Freedom
Honoring emancipation and the enduring pursuit of liberty, dignity, and self-determination.
Freedom · Legacy · Community
Juneteenth Twenty Twenty-Six
A celebration of emancipation built like an institution — honoring freedom, uplifting families, empowering young leaders, and investing in the entrepreneurs who carry the culture forward.
A Cultural Activation by Only A Few — Cultural Infrastructure & Operations
The Meaning
Juneteenth is not an event. It is freedom remembered and legacy continued.
On June 19th, 1865, freedom finally reached those still held in bondage. More than a century and a half later, we gather not only to commemorate that day — but to build on it: with family, with enterprise, with young leadership, and with a community that owns its future.
What We Honor
Six pillars of the celebration.
Every part of the day is designed around the values that turn a holiday into a movement.
Family
A welcoming, multigenerational gathering where elders, parents, and children celebrate together.
Entrepreneurship
A marketplace platform for Black-owned businesses, makers, and vendors to reach the community.
Youth Leadership
Centering young leaders with real roles, mentorship, and a stage to shape what comes next.
Community Empowerment
Connecting residents to resources, organizations, and each other — strengthening local bonds.
Legacy
Building a recurring tradition that outlasts any single day and belongs to the whole city.
OAF's Role
Not an event coordinator. A cultural activation & youth-engagement partner.
OAF brings the audience trust, operating systems, and youth-leadership pipeline that turn a community celebration into durable infrastructure. We mobilize people, organize vendors, develop young leaders, and build the partnerships that let Juneteenth grow year over year.
- 01Audience & mobilization. One of the region's strongest organic networks, activated for civic good.
- 02Operations & production. Staffing, logistics, and execution systems proven across venues.
- 03Youth leadership development. Real roles and mentorship for the next generation of organizers.
- 04Partnership & sponsorship. A bridge connecting brands, civic leaders, and nonprofits to the community.
The Experience
A full day, built for everyone.
The Black Business Marketplace
A curated vendor village spotlighting local entrepreneurs, makers, and food — putting community dollars back into community hands.
Family & Community Zone
Kid-friendly activities, multigenerational space, and resource tables from local organizations and partners.
Live Cultural Programming
Music, spoken word, and performances honoring heritage and celebrating the culture.
Step Show Challenge
A focused youth-leadership showcase with performance discipline, clear staging, awards, and a family-friendly standard.
Community & Civic Village
Nonprofits, civic leaders, and institutions connecting residents to opportunity and resources.
Step Show block runs 3:00pm-4:30pm · Additional programming announcements coming soon
Step Show Run of Show
A disciplined stage block for teams, families, and partner organizations.
The Step Show Challenge is built to move with clarity: a one-way backstage flow, timed performance slots, clean content standards, and awards protected on the clock.
3:00pm-4:30pm
MC opens the block at 3:00pm. Teams perform in a protected 3:05pm-4:05pm window, followed by judging, stage reset, and awards beginning at 4:15pm.
Teams 1 and 2 staged, sound checks complete.
MC opens the Step Show Challenge.
Ten timed performance slots with fast transitions.
Judges tally while the stage resets for awards.
Awards begin.
Step Show concludes.
Check-in → Warm-up → On-deck → Stage → Exit / Recovery. Teams move one direction only, with staging numbers used at every handoff so there is no order confusion.
Each team has a four-minute maximum, receives a 30-second warning, and is expected to keep music, movement, props, and crowd engagement clean and family-friendly.
Unsafe props, explicit content, disrespect toward staff or judges, or safety issues can pause or stop a performance. The priority is a fair, safe, all-ages showcase.
Get Involved
Build this with us.
Juneteenth belongs to the whole community. There's a place for every partner at the table.
01
Sponsors & Brands
Reach a trusted, engaged community through authentic cultural activation and visibility.
Sponsorship inquiry →
02
Vendors
Showcase your business in the marketplace and connect directly with the community.
Vendor application →
03
Civic & Nonprofit
Bring resources and programs to the civic village and serve residents on the day.
Partner with us →
04
Families & Volunteers
Come celebrate, or join the team building the day. Everyone has a role to play.
Volunteer form →
Scan to share
Spread the word. Carry the legacy.
This page is your hub for everything Juneteenth 2026 at Cascades Park — built to be scanned, shared, and acted on. Share it with family, supporters, civic leaders, vendors, and community partners.