Legendary R&B group Lakeside will headline the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s 3rd annual Juneteenth in the Bluff: Arts & Culture Festival on Friday, June 19 beginning at 5pm in Pine Bluff’s downtown Delta Rhythm and Bayous Cultural District at 3rd & Main Streets. The public is invited to bring their lawn chairs to this free event and enjoy a night of fun and music. Juneteenth in the Bluff is sponsored by the City of Pine Bluff and Explore Pine Bluff.
Lakeside will perform crowd favorites including “Fantastic Voyage” and “Something About That Woman” on the main stage. Other musical entertainment includes Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Urban Mystic, and CitiLimitz, delivering a dynamic lineup that blends classic soul, blues, and contemporary R&B. The festival will also spotlight Arkansas talent and is hosted again this year by fan favorites Ryan Houston of KATV’s Daybreak and Christian the Comedian from Power 92 Jams.
“Juneteenth in the Bluff has quickly become a signature cultural event for Pine Bluff and the region, and UAPB is proud to help lead that growth,” said George Cotton, UAPB vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement. “In its third year, the festival reflects our commitment to celebrating culture, supporting community, and creating meaningful experiences that extend beyond campus and into the communities we serve.”
In addition to live performances, the festival’s HBCU Line Dance Challenge returns for a second year, after success in 2025 with 500+ participants. The Cub Club Zone, featuring carnival rides and activities for youth, retail vendors, and food trucks, create an immersive experience for attendees of all ages.
Juneteenth in the Bluff drew nearly 3,000 people to downtown Pine Bluff in 2025. Juneteenth, the federal holiday observed annually on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday stands as a powerful reflection of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of progress.
For more information about Juneteenth in the Bluff: Arts & Culture Festival or to participate as a vendor, contact Jaimie D. Wright at 870.955.4830 or [email protected].
About the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is an 1890 Land-Grant HBCU with a diverse student population, competitive degree offerings and stellar faculty. For more than 150 years, UAPB has worked to create an environment that emphasizes learning, growth and productivity while affording a basic need to its students: a chance to advance. UAPB offers certificate and associate degree programs, more than 50 undergraduate and master’s degree programs and a doctoral program in Aquaculture/Fisheries. Students are active in more than 100 organizations, including an internationally renowned Vesper Choir, Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South Band, Concert Bands, Wind Symphony, and an accomplished National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletics program.
