Downtown Akron Partnership

Let someone else do the cooking: check out the delicious wedge salad from Crave, a fantastic summer meal ⤵️⤵️⤵️⤵️

Happy Friday, June 19, 2026 Everybody! Today is Juneteenth, so we're wishing you a joyous and meaningful day! It's also the weekend, and there's plenty to do and enjoy in downtown Akron!

Find out about the Juneteenth celebrations and observances around town:

❤️🖤💚Juneteenth: Stronger Together, hosted by the Akron Urban League with The Freedom BLOC & Akron NAACP on June 19 & 20, featuring a Juneteenth Education and Celebration event at the Urban League from 5 - 8 pm on Friday, with fireworks at The Freedom Bloc, 848 W. Exchange St.

On Saturday, the 50th West Akron Parade, starting point Buchtel CLC 1040 Copley Rd. at 11 am, followed by a full day of celebration at the Urban League and at John Brown House (514 Diagonal Rd.).

❤️🖤💚Juneteenth - A Day of Jubilation: Embracing Our Ancestors and Moving Forward with the Spirit of Juneteenth Throughout the Year at John Brown House on June 19, at 4:30 pm

❤️🖤💚Juneteenth: Keys to Freedom, a Community Art Experience with Robert Reza Greer Sr. at Summit Artspace on June 19, from 2 - 5 pm.

❤️🖤💚Juneteenth Free Lunch Friday from 11:30 am - 1 pm at the Cascade Locks Park Association Mustill Store and Museum.

❤️🖤💚Perfect Pour - Martinis, Bourbon, and Burgers is offering Juneteenth specials on cocktails and wings today, as well as Uncle Nearest whiskey, too!

❤️🖤💚 Find out the details of all these celebrations here: https://bit.ly/JuneteenthInAkron2026
❤️🖤💚 For even more Juneteenth observances and celebrations, Signal Akron has an excellent article that lists them: https://signalakron.org/heres-where-to-celebrate-juneteenth-in-and-around-akron/

ALSO This weekend:

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio hosts a free concert by Akron's ReaL DeaL Old School R&B Musical Production, with the Rick Ward Project at 7 pm, and you can pre-game at the Akron Civic Theatre from 6 - 7 pm at the weekly Party on the Plaza with live music from singer-songwriter, bassist, keyboardist, and producer AFI Scruggs.

More live music includes:

Musica hosts Sundiver, Idolos, and The Davelles (Fri. 8 pm), and Gemini Nights Music & Arts Fest presented by High Intentions featuring Local DJs: Bonefish, Matrx, Smash, Avilys, BamBam, B2B, Sputnik, Brzrkr + Art Vendors & Live Glassblowing (Sat. 7 pm).

Jilly's Music Room presents the big band with a big sound, playing Motown, funk, soul and rock n roll—the Swizzle Stick Band (Fri. 7 pm). Happy Hour is 5 - 7 pm featuring 20% off everything! NO Brunch Service this weekend (Closed for Private Event & Father's Day).

BLU Jazz+ hosts Gabe Jones Quintet (Fri. 8 pm), and keyboardist, Cam Burton, brings his group After Service to BLU for their debut performance, Saturday, June 20th at 8 pm.

The Knight Stage at the Akron Civic Theatre hosts saxophonist Lou Harris on Saturday at 8 pm.

And, El Patrón Tequilería & Cuisine hosts Latin Night with Live DJ Eddy Valle at 9 pm on Saturday, on the rooftop patio (weather permitting).

🎉 ALSO this weekend is Akronym Brewing's Birthday Celebration! They'll be celebrating with a brand new food menu and multiple EXCLUSIVE beer releases, plus live music and the tapping of SECRET kegs:

🎉 Friday, June 19th - 3 Exclusive Beers Drop for the weekend
🎉 Saturday, June 20th - 5:30 pm Live Bluegrass on the patio with Lane Harper

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AND: E.J. Thomas Hall at the University of Akron is where you can see one-night-only performance of The Remember Balloons, an extraordinary stage adaptation of Jessie Olivero’s children’s book, “The Remember Balloons,” created by choreographer Dominic Moore-Dunson and Theron Brown Music.

Inspired by real family experiences with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, “The Remember Balloons Live!” offers a gentle, hopeful way for families to explore what it means to remember and be remembered.

Best suited for families and children ages 7 and up, attendees will be part of an unforgettable evening captured live for PBS Western Reserve. With 20 live musicians on stage and 30 minutes of brand-new choreography and music, Akron audiences will experience a version of "The Remember Balloons" that no other city in the country has witnessed. Get tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0500647FA8097625
🎈🎈🎈

Don't forget to enjoy a delicious meal from one of your downtown Akron faves this weekend. Check out the DAP dining guide for options for every taste: https://bit.ly/DAP_Dining

And as always, for much, MUCH more to do and enjoy downtown, check out the DAP event calendar: https://bit.ly/DAP_Calendar