Events

On Saturday, June 16, 2018 the Friends of Dreamland and Arkansas’ FlagandBanner.com will partner with the Mosiac Templars Cultural Center in their celebration of Juneteenth, a holiday that historically commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery.

Today, Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in most states and commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings.

Little Rock has a variety of entertainment planned for the block party style celebration on 9th street, featuring live music, children’s activities, food trucks, non-profits, and vendor booths ranging from clothing to food. More than 1,200 people attended last year’s celebration with more than 50 participating vendors, performers and sponsors.

Guided tours of the Historic Taborian and Dreamland Ballroom will be held at 2:30, 4:30, & 6:30 pm and are free to the public. Please note that the ballroom is on the third floor. Those wishing to tour it should be aware that there is no elevator.

The Taborian Hall is now a century old. Construction began in 1916 and was completed in 1918. Since then Taborian Hall has been an integral part of the Little Rock African American Culture. The Dreamland Ballroom on the third floor became a popular stop on the famous Chitlin’ Circuit where musical greats such as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington performed among others. It also has a strong military history as the building served as the USO Club for African American soldiers during World War II. Currently the Dreamland Ballroom is undergoing further restoration efforts. A National Parks Service grant, dedicated to the restoration of Civil Rights significant places was awarded to the non-profit Friends Of Dreamland this past spring and will fund the long awaited elevator, new windows, and central air conditioning systems. It is one of the last remaining original ballrooms in America and the last original building on 9th Street which made up Little Rock’s historically black district, often referred to as “The Line.”

Also available to the public on the first floor of the Taborian Hall from 4 pm – 7 pm, local music group G-Music will be performing. Join us for refreshments and live music. Details available on Dreamland Ballroom Facebook page.

Partially funded by the African American Civil Rights program of the Historic Preservation Fund, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not constitute endorsement or necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior or U.S. Government.