Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration Returns to DeSoto June 14
Posted on 05/09/2025
Four Cities Unite for One of North Texas’ Largest Cultural Festivals
DeSoto, TX (May 8, 2025) — The Best Southwest Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration will return to the City of DeSoto on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Grimes Park in DeSoto, Texas. This highly anticipated annual event, held in partnership with the cities of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, and Lancaster, brings together more than 10,000 attendees in a show of unity and cultural pride.
This year’s celebration will run from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with gates opening at 5:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Grimes Park, located at 501 E. Wintergreen Road, will transform into a vibrant space of live entertainment, food, family activities, and community connection that everyone can enjoy.
Hosted by the City of DeSoto this year, the Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration is designed to reflect the collaborative spirit of the Best Southwest region while honoring the legacy of Juneteenth—the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
“This event is more than a celebration—it’s a reflection of our values as a region,” said City of DeSoto City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry. “he Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration demonstrates the power of unity, and the deep respect our cities share for the historical and cultural importance of this day.”
The 2025 entertainment lineup will feature an exciting mix of live music and performances from national and local entertainers. This year’s featured acts include Zapp, Chadney Christle, and N’Tense the Band. These artists will deliver energy, inspiration, and a sound that captures the essence of the cultural experience.
The festival will also host a diverse array of food trucks and local vendors, free health screenings, and a variety of youth and family activities. Attendees will have opportunities to engage with educational exhibits and support local Black-owned businesses.
“Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, community, and progress. It’s also a time to honor those who paved the way for the rights and opportunities we have today,” said Chris Glover, DeSoto Parks and Recreation Director. “We’re proud to bring this event to life with our neighboring cities and create a space where thousands of people can gather to learn, reflect, and enjoy the richness of our shared culture.”
In recent years, the Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration has emerged as one of the largest cultural festivals in the region, highlighting the unique partnership among the four cities and providing a welcoming space for residents of all backgrounds to commemorate a pivotal moment in American history.
Juneteenth marks the date—June 19, 1865—when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Now recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, liberation, and the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice.
This Juneteenth celebration is made possible thanks to generous sponsors, including Methodist Healthcare, Oncor, Charles Schwab Bank, TotalCare, Frost Bank, Juicebae, Ditika Enterprises, Regional Black Contractors Association, Star Transit, Neighborhood Credit Union, Rollins Project Management Group, Dallas College Cedar Valley, SIPS Healthcare Solutions, Crown Royal, Corbett Mitchell Media, K104-FM, and Smooth R&B 105.7.
For more information on the BSW Juneteenth Celebration and other upcoming events in the City of DeSoto, please visit desototexas.gov/events.