You Matter 2 Juneteenth Parade & Block Party
In 2020, amid heightened racial tensions following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, South Suburban communities came together—even during the COVID-19 pandemic—to protest injustice and support the Black community. Inspired by this moment and the growing national recognition of Juneteenth, You Matter 2 Founder & CEO Destiny Watson launched the inaugural 2021 Homewood-Flossmoor Juneteenth Festival to celebrate Black culture, educate the community, and uplift Black-owned businesses.
With support from partners and sponsors, the first festival welcomed over 2,000 attendees, 83 Black-owned vendors, and 15 entertainers. Since then, it has expanded to include a parade and the Mr. and Miss HF Juneteenth Royal Court, becoming the largest Juneteenth celebration in the Chicago Southland. The festival continues to honor history, celebrate Black joy, and create a lasting space rooted in pride, culture, and community.
The parade is the heartbeat of our Juneteenth celebration. We invite organizations, churches, schools, dance groups, marching bands, drill teams, and community groups to march with us from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Community groups, faith organizations, and civic associations — represent your mission.
Marching bands, ROTC, drill teams, and student organizations — young leaders welcome.
Dancers, steppers, drummers, and cultural performers — bring your art to the streets.
Reserve your spot in the parade. Space is limited — register early! We'll confirm via email.
We'll confirm your parade registration by email. Thank you for joining the celebration!
Confirmation sent by email. Deadline: [Registration Deadline TBD]
This event is powered by community. Whether you're helping set up, guiding the parade, keeping the block party fun, or packing it all up at the end — your time makes a real difference.
Fill out the form and we'll follow up with everything you need to know before June 19th.
We'll reach out via email with next steps. Thank you! 🙏
We are proud to highlight Black-owned and community businesses at our block party. Whether you sell food, crafts, clothing, services, or goods — this is your chance to put your brand in front of thousands of community members.
Serve your specialty dishes, drinks, and treats to a hungry, celebratory crowd.
Clothing, art, jewelry, candles, books, and more — bring your shop to the block.
Health services, nonprofits, financial resources — connect with the community.
We've hosted 83+ Black-owned vendors and thousands of attendees. This is a proven, high-traffic community event.
Interested in setting up at the block party? Fill out the form below and our team will follow up with details and pricing.
We'll follow up with availability, fees, and next steps. Space is limited!
Whether you have questions about the event, sponsorship opportunities, or anything else — we'd love to hear from you. Reach out and we'll respond as quickly as possible.
Location TBD — South Suburbs, Illinois. Check our Instagram for updates!
We typically respond within 1–2 business days.
Your information is kept private and never shared.