L.A. Sklba
RACINE — Racine is the place to be Saturday as three major area events converge downtown.
Residents and visitors can pick from a run along the lakefront, a Juneteenth parade and a music festival—or attend all three for a day full of festivities.
The Lighthouse Run, Juneteenth Parade and Racine HarborFest are taking place Saturday, each within blocks of each other.
“A day like June 14 is the perfect example of what makes Downtown Racine so special — a vibrant mix of culture, community, and celebration,” Kelly Kruse, Downtown Racine Corporation executive director, said.
The Lighthouse Run, put on by 5Kevents, kicks off the day downtown at Festival Park, 5 Fifth Street. The annual event is returning for its 47th year and features both competitive and noncompetitive races.
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| Granetzke |
There is also a Carl Granetzke Memorial Kids Run. Granetzke was a local running icon who reportedly ran in more than 800 races in his lifetime and was known for his “infectious enthusiasm,” according to 5Kevents. He died December 20, 2024.
This year, prize money will be awarded to the top three men’s and women’s finishers in both the 10 miles and four miles competitive races.
Advance registration is required. For more information and how to register, go to https://5kevents.raceentry.com/racine-family-ymca-lighthouse-run/race-information.
Just about a block north of the Lighthouse Run finish line, the third annual official Racine Juneteenth Parade will begin at 11 a.m.
The parade marks and celebrates June 19, 1865, the day when the final enslaved people in the U.S. learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Brendan Saunders, from left, his daughter Dorothea, De'rya, Lisa Plunkett and Zoey march in the 2022 Juneteenth Day Parade in Racine. Juneteenth marks the day when the final enslaved people in the U.S. learned of their freedom on June 19, 1865 — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
“It’s a celebration for everybody,” JaVonna Lue, Juneteenth parade committee president, told The Journal Times. “Although we are celebrating Black culture, it’s still not a Black thing. It’s an everybody thing.”
More than 50 organizations are participating in this year’s parade, according to event organizers.
The parade will begin at the intersection of Fourth and Main streets. It will travel south to Main and 14th streets, turn west on 14th Street to Grand Avenue and turn south to the Dr. John Bryant Community Center, 601 Caron Butler Drive, where the parade ends.
There will be a celebration at the Bryant Center following the parade.
Racine residents and visitors can also look forward to Racine HarborFest returning to the lakefront.
The music festival used to be held annually, first taking place in 1987 at Pershing Park. The festival was known for donating some of its profits back to the community.
This year, the event will return at Festival Park on Friday and Saturday, with proceeds going to Racine County Food Bank and Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin.
The festival will feature nine bands across the two days, including Stephen Hull Experience, Bella Cain, Feels Like the First Time (a Foreigner tribute band), and Heart to HeartBreaker, (a Heart and Pat Benatar tribute band).
There will also be food trucks and merchandise booths.
Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. The festival runs 3-11 p.m. Friday and 12-11 p.m. Saturday.
It’s worth noting that anyone who participates in the Lighthouse Run gets free entry to HarborFest.
For more information, including a music schedule and where to purchase advance tickets, head to https://5kevents.strideevents.com/racine-harbor-fest/event-information.
“Events like these not only showcase the beauty and energy of our lakefront district, but they also bring a significant boost to our local economy by drawing thousands of residents and visitors to our shops, restaurants, and attractions,” Kruse said.
People heading into Downtown Racine this weekend can utilize street parking as well as all-day $4 parking at the Lake Avenue Ramp, 300 Lake Ave., the McMynn Ramp, 120 Seventh St. and the Shoop Ramp, 226 Main St., and the Civic Centre Ramp, 501 Lake Ave.
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