In Downtown Pittsburgh, Black people were everywhere. From the tribute to the late Afro-American Music Institute co-founder Dr. James T. Johnson Jr. on a sunny Juneteenth afternoon at Market Square, June 19, to R&B legends Keith Washington and Evelyn “Champagne” King at Market Square, to the Juneteenth Grand Jubilee Parade, to the tens of thousands who danced to performers Lloyd, Musiq Soulchild, Marsha Ambrosius and Fabolous, Pittsburgh, for a moment, almost felt like “Chocolate City.”
The three-day Juneteenth Celebration in Downtown Pittsburgh, June 19-21, 2026, had performances on the Market Square stage, as well as the Point State Park stage.
In between both stages, along Liberty Avenue in front of Gateway Center, were a host of Black-owned businesses who, by all accounts, had their own celebration, too, in the pocketbook.
“It’s been great,” said Fred Harper of Harp’s Treats, one of the vendors. “Great investment.”
Harp’s Treats is the brainchild of Fred Harper and Demetria Harper.
“B. Marshall puts on a great event,” Fred Harper said. “It’s safe, it’s profitable and everybody seems to have a good time.”
The Small Business Showcase had dozens of businesses, primarily Black-owned, all along Liberty Avenue and some in Market Square as well.
K&K Fashion and Accessories is co-owned by Sharpsburg mayor Kayla Portis. Her mother, Karen Smith-Lindo, the other owner, told the New Pittsburgh Courier that business was “excellent. Very well. We’re very pleased.”
“It was exceptional,” added Mayor Portis. “We are looking forward to next year, for sure.”
Mayor Portis said some of her more popular offerings at Juneteenth were the Negro League jerseys and scented oils for men and women.
“It was beautiful to see so many of our people in one space and embracing something so important,” Mayor Portis told the Courier. “Juneteenth is so important to us.”
The 2026 Western Pa. Juneteenth Celebration, presented by William “B.” Marshall, actually began on the weekend of June 5-7 with a Youth Fest, featuring a basketball tournament and other activities for the youth at Mellon Park in East Liberty. There was also a Black Tie Honors Gala at the Sheraton Hotel at Station Square and a boat ride party in addition to the traditional Downtown Pittsburgh festivities.
Friday, June 19, 2026, featured dayside events at Market Square, including a musical tribute to the late Dr. James T. Johnson Jr., the co-founder of the Afro-American Music Institute in Homewood. Market Square was also the home to R&B legends Keith Washington and Evelyn “Champagne” King, the latter of whom is behind the smash hits “Love Come Down,” “Encore,” and “Shame.”
The Juneteenth Grand Jubilee Parade was held on Saturday morning, June 20, 2026, featuring Pa. Lt. Governor Austin Davis and a plethora of organizations and corporations.
“Juneteenth, this year, is a moment to reflect on how far particularly African Americans have come,” Lt. Gov. Davis told the Courier, “but really a moment to re-commit ourselves to the work, to civil rights, to social justice, to make sure that every person has the opportunity to live the American Dream, whatever that looks like for them. Our country’s in a critical moment right now, and I think it requires all of us to step up and do more.”
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor was also a parade participant.
SOME OF THE BILL HENRY BAND WITH MARGO MARSHALL AND B. MARSHALL, AT THE POINT, DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, JUNE 20, 2026. (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
“I think it’s good to see everybody out, weather is perfect, and then it leads into a good festival with a lot of vendors, and it’s a good celebration,” Mayor O’Connor told the Courier.
The Point State Park stage featured artists like Lloyd, The Bill Henry Band, Musiq Soulchild, Marsha Ambrosius, and Fabolous. Tens of thousands of people packed Point State Park each evening to see the artists.
Two of those many people were Holly Williams and Phyllis Oliver. They particularly wanted to see the R&B artist Marsha Ambrosius. They loved her performance. And they loved the overall WPA Juneteenth celebration, one of the largest in the country, year after year.
“I love it, it’s well put together,” Williams and Oliver said. “B. Marshall does a really good job in getting this together and fighting for us.”
Williams added: “I love to see us all together, especially when we can be safe and civil and have a good time.”
R&B ARTIST MUSIQ SOULCHILD, BACKSTAGE WITH AVAMCSHAN, AT JUNETEENTH 2026 AT POINT STATE PARK. SEE MANY MORE JUNETEENTH PHOTOS ON THE COURIER’S FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON THE COURIER’S WEBSITE, NEWPITTSBURGHCOURIER.COM. (PHOTO BY GAIL MANKER)
GRACE MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE JUNETEENTH PARADE 2026. (PHOTOS BY CHIEF IKHANA-HAL-MAKINA)
ANITA DRUMMOND, WITH THE KIDS, AT THE 2026 GRAND JUBILEE PARADE.
ENJOYING THE JUNETEENTH GRAND JUBILEE PARADE 2026!
