See St. Joseph: Celebrate arts, independence and fun in the sun

By Kendra Simpson

St. Joseph will be abuzz this weekend with celebrations dedicated to independence, music, art and public parks.

The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art is inviting the community to witness three women create art in little ways.

Join the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art for an opening reception for the Small Wonders Exhibition, featuring artwork by Debra Keirce, Denise Horne-Kaplan and Brenda Morgan. They encourage you to lean in and get a closer look at their miniature artistic styles. Following the opening reception, guests are invited to join to auditorium for a live music performance by jazz band Urban Forum. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for students. Museum members and children under age 6 are free. The opening reception goes from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the museum.

For over two decades, Coleman Hawkins Park has celebrated its namesake and St. Joseph’s connection to jazz music with Hawkfest.

Join in on the celebration of Coleman Hawkins and other jazz legends with performances Friday and Saturday. Performers range from the St. Joseph High School All-Star Jazz Band led by Chad Lippincott to award winner for best harmonica player at the international blues challenge, John Paul Drum. There’s even going to be a raffle and tastings from R/Farm Distillery. For a complete lineup of performances and vendors, check out the event’s website.

Every June, St. Joseph hosts the area’s largest cultural celebration of the year with a week full of events, shows, musical acts, galas, theater performances, parades, picnics and much more. It’s all to celebrate Juneteenth.

This weeklong celebration commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, when, in 1865, union troops freed enslaved African Americans two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. To honor this, St. Joseph will be hosting a plethora of events, from fashion shows to firework displays to parades. For a complete list of entertainment and events during the Juneteenth festivities, visit the event’s website at https://www.stjosephmuseum.org/juneteenth. The celebrations begin Friday and continue throughout the week until Thursday.

Be sure to check back in with News-Press NOW’s See St. Joseph every Thursday for more summer events and activities.