R&B LEGEND DONELL JONES AND RAP SUPERSTAR JADAKISS ARE AMONG THE SEVERAL ARTISTS PERFORMING AT THIS YEAR’S JUNETEENTH, AT MELLON PARK, JUNE 19-22, 2025.
Four days of jam-packed performances at Mellon Park, June 19-22
Juneteenth in Pittsburgh has a new location, but all of the artists are familiar faces and voices that’s sure to bring out the masses.
For fans of R&B music, Mellon Park in Shadyside/ East Liberty will be its headquarters from June 19-22. Morris Day and The Time, 702, Donell Jones, Dru Hill, Jon B., and The Blackbyrds are just some of the artists who will grace the Stop The Violence Pittsburgh 2025 Juneteenth Celebration stage.
This year’s Juneteenth festivities again had the back-and-forth jabs between Juneteenth leader B. Marshall and City of Pittsburgh officials, as in some previous years. The city issued the needed permit for B. Marshall to use Mellon Park, but not until Friday, June 13, six days before the event.
But if anyone knows B. Marshall, it’s nearly impossible to stop him.
“Not only does it provide an economic impact for our own community, but psychologically and emotionally and mentally, Black people need this type of release from the everyday struggles that we go through,” B. Marshall told the New Pittsburgh Courier, June 17. “That’s one of the benefits that we see with our festival events, just the joy and happiness that people have for a weekend of activities that we produce. It’s crucial for our growth and development, and our unity and our cultural expression.”
DRU HILL
Thursday, June 19, a city, state and federal holiday, will feature the performances from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, 702 and Morris Day and The Time. On Friday, June 20, performances will come from Kut Klose, Jon B. and Dru Hill. On Saturday, June 21, The Blackbyrds, Hi Five and Donell Jones will grace the Juneteenth stage. And on Sunday, June 22, there will be performances from Sunshine Anderson, Trina and Jadakiss.
MORRIS DAY AND THE TIME
A Youthfest will be available for the kids each day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mellon Park, and the Grand Jubilee Parade will be held in Downtown Pittsburgh, Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. The parade is something that B. Marshall wants to see an increased attendance for, as it comes down Fifth Avenue.
JON B.
“We need everybody to come out for this parade. We are the only African American parade left in the City of Pittsburgh that goes through Downtown Pittsburgh, so it’s very important,” B. Marshall told the Courier. “Donald Trump has been doing everything he can to stop Juneteenth, along with all other Black activities, so it’s important that we show up and show out for our own culture and heritage.”
B. Marshall also said there would be 100 or so vendors at Juneteenth, including vendors from as far away as California. The festival attendees will assuredly include out-of-staters, too, as this Juneteenth celebration is one of the largest in the country.
Everything at Mellon Park is free to attend. There are some late-night events that are for adults only and have a cost associated with it, such as the All-White Boat Party on the Gateway Clipper Fleet, June 19, the Lit Cigar Lounge (6525 Hamilton Ave.) afterparty featuring Jon B. on June 20, and the All-Black Closing Party at Envy Bar and Lounge in Duquesne, June 22.
B. Marshall said there will be parking available at Bakery Square, Chatham University as well as in East Liberty and Homewood, along with on-street parking in the nearby Squirrel Hill/Point Breeze area. Attendees can also use ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s 71D Hamilton bus stops in front of Mellon Park on Fifth Avenue, while other buses like the 71C, 88, 89 and 74 stop at Bakery Square on Penn Avenue.