At the Soul of the Southside, we celebrate the legacy of Juneteenth and Black Liberation by embracing the vibrancy of Black culture through a dynamic fusion of history, art, music, food, education, and creativity. Our annual festival serves as a transformative platform that unites our community and fosters unity, respect, and appreciation. Through inclusive programming and meticulous curation, we showcase the talents of Black creatives, Black-owned businesses, and community organizations while highlighting the invaluable contributions of Black Americans. By nurturing creativity as a tool for liberation and providing opportunities for learning and connection, we aim to inspire, empower, and leave a lasting legacy of celebration, education, and cultural enrichment for generations to come

Soul of the Southside (SOTS) is an annual ​Juneteenth celebration curated by the local hip-​hop duo iLLism, who also own and operate The ​Legacy Building—one of the few Black-led creative ​spaces in the state. This free-entry festival ​commemorates Black Liberation and honors the ​legacy of Juneteenth.

Held on June 19th in south Minneapolis, MN, SOTS ​centers Blackness, kinship, and community at The ​Hook and Ladder Theater, Moon Palace Books, ​Arbeiter Brewing, and The Historic Coliseum Building ​from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of Black ​history, art, food, music, and artisans that unite our ​community and center the invaluable contributions ​of Black Americans. SOTS fosters unity, respect, and ​appreciation for the richness of Black culture.

As children growing up in Minneapolis, the organizers of the Soul of the Southside Festival eagerly anticipated the annual Juneteenth celebration at Theodore Wirth Park. Now, they carry forth this tradition, celebrating Blackness and our collective power and liberation.

By bringing our community together in celebration of Juneteenth, we hope to inspire and uplift while creating a lasting legacy for future generations.

location

We create space that centers Blackness, kinship and community. Join us at The Hook and Ladder, Moon Palace Books arbeiter Brewing and The Historic Coliseum Building in south minneapolis on wednesday june 19th, 2024, from 12:00pm-8:00pm. Please visit THE accessibility SECTION OF THE WEBSITE if you need additional assistance navigating the festivAL.

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

The African-American observance of Juneteenth is an oppressed people’s response to the news of liberation. Some of our enslaved ancestors received the news of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. The holiday of Juneteenth represents that act and much more. Even the coining of the term “Juneteenth” represents the expansive creativity of a people that make a way out of no way. Foundational Black American freedom is the reason for the Juneteenth season.

PRESENTED BY

FUNDING PARTNERS

GOLD SPONSOR

SPACE SPONSOR

TRANSIT SPONSOR

MEDIA SPONSOR

PREMIER COMMUNITY SPONSOR

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

Seward

COMMUNITY CO-OP

The Soul of the Southside Juneteenth festival thrives on the collaborative efforts of a dynamic team, comprising creative space owners, activists, art directors, yoga instructors, community organizers, griots, and community leaders. Each member brings a unique blend of skills, passion, and expertise to the table, shaping the festival's planning and execution with their diverse perspectives and dedication. Together, they infuse the event with creativity, advocacy, cultural richness, and community spirit, making it a celebration that truly resonates with the Soul of the Southside.

Fancy Lanier-Duncan

Co-Founder and Festival Director

Emmanuel Duncan

Co-Founder and

Director of Photography

Kenna Cottman

Access, Engagement and Education Manager

Andrea Pierre

KRSM 98.9fm

Community Health &

Wellness Lead

Nnamdi Darlington

Director of Visual Arts and Exhibitions

Esther Lanier

Vending Manager

denyse johnson

Strategic Support Specialist

Colin Mitchell

Production Manager

Zachina harps

Sponsorship Coordinator

Aadriana epps

Volunteer Coordinator

Soul of the Southside Juneteenth Festival aims to be accessible and inclusive. For ​any accessibility needs not covered here please reach out to accessibility ​coordinator Kenna Cottman through email accessibility@soulofthesouthside.com or ​at @mxcottman on instagram. Text and TTY calls to 612-481-6447.

GETTING TO SOUL OF THE SOUTHSIDE

Free Metro transit rides available.

Metro Transist Bus 21, the 7 or the Blue Line all connect with the festival grounds at ​Lake and Minnehaha.

Street parking available. Juneteenth is a federal holiday so no meters will be ​enforced.

Rideshares and getting dropped off?

