Juneteenth Foodways Festival Partner Application

Want to be a food or retail partner at the 5th Annual Juneteenth Foodways Festival at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site?

Here’s what you need to know:

What is the Juneteenth Foodways Festival? 

The Juneteenth Foodways Festival, made possible through the generosity of the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, celebrates the many ways Black culinary traditions have shaped American culture. This event explores the story of White House Chef Dolly Johnson while uplifting and promoting local Black-owned businesses.

The public is invited to join us at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site for this free community celebration to:

• Sample delicious offerings from our local Black-owned food partners
• Browse retail partner booths featuring makers, artists, and entrepreneurs
• Learn more about Dolly Johnson, the White House Chef hired by President Benjamin Harrison  who served four U.S. Presidents.

The 2026 Juneteenth Foodways Festival will be open to the public on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 4:30 – 8:00 PM. Early Access Pass holders are welcome from 3:30-4:30 PM. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged to avoid long entrance lines. Tickets will be available mid-April. 

Introducing the Dolly Johnson Legacy Series

New this year, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is proud to launch The Dolly Johnson Legacy Series, a professional development and community-based workshop series created to support participating partners beyond festival day.

This series is designed to provide business-building tools that help food and retail partners strengthen their operations for long-term success. Workshops and resources will focus on topics such as business finance, marketing, legal readiness, licensing/permitting, and sustainability along with practical support to help partners prepare for high-volume service and customer experience during festivals.

The Legacy Series reflects our commitment to honoring Dolly Johnson not only through food and history, but through economic empowerment, skill-building, and lasting community impact. 

Who was Dolly Johnson and how is she being celebrated?

Dolly Johnson was a renowned Black caterer and chef from Lexington, Kentucky. She was hired by President Benjamin Harrison in 1889 to replace the French chef employed at the White House when he took office. Johnson went on to bring All-American cooking to the tables of three additional administrations: Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt. 

After leaving the White House, Johnson returned to Kentucky and opened several successful restaurants in Lexington.

The Juneteenth Foodways Festival highlights Dolly Johnson’s legacy with an emphasis on Black culture and food throughout the event. We partner with Freetown Village actors and interpreters, who bring Johnson’s story to life.

Who can apply to be a Juneteenth Foodways Festival Partner?

We welcome applications from Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, caterers, retailers, artists, and more from across central Indiana.

Why partner with the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site?

The inaugural Juneteenth Foodways Festival in 2022 welcomed over 1,100 guests. By 2024, attendance leapt to 2,200. The 2026 event if expected to be even larger. Participating in the Juneteenth Foodways Festival is FREE and exposes your business to a diverse array of potential new customers from across central Indiana.

To Make participation as logistically smooth as possible, approved partners will have access to:

• Two 8-foot tables
• Four chairs
• Linens
• One 9-foot white tent (food partners only)
• Personalized signage
• Handwashing stations
• Electric and other resources upon request

All partners must provide their own payment system. 100% of proceeds from sales at the event go directly to the participating partner. 

What will the day of the event look like?

Juