The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is hosting the 2023 Juneteenth 4K Walk & Festival on Saturday, June 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The event will begin with a 4K Freedom Walk for health & wellness, and end with a free community festival with live entertainment, vendors, and fun activities for the entire family.
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., the opening ceremony will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. There will be a special unveiling and dedication ceremony at 11:00 a.m.
To participate in the walk, or as a vendor or volunteer, register online via Eventbrite.
Event Date: Saturday, June 17, 2023 (8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- Registration: 8:30 a.m.
- Opening Ceremony: 9:00 a.m.
- 4K Walk Begins: 9:30 a.m.
- Special Unveiling & Dedication: 11:00 a.m.
The 4K Freedom Walk
The 4K Freedom Walk for health & wellness will begin at 9:30 a.m. The route will begin at the MLK, Jr. Community Center and proceed 3 laps around the center’s campus.
To participate in the walk, individuals and teams must register online.
- Individual registration is $15
- Team registration is $135 (team of 10 people)
Registered participants will receive a t-shirt and swag bag filled with treats. Lunch will also be provided.
Funds raised will support the programs and activities at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.
The deadline to register is June 2, 2023. Refunds are not available.
Click Here to Register for the Walk.
Vendor Registration
All vendors must register online. Vendor registration is $55.
Vendors will receive one 6-ft. table, 2 chairs, and lunch for 2 individuals.
Please bring your own tent or canopy. Electricity is available upon request.
Vendor Categories:
- Food Vendors (may require a City of Dallas Food Permit)
- Local Business
- Nonprofit/Informational
Click here to register as a Vendor.
Special Unveiling & Dedication 
There will be a special unveiling and dedication to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center from Southern Methodist University with a replica of the university’s historical marker commemorating Dr. King’s visit to Dallas in 1966.
The Walls Project will also unveil a special mural of Dr. King, recently painted on a trellis at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.
Featured Performers
-Arinze Oji, Dallas-Based Dancer and Artist, will give a live performance during the festival, sponsored by the City of Dallas Community Artist Program (CAP).
-Bria Washington, Dallas-Based Dance Instructor, will engage the crowd in a fun aerobics and line dance warmup.
Volunteer
Individuals and groups are invited to participate in the MLK Campus Clean-up to help beautify the MLK, Jr. Community Center campus prior to the festival.
- Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 7:30 a.m.
Sign up to volunteer via Eventbrite!
Community Partnership
Community Partnership opportunities with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center are available. For more information, contact 214-670-8418.
Community Partnership levels:
$15,000 Presenting/Media Partner (1 available)
- Emcee Walk Opening Ceremony
- Lead the Walk
- Up to 60 entries for Walk with Lunch during the Festival
- Speak during the Festival
- Vendor Table
- Featured on all marketing materials
$10,000 Creative Partner (2 available)
- Speak during the Walk & Festival
- Up to 50 entries for Walk with Lunch during the Festival
- Announce Random Give-a-ways
- Vendor Table
- Featured on all marketing materials
$5,000 Artistic Partner
- Speak during the Festival
- Up to 40 entries for Walk with Lunch during the Festival
- Vendor Table
- Featured on all marketing materials
$2,500 Engagement Partner
- Up to 30 entries for Walk with Lunch during the Festival
- Vendor Table
- Featured on all marketing materials
$1,000 Cultural Partner
- Up to 20 entries for Walk with Lunch during the Festival
- Vendor Table
- Featured on all marketing materials
The community partnership will assist with the execution of the entire event cost. Any funds exceeding celebration cost will be utilized to support LIRA Group’s programming and other MLK, Jr. Community Center cultural events. Each confirmed community partner will be featured during the celebration. Community Partnerships come with continued exposure to the support given to the center and promotion of your organization during the event.
If you are interested in becoming a Community Partner, contact us at 214-670-8418.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.
Click here to learn more about Juneteenth.
2023 Community Partners
If you are interested in being a community partner, please contact our office at 214-670-8418.
Photo Gallery
2022 Juneteenth 3K Walk & Festival
2021 Juneteenth Festival
2020 Juneteenth Festival
2019 Juneteenth Festival
2018 Juneteenth Festival
