The Juneteenth Music Festival occurred on June 14, 2014 in Denver's Historic Five Points district. It attracted over 20,000 attendees and featured over 150 vendors along with cultural and educational programming. This included a parade, youth activities, health/environment exhibits, and a performance by Grammy-nominated group Les Nubians. The festival aimed to celebrate the historical significance of Juneteenth and foster community empowerment through partnerships with local organizations.

1. JUNETEENTH MUSIC FESTIVAL
WWW.JUNETEENTHMUSICFESTIVAL.COM | HISTORIC FIVE POINTS, DENVER CO.
2014 Final Report

2. JUNETEENTH MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Juneteenth Music Festival occurred on Saturday June 14, 2014
in the Historic 5 Points district of Denver, Colorado. The festival
serviced 20,000+ attendees who were able to experience an
excess of 150 merchandise, civic and market place vendors.
The festival featured the annual Juneteenth Parade, Youth Engagement Zone, Wellness Education Zone, Green Eco
Education Zone, live art exhibits, Miss Juneteenth Pageant and a feature performance from Les Nubians, a Grammy
nominated and world recognized recording duo.
Overall, the Juneteenth Music Festival provided value for the surrounding community by connecting its community
with local organizations who raise awareness surrounding important health and ecological issues along with fostering
interactions with elected officials, community leaders, and local businesses.

5. MISSION
Our mission is to engage the community with the historical significance of Juneteenth, while creating a framework
for economic, educational and social empowerment in youth and adults.

6. HISTORYJuneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865; the day that Texas slaves learned of their freedom. It is
commemorated across the United States and is an official holiday in Texas.
In Denver, the Juneteenth celebration began in the early 1950’s and eventually grew to be the nation’s largest
celebration of its kind in the 1980’s. As economic and social challenges began to plague Denver in the early 1990’s,
Juneteenth’s image was negatively impacted due to violence during the festival, resulting in declining attendance
and public support.
In the early 2000’s several groups of community leaders worked to keep the festival as a part of the city’s heritage,
but were unable to attract large masses of attendees seen in the festival’s heyday.
In 2012, Juneteenth Music Festival LLC. was formed by a group of entrepreneurs who recognized the opportunity to
reinvent the image of Juneteenth and rebrand the celebration to the city of Denver. Through the coordination of
local community resource organizations, city government, and corporate sponsors the group was able to rejuvenate
the festival to its highest excitement and attendance levels.
In 2013, the Juneteenth Music Festival expanded its reach and programming through increased participation of
vendors, corporate and civic partners. The festival successfully facilitated The Miss Juneteenth Pageant, Juneteenth
Parade, Juneteenth Car Show, Youth Engagement Zone and Juneteenth Music Festival Concert.
In 2014, Juneteenth Music Festival aimed to improve the consciousness of its community focusing on Health and
Environmental awareness. Partnering with Green For All, Livewell Colorado, 350org Denver and others, the festival
created its first Green and Wellness Zones. Attendees learned composting and recycling strategies along with urban
farming demonstrations.

7. 2014 HIGHLIGHTS
Kicking off with its Miss Juneteenth Pageant, 7 distinguished young ladies participated in the our Pageant hosted by City Councilman
Albus Brooks and attended by Denver’s first Lady, Mary Louise Lee in the Crossroads Theater on Five Points. 1,500 parade
participants, including Mayor Michael Hancock, Chief of Police Robert White, Councilman Albus Brooks, Rep. Rhonda Fields, Rep.
Angela Williams, Rep. Beth McCann, VIPs and community leaders participated in the parade. Announcements of participants in the
parade were made by Dr. Jim “Dr. Daddio” Walker of AM 760 and Denver Radio staple of over 35 years. Saturday night’s festivities
ended with a 1 hour performance by Gammy nominated duo, Les Nubians.
In 2014, the Juneteenth Music Festival increased its programming from 2013, by facilitating its first Eco Wellness Area and Wellness
Zone. These areas withing the Festival gave attendees the opportunity to connect with local organizations dedicated to raising
awareness surrounding health and environmental issues. 12 local elementary and middle schools participated by creating murals
covering various topics including the history of Juneteenth and illustrating the effects of climate change.

8. 2014 COLLATERAL & PROGRAMMING

9. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ZONE (Y.E.Z.)
Focusing on education, community engagement, and entertainment, the Juneteenth Music Festival teamed with
12 community resource organizations supporting youth to create the Youth Engagement Zone. Along with
interactive art projects and urban farming demonstrations, the festival facilitated a program where young
entrepreneurs participated as vendors. Participants trained two weeks and received education on the local and
historical significance of Juneteenth while developing tactics and business skills to produce a profitable booth.
The overall aim of the festival for youth participation was to provide information and opportunities to be
engaged in Juneteenth and be able to connect with local organizations that support education enrichment.

10. MISS JUNETEENTH PAGEANT
Miss Juneteenth is the brand ambassador of the Juneteenth Music Festival. Her mission is to educate youth on the
historical significance of the holiday and engage the public in the celebration through service to her community.
After a 4 year hiatus in 2013, the Juneteenth Music Festival successfully facilitated the Miss Juneteenth Pageant.
7 young women (ages 14 – 18) competed to be crowned as the festival’s brand ambassador. Contestants were required
to submit an essay regarding the historical significance of Juneteenth, perform 5 hours of service for the Ronald
McDonald House and attend bi-monthly pageant training, which included instructions on public speaking, leadership
and professional /ballroom etiquette.
Miss Juneteenth and Colorado
Governor John Hickenlooper

11. DEMOGRAPHICS / DATA
 Attendance - 20,000
 Men | Women - 42% | 58%
 Ages
 Under 18 - 15%
 18 - 24 - 9%
 25 - 35 - 21%
 35 - 44 - 22%
 45 - 64 - 19%
 55 - 64 - 10%
 65+ - 4%

12. 2014 JMF MILESTONES
Participation
• 2013 Vendor Booth Participants ~ 150 (138 in 2013)
Attendance
• Attendance ~20,000
Increased Community Impact
•Developed and created partnerships for future involvement with corporate sponsors, community resource organizations
and elected officials
Increased Visibility
•Established working relationships with media sponsors (Urban Spectrum, Five Points News, Denver Weekly News, The
Denver Post, Sandbox Radio, KUVO, and continued the growth of general public awareness of Juneteenth and its significance
in Denver and surrounding communities
Improved Perception
•Successfully rebranded Denver’s Juneteenth celebration as the Juneteenth Music Festival

13. 2013 JMF MILESTONES CONT.
Increased Corporate Sponsor Participation
CenturyLink, The Bean Foundation, US Bank, McDonalds, The Denver Foundation, Hennessy, Engage 8, Angel Flight Track
Club, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Janus Capital Group, Big O Tires, Xcel Energy, RTD, Five Points Business District,
Belvedere, Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Albus Brooks District 8, Five Points
Business District, Brandis Meeks, Pipkin-Braswell, Coffee at the Point, Five Points Plaza
Co-Ordinated the US Bank Juneteenth Emerging Business Program
• Partnered with US Bank and the Denver Office of Economic Development to create the US Bank Juneteenth Emerging
Business Program, which assisted participating vendors in licensing, setting up business accounts and business planning
Non Profit Fiscal Partners:
Engage8, Angel Flight Track Club
Safety
• 2012 – 2013 | Zero safety events

14. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS