Juneteenth Bike Ride Honors Black Joy

An annual Juneteenth festival in the Heartland hosts its sixth Juneteenth ride.

Photos from Joyfest Bike Ride 2025 by Brooklyn Johnson

Juneteenth is a celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Today, Juneteenth celebrates Black freedom, joy, expression, and the continued fight for equality. Cities across the U.S. are hosting community rides to honor Black joy and togetherness, including in Omaha, Nebraska, for Juneteenth JoyFest. On Friday, JoyFest will host Brunch and Bike: Juneteenth Ride in collaboration with The North Omaha Trail and Just Ride. Folks will take a ride on the North Omaha Trail, followed by breakfast sandwiches from Barb’s Breakfast Bar. Participants are welcome to bring their own bikes or check out a Heartland Bike Share bike.  

“We’re utilizing and pushing the resource about Heartland Bike Share’s free rides to people in the Omaha metro area,” says Alajia McKizia, founder of Juneteenth JoyFest. “If you have an address within the Omaha metro area, then you can get a free annual membership.”

Alajia McKizia, Juneteenth JoyFest founder

Leading the ride is Manne Cook, the planner who put the North Omaha Trail into motion and a Heartland Bike Share board member. The route is mostly flat, the ride is open to all ages, and you do not have to be an expert or a daily cyclist to join, according to McKizia. 

“It’s open to varying levels,” says McKizia. “The e-bike is a little bit more difficult to ride, but normally, Manne gives a demonstration on how to use it, and Heartland Bike Share has a lot of good information on how to use it.”

Cook has led this ride every year since Juneteenth JoyFest started six years ago. “It’s become a tradition of Juneteenth, and people always like it and enjoy it.” Cook has led many rides as the founder of Just Ride, but says this ride in particular brings a unique sense of community with many  folks bringing speakers, making it feel like a ‘traveling party.’ 

“It’s a little bit different than previous years, where Heartland Bikeshare would help us get 20–30 bikes, whereas this year it’s more like just check one out and ride it there, and then if you don’t do that, there’ll be some nearby Heartland Bike Share stations,” says Cook. 

The ride kicks off Juneteenth weekend celebrations, followed by the festival the next day.

The 6th Annual Juneteenth JoyFest takes place on Saturday, June 20, at The Union for Contemporary Art following the annual Juneteenth Parade in North Omaha. This year’s theme, Movement and Migration, honors the Black Arts Movement and the role of Black art as activism and a tool for change. The event will feature musical performances from artists like Mick Jenkins, youth performances, spoken-word poetry, DJs, and a Black flea market with local vendors, interactive community art, and food vendors. For more information, visit juneteenthjoyfest.com