 19 until AACKC selects its preferred weekend for future Juneteenth celebrations. As a cosponsor of the Juneteenth Festival, the city remains committed to working with AACKC to ensure a successful 2026 event. I am hoping that future coverage of such matters reflects a more balanced perspective. Thank you for allowing me to clarify these details. Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@ Please include your name, address and town of residence for publication. We also need your phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 250 to 300 words.
Chicago Tribune
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Organizers cancel Elgin's Juneteenth event after date it wanted was given to Michelada Festival
This year's Juneteenth Festival in Elgin's Festival Park has been canceled because the date organizers wanted for the event was given to a different group, the African American Coalition of Kane County said. 'This difficult decision was made collectively by the AACKC Board of Directors, and we stand firm in our commitment to protecting and honoring our community's traditions,' a March 6 letter sent to sponsors and vendors said. Instead, the group will mark Juneteenth by asking the community to join them in a peaceful protest of the event's forced cancellation at the Elgin Municipal Center. Coalition President Shirley Bassett said the problem arose when she was told the paperwork she submitted in January to secure Festival Park for June 21-22 was incorrect and she had to refile it. By the time she returned to form, the organizers of the Michelada Festival had already gotten permission to use the park on June 22, she said. The city of Elgin received a request from the Michelada Festival organizers 'to once again book the third Sunday in June for its event,' city spokesman Jeff Knox said in a statement. This year, the fest — which drew 8,000 people in its first year — had booked internationally known performers, he said. Event promoters told city officials that if Festival Park was not available, 'they (would) be required to move the event to another municipality' because the performers are only available on June 22, he said. 'Cultural Arts and Special Events Director Amanda Harris has been working with (the African American Coalition) to resolve the scheduling conflict this year,' Knox said. Harris offered the group the weekend of June 13-14 but it didn't work for organizers, he said. Elgin also officials suggested using Wing Park's bandshell on June 20-21 for Juneteenth and offered to coordinate a Concert in the Park and a Movie in the Park for the holiday, Knox said. 'AACKC declined all those alternatives,' he said. Bassett said, 'Juneteenth is a day of freedom. Why are we being told where we can celebrate and when we can celebrate? Why are we being shackled again?' Coalition officials tried appealing the city's decision, 'advocating for the preservation of a tradition that celebrates the resilience, freedom and history of African Americans,' their letter said. 'Yet, despite our formal requests, the city has refused to reinstate our rightful date, leaving us no choice but to take a stand. We refused to be cast aside.' The coalition holds Juneteenth with a co-sponsorship from the city's Cultural Arts and Special Events department. The event, which commemorates the end of slavery in 1862, has been a tradition in the city for 18 years. It became a national holiday in 2021. Juneteenth had 70 vendors last year and drew about 2,000 people, Bassett said. While it's a smaller crowd than the Michelada Festival, the two are very different events, she said. 'Juneteenth is not a music or concert event. It's an educational, cultural event,' she said. Bassett said she personally believes the city has 'never put much emphasis in what the black community is doing,' she said. Juneteenth, which had been listed on the city's list of events a few months ago, is now removed from the calendar. Bassett said she hopes Juneteenth will return next year. Knox said going forward, the city will not schedule special events on the weekend before or after June 19 in Festival Park until African American Coalition identifies which weekend it prefers. Harris is working with the Michelada Festival promoters to shift their event to the last weekend in June, he said.
