Gorge Juneteenth Celebration Returns June 19 with Music, Dance, and Community Unity
Story by Ann Harris and photos by Robin Allen
Hood River, Ore., June 11, 2025 — Black in the Gorge and The Next Door, Inc., are very happy to invite everyone to the 3rd Annual Gorge Juneteenth Celebration! This will be our biggest celebration yet, with more music, BIPOC vendors with crafts and food, as well as participatory opportunities for all ages, including art, African dance, and drumming!
Many community organizations will be there with information about what they do and kid-friendly activities!
The event will be on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19th from 3:00-9:00 p.m. Don’t miss the beginning with Red Elk Drum Circle welcoming and connecting us to the land and each other. Then Jujuba will get us up and dancing with their band and infectious African rhythms.
Singer/songwriter and Black in the Gorge member, Marie Louise, will share some of her meaningful tunes, followed by Chibia, a genre-bending and incredible Portland musician.
We welcome back the Gorge Unity Choir led by dynamic choir director and powerful singer, Cynta Butts and accompanied by jazz pianist, Tim Mayer. In fact, ALL are welcome to come sing with us in this choir! Come to one or both practices (Monday 6/16, and Wednesday, 6/18, 5:30 p.m. at Riverside Church). And then we will sing at the event! No choir experience is necessary to be a part of this joy-filled opportunity!
The evening finishes with the incredible jazz/blues/soul singer, known as Portland’s Queen of the Blues, LaRhonda Steele, and the amazing saxophonist, Eldon T. Jones.
Don’t miss this new Gorge tradition and FREE event, Thursday, June 19th, 3:00-9:00 p.m. at Jackson Park in Hood River.
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