Indy Juneteenth Parade Canceled for 2025
Indy Juneteenth Parade Canceled for 2025
After months of efforts and multiple proposals, Indy Juneteenth has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2025 Juneteenth Parade due to challenges securing a parade route in partnership with the City of Indianapolis.
While the parade won’t be taking place this year, the spirit of celebration is still very much alive.
On Saturday, June 21, Indy Juneteenth will host its annual festival at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, from 12–7 p.m., bringing the community together in a new space filled with music, culture, food, and fun.
“Even though the parade isn’t happening this year, I’m incredibly excited for what’s ahead,”
said James Webb, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Indy Juneteenth.
“It’s disappointing, sure—but we’re not stopping. We’ve built a powerful new partnership with the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and that’s opening the door to even more possibilities in 2026 and beyond.”
Indy Juneteenth submitted its permit request in August 2024, aiming to return the parade to Indiana Avenue.
Though initial responses from the City seemed promising, communication delays and scheduling conflicts dragged the process out.
Despite proposing an alternative route down Massachusetts Avenue and partnering with other organizations to support the change, the new date and route were already booked.
By the time Indy Juneteenth circled back to Indiana Avenue in early 2025, another event had claimed the date.
Faced with limited options and too little time to plan a parade that normally takes six months to coordinate, the organization chose to focus its energy on an unforgettable festival experience.
Though the parade is off the table this year, Indy Juneteenth is offering a full calendar of events to honor the holiday and empower the community:
June 7: Miss Indy Juneteenth Pageant, 6 p.m. at The Basile Theatre at the Historic Athenaeum (401 E. Michigan St.)
June 12: College & Career Conference, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at 40 E. St. Clair St., with workshops and networking for students and young professionals.
June 14: 3rd Annual Boxing Showcase, 3–7 p.m. at Speedway Events Center (2608 Founders Square Dr.) featuring 20+ USA Boxing-sanctioned matches.
June 19 (Juneteenth Day): Fireworks Celebration, 6–10 p.m. at Sarkine Park in Avon (6575 E. County Rd 200 N).
June 21: Juneteenth Festival at the Fairgrounds, noon–7 p.m., with live performances, awards, a wellness circle, sip & paint, 30+ food vendors, and 100+ small businesses.
“From the fireworks to the festival, we’re still creating meaningful, joyful spaces for our community to come together,”
Webb said.
“We may have hit a roadblock with the parade, but the vision remains the same—uplift, educate, and celebrate freedom.”
Related: Summer Celebration