Save two Juneteenth dates this year!

1. We welcome back past participants of the Roc Juneteenth 5K Run/Walk, and we welcome new participants. As always, our run/walk is on Juneteenth, or June 19, 2024.
2. In honor of Black Music Month, we present the inaugural “Roc Juneteenth Jazz,” a free event at Highland Park on June 16, 2024!

Roc Juneteenth 2024 5K Run/Walk

The 8th Annual Roc Juneteenth 5K Run/Walk is at 1 pm, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The live race will take place at Genesee Valley Park, Riverbend Shelter, located along the Genesee River. The certified 5K course offers runners beautiful and scenic park views on winding asphalt roads. You may choose to participate virtually any time from now until June 19, 2024.

*Before and after the run/walk, there will be light food and water available.
*Community vendors, along with helpful resources, will be available at tables.
*Raffle tickets will be sold (cash only) for a chance to win fantastic gift baskets and prizes.
*Funds raised from the run/walk will go to support the construction of the Minister Franklin D. Florence Civil Rights Heritage Park, an outdoor Civil Rights classroom at Baden Park in Rochester, New York.

We hope that you will join us as we continue our Juneteenth celebration. Following the 5K, there will be more celebrating of the accomplishments of Black artists. We will have a free jazz concert across from the Riverbend Shelter, at the Roundhouse Shelter, from 4 to 6 pm, on June 19. Bring your lawn chair or blanket, and relax or dance to the sounds and rhythms of jazz. Feel free to bring your own food or purchase from a vendor.  The day will be packed with family and community fun. We hope you will stay and enjoy it all! 

START YOUR OWN FUNDRAISING TEAM!
Please consider creating a fundraising team to help us reach our goal of raising $20,000. Click on the Fundraising Team button at the top of the page, and invite family and friends to support our cause. It's easy and fun, and you’ll be supporting a great cause!

Remember that you may walk or run virtually. We continue to be overwhelmed by the support for our virtual event, which we initiated during the pandemic. In fact, you can begin your virtual event now. Registration is easy.

We continue to commemorate over 400 years of perseverance, from 1619 to the present. Roc Juneteenth supports the work for equal justice through our dedicating this event to Ahmaud Arbery, a Black 25-year-old man who was pursued without cause, then fatally shot in Glynn County, Georgia on February 23, 2020, by three white men. We use the #irunwithmaud to demonstrate our support for the justice that was served in December of 2021, for Ahmaud. 

"Roc Juneteenth Jazz"
Along with our run/walk, we are thrilled to announce a new event three days before Juneteenth. We are presenting the inaugural “Roc Juneteenth Jazz” from 1 to 8 pm Sunday, June 16, in Highland Bowl, Highland Park, Rochester, New York.

“Roc Juneteenth Jazz” is in honor of Black Music Month, which was initiated by President Jimmy Carter. President Joe Biden later signed a proclamation, on May 31, 2023, to honor and celebrate the contributions of African American music and its influence on our nation's cultural heritage.

We are re-affirming these measures and what we have always known: The contributions of Black people to jazz and to so many other styles of music are immeasurable and lasting. Our celebration of Black Music Month is an outgrowth of our past Juneteenth events and your wonderful feedback and support.  So we hope you will join us for “Roc Juneteenth Jazz.” You will need tickets through Eventbrite, but this is a free event.  

Juneteenth is the celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger led 2,000 Union soldiers to Galveston, Texas, to ensure the freedom of 250,000 still-enslaved people. Today, Rochester, NY, home to Frederick Douglass, is the perfect place to host a Juneteenth run/walk! Visit www.juneteenth.com for additional information.

THE RACE COURSE 
The 5K race live event will start and finish at Genesee Valley Park. The official start time is set for 1:00 PM. The race uses USATF Certified Course #NY14904KL. CLICK HERE to view interactive course map.

Genesee Valley Park
Riverbend Shelter
Genesee River Trail
Rochester, NY

REGISTRATION & PACKET PICKUP
Online registration only. Race day registration & packet pickup will take at the Riverbend Shelter from 11 AM right up until the start of the race at 1PM. Please arrive early so we can start the race on time!

Live Race Registration
$25/$30 on race day

Virtual 5K Registration
$10 through race day


Virtual participants will get to choose the day, time, and location for their virtual 5K run any time from date of registration through June 19, 2024. You are encouraged to try out the FREE IYR Virtual App that will track and map your 5K run and keep track of your time. You can also manually enter your results at any time through the month of June by clicking on the results tab at the top of this page. Search for your name and then select the "Update Time" button next to your name. You will be prompted for the email and password you created when you registered for the race and created an IYR profile.

POST RACE CELEBRATION
Live race participants enjoy a post race celebration including light snacks, refreshments, music and awards ceremony.

PARKING
There is plenty of free parking in the park within walking distance of the start/finish line.

AWARDS
For the live 5K race, special gifts will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall male and female 5K finishers and ALL participants (Virtual and Live) and donors will be emailed a special commemorative poster...design to be determined.

CONTACT / INFORMATION
For additional information on the race or sponsorship opportunities available, please contact race organizer Gloria Johnson-Hovey at (585) 775-5599 or via email at glohovey@aol.com.

TIMING & FINISH LINE SERVICES
Professional timing and finish line services using industry leading Jaguar Electronic RFID timing will be provided by Race Management Solutions. Results will be updated throughout the race in real time and can be accessed at any time after crossing the finish line using any one of the following options:

• FREE ITSYourRace Mobile App
• RMS Race Results Kiosk/Printer
• Scrolling Results TV Monitor(s)
• ITSYourRace.com
• RaceManagementSolutions.com

Race participants can also use the ITSYourRace platform to view and share finish line photos with family and friends for free on Facebook. Custom finisher certificates can also be downloaded from the results page at no charge!