Use the Coliseum Building’s address:

2708 E. Lake Street

Minneapolis, MN 55406

Minnehaha Ave. will be closed from Lake street to 27th Ave.

Biking?

There are bike racks on both sides of Minnehaha inside the festival grounds and in ​front of the Hub bike shop between Moon Palace and Hook and Ladder

WHAT GOING ON AT SOUL OF THE SOUTHSIDE

The SOTS Juneteenth Festival takes place on Wednesday June 19 from 12pm to ​8pm. There are a variety of venues, activities and performances. A full schedule ​can be found HERE. If you need this information in a plain text format, please ​contact Kenna according to the information at the top of this post.

MOVING AROUND AT SOUL OF THE SOUTHSIDE

The Coliseum Building at 2700 E. Lake Street is ADA compliant with spaces on ​other levels accessible by stairs and elevator. There are restrooms, access to water ​and space to sit and rest indoors. The building is air conditioned. This space will ​house our educational and artistic activities.

Minnehaha Ave from Lake Street to 27th Ave will be closed to automobile traffic ​using blockades at each end of the street. This part of the festival will be accessible ​by foot/wheelchair/bike and is in full sun with limited spaces for shade and rest.

The Hook and Ladder Theater at 3010 Minnehaha is ADA compliant and all on one ​level. There is an indoor stage and lounge area that is air conditioned with limited ​seating. Beverages (including alcoholic ones) are available for purchase. There are ​water fountains and gender neutral bathrooms inside the venue. There is an ​outdoor stage which is covered but lacks seating. The Hook and Ladder will house ​our musical lineup on two stages and a mini-market focused on cannabis and ​THC/CBD products..

The Vendor Market outside Moon Palace books is an outdoor space with some ​cobblestone walkways and some wood chip ground open space. Folks with limited ​mobility may need additional support navigating the vendor market. KFAI ​Community Radio will anchor this space with a PA system playing music, and the ​market will feature Black-owned businesses with merchandise for sale. This is also ​where one of our outdoor water stations will be located with bottle fillers and ​drinking fountains.

Moon Palace Books is at 3032 Minnehaha. This venue is ADA compliant and masks ​are required to enter the space. There are gender neutral bathrooms and a water ​fountain inside, and the space is air conditioned. Moon Palace will host some Black ​author readings and children’s activities inside the space.

The Southside We Outside Art Fair and KRSM Radio tent will be in the Arbeiter ​Brewing parking lot. This space is in full sun and will not have seating, however ​there is a covered patio with seating outside the brewery that folks can use to rest ​in shade. Free water will be available inside and outside.

Arbeiter Brewery is at 3038 Minnehaha and will house our beer garden. The ​brewery itself is ADA compliant and features an open air space, and has restrooms. ​Brewed products, including alcoholic ones, and THC products are available for ​purchase.

GETTING YOUR NEEDS MET AT SOUL OF THE SOUTHSIDE

ASL Interpreting:

Soul of the Southside Juneteenth will have ASL interpreters scheduled for lyrical ​acts on our stages at the Hook and Ladder. Additional support for folks needing ASL ​interpretation is available upon request so that our Deaf and Hard of Hearing family ​members can access all areas of the festival. Please contact Kenna to make those ​arrangements using the info at the top of this post.

Other support:

SOTS has volunteers available to assist with:

-mobility support

-limited vision

-needing to sit/can’t stand for long periods

-literacy and festival navigation

-sensory regulation/earplugs

On the day of the festival, SOTS Team members will be identifiable by yellow CREW ​T-shirts. Each venue has a point person who can contact Kenna to coordinate ​accessibility support on the day of the festival.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT SOUL OF THE SOUTHSIDE

Venues that are also businesses will have basic first aid kits available at their fronts.

The SOTS Volunteer tent located at the Hook and Ladder can also provide basic first ​aid.

SOTS recognizes that Covid-19 is still a public health issue and folks are ​encouraged to wear masks indoors and in large crowds. Moon Palace Books ​requires masks indoors. Masks will be available at the entrances to venues with ​enclosed spaces.

By attending the Soul of the Southside festival, you acknowledge that photos and videos will be captured throughout the event. By being present at the festival, you consent to being photographed and filmed. These images and videos may be used for various purposes, including but not limited to: Event promotion and marketing, Social media posts, Website content, Press releases and media coverage, Archival and historical documentation

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. See you soon.