Join us for this inaugural Juneteenth Foodways Festival that was inspired by an exceptional event. After the 23rd president of the United States took office in 1889, he made some important changes. He modernized the White House with the installation of electricity. He hired the first woman onto his professional administrative staff. And he fired the French chef working in the White House, and invited renowned Black caterer and chef Dolly Johnson to bring All-American cuisine to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Juneteenth Foodways Festival, made possible through the generosity of Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, features an interactive food experience highlighting the hidden history of diverse Hoosiers from the 1860s-1890s from the perspective of African-Americans. It shares Black foodways contributions to American culture with a focus on Dolly Johnson, the White House Chef hired by President Harrison.

With a wide array of some of Indianapolis’ most delectably diverse food offerings, this event will incorporate Black restaurants and entrepreneurship through Black cuisine and program partnerships with historically Black non-profit partners, and shares the importance of Juneteenth, and interconnects to the 2022 exhibit on Harrison and Civil Rights. It will become the most prominent and public-facing of our equity outreach programs committed to meaningful, authentic, mission-driven engagement with our core community.

Interested in being a food partner? Please reach out to the Special Events and Marketing Manager at events@bhpsite.org.