22-04-2025
Juneteenth Festival to be held at Citadel Mall
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — After a loss of funding put the annual Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival at risk, organizers have announced that the event is officially on, and with a new venue.
Juneteenth is a national holiday that commemorates the official emancipation of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, and it has been celebrated in Colorado Springs for the past four years by OneBody Ent., a local non-profit that seeks to serve youth and adults by helping to prevent criminal offenses and re-offenses. According to organizers, the festival is the biggest multi-cultural event celebrated by all races, nationalities, and creeds.
The event's funding comes from the Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART) fund. In 2024, the City collected about $10 million, but requests far outpaced that amount. As a result, the City had to slash funding from numerous city events.
Through a community call to action, festival organizers raised thousands of dollars to offset the cuts. During that same call to action, businesses spoke up and expressed their desire to help–namely, the Citadel Mall.
'The Citadel Mall offered to host the 2025 Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival on their premises,' organizers said. 'Following conversations to ensure that festival expectations are met, we are proud to announce that the new location for the 2025 Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival is at the Citadel Mall.'
The event will be held in the parking lot near the old Baby's R Us location on June 20-22. The new location will provide ample parking, entry to the mall, and easy access to public transportation. The free event will boast vendors, music, artists, a car show, health fair, fashion corner, and so much more.
'We look forward to all of your continued support as we make this move for the 2025 SCJF and can't wait to see all of you this year as we continue our tradition in our home Colorado Springs,' organizers said.
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