Illinois House Speaker Welch to Host 4th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Hillside
HILLSIDE, Ill. — Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch will host his fourth annual Juneteenth festival on June 19 at Memorial Park District in Hillside, featuring live performances, guest appearances, local vendors, and free shuttle service for attendees.
The event, scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. behind Adventure Bay Pool at 639 N. Wolf Road, is free and open to the public. New this year, organizers will provide complimentary shuttle service from Proviso West High School at 4701 Harrison Street, where free parking is also available. Adventure Bay Pool will be closed during the festival.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their emancipation — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863.
“As the first Black Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Speaker Welch proudly invites elected officials, local businesses, and communities from across the state to come together to celebrate freedom, culture, resilience, and unity,” according to the press release.
In a statement, Welch said, “Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is never guaranteed — it must be protected, strengthened, and passed on to the next generation. Our annual festival is about celebrating Black history, Black joy, and the power of community coming together in unity. Everyone is invited, and I hope to see you there.”
Sponsors for this year’s event include Rainbow Cone, Pepsi, Ironworkers Local 63, Meridian Health, and The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7.
Last year’s festival drew several statewide figures, including Governor JB Pritzker, Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, former Secretary of State Jesse White, and more.
Those interested in becoming sponsors, vendors, or volunteers can find registration links online. For questions, organizers have provided an email address: democraticpartyofproviso@gmail.com.
To become a sponsor, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/juneteenth2026.
To become a vendor, visit: https://bit.ly/JuneteenthVendor2026.
To volunteer, visit: https://bit.ly/JuneteethVolunteer2026.
Castle in the Clouds Opens 2026 Season With New Exhibition on Estate’s Later History
MOULTONBOROUGH, N.H. — Castle in the Clouds, the historic Lucknow Estate near Lake Winnipesaukee, opened its 2026 season on May 23. The property has introduced a new exhibition focused on the years following the ownership of Thomas and Olive Plant.
The exhibition, titled From Private Estate to Public Treasure: Lucknow after Thomas and Olive Plant, includes stories, photographs, and memorabilia from the estate’s subsequent owners before the Castle Preservation Society took over management in 2006.
The 2026 season also marks the 20th anniversary of the Castle Preservation Society, the nonprofit that oversees the maintenance and restoration of the mansion and grounds.
“This is a pivotal year for the Castle Preservation Society since we are concluding our current strategic plan and continuing to plan for the future of Castle in the Clouds,” said Charles Clark, executive director of CPS. “Our entire team of staff, board and volunteers are extremely proud of all we have accomplished in the past 20 years, including the significant renovations to the Lucknow Estate which are either complete or scheduled for completion this year.”
In 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior designated the Lucknow Estate as a National Historic Landmark, the highest federal recognition for a property’s historical or architectural significance. The designation acknowledged preservation work by CPS and the Lakes Region Conservation Trust.
The estate was originally developed in 1913 by Thomas G. Plant, a shoe manufacturer, who named it Lucknow. The property currently includes more than 5,200 acres and 28 miles of hiking trails, including the Falls of Song waterfall. Visitors reach the mansion by trolley along the same road used by the Plants in the early 1900s.
On opening day, the Castle offered free admission to Moultonborough residents. Activities included a Saturday hike and a garden tour.
The 2026 season runs from May 23 to October 25. The property is open daily. Visitors may enter via the Historic Entrance, where the original driveway was repaved at the end of 2025. Onsite ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. daily, and online tickets are available in advance. The gift shop, Carriage House, and exhibit gallery open at 10 a.m., with trolley service to the mansion starting at 10:15 a.m. Lunch is served at the Carriage House restaurant from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Guided tours of the mansion and its basement are available for visitors seeking a more detailed experience, in addition to self-guided tours.
Afro Plus Fest Returns to Landover for Three Days Over Labor Day Weekend
LANDOVER, Md. — Afro Plus Fest, a music festival focused on Afro-Caribbean and hip-hop genres, will hold its second annual event over Labor Day weekend from Sept. 4 to 6, 2026, at the Northwest Stadium Complex.
The festival, which sold out its one-day debut in 2025 with 20,000 attendees, is expanding to three days. Organizers expect up to 40,000 fans per day, for a total of approximately 120,000 attendees across the weekend.
Davido will perform Friday, Alkaline on Saturday, and Wizkid on Sunday. The lineup also includes Lil Baby, Latto, Chief Keef, Sexyy Red, Adekunle Gold, Olamide, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Spice, and Dexta Daps, among others. Several artists from the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, including Mannywellz and Yung Manny, are also scheduled.
The festival is presented in partnership with the Prince George’s County Executive Office. According to organizers, the 2025 event generated an estimated $10 million in local economic impact.
“With the support of the Prince George’s County Executive Office and Northwest Stadium, Afro Plus Fest is bringing the full diaspora home to Prince George’s County,” said Michael Awosanya, founder and executive producer of the festival. “We were raised in this county. This year is bigger because the community demanded it be bigger. This one’s for the people who raised us.”
County Executive Aisha Braveboy said the partnership supports economic development and cultural tourism. “This partnership represents more than entertainment; it is about economic growth, cultural pride, tourism, and creating opportunities for local businesses, artists, and residents to benefit from an international-scale event hosted right here in our county,” Braveboy said.
The Northwest Stadium Complex is located at 1600 Ring Rd. in Landover. Gates will open one hour before performances each day. Friday hours are 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Metro access is available via the Morgan Boulevard station. The festival also offers official parking, rideshare access, and ADA accommodations including accessible entrances and viewing areas.
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