Imagination Unchained: A Celebration of Juneteenth Through Art, Culture, and Black Brilliance
Next Weekend Productions, Inc. (NWP) is set to stage the return of its signature annual Juneteenth Concert Experience on Friday, June 20th, 2025, 8 pm, at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (3800 NW 11th Pl, Lauderhill, FL 33311). This year’s title, Imagination Unchained: Juneteenth Concert Experience, has expanded its artistic offerings with a visual arts exhibition alongside live performances, immersive music, live brand activations, and community engagement. Frankie Red will serve as the event’s Emcee. Imagination Unchained celebrates the power of Black creativity as a force for liberation, unity, and joy.
To purchase tickets, visit: https://www.showpass.com/
This year’s expanded offerings include a striking gallery exhibit showcasing the work of Dionne Polite, a Guyanese-American painter whose storytelling-rich pieces draw from her Caribbean heritage and personal reflections. Inspired in part by her father’s 2019 diagnosis of dementia, Polite explores themes of memory, identity, and Black resilience. “My work doesn’t center on trauma, I want to celebrate our nobility and resilience,” says Polite. “Across the African diaspora, we have flourished no matter where we’ve landed. That’s the story I tell with every brushstroke.”
From regal African figures to scenes of Afro-Caribbean life, Polite’s work challenges stereotypes and honors the beauty and complexity of Black identity. Juneteenth holds deep meaning for her, a sacred time for reflection, remembrance, and empowerment. “Juneteenth is a legacy celebration, remembering who we are and where we’ve come from. My art reflects that. I hope everyone who views it feels seen, celebrated, and inspired.” Dionne Polite
Complementing Polite’s exhibition, acclaimed muralist and fine artist Mars will perform a live painting performance. A New World School of the Arts graduate, Mars’ vivid murals have graced Universal Studios, Disney Resorts, Amazon, and more venues. During the event, she will create original work live in the lobby, transforming the venue into a living canvas of freedom and imagination.
This year’s experience welcomes a new and past partner: Starbucks. They will host an interactive coffee installation that combines education, enjoyment, and community engagement. Guests can participate in hands-on coffee-making demonstrations, explore coffee’s African origins, and enjoy coffee-themed games and giveaways designed to deepen cultural understanding and connection.
Headlining Performers & Programming Highlights
Cande Rivers – Acclaimed singer-songwriter, delivering a soulful headline performance with a divas tribute to Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, and Dionne Warwick.
EchoSlim-Grammy-winning DJ and producer, curating an immersive Motown soundscape
Patra Baker Tech Fund Scholarship – Supporting the next generation of Black creatives and technologists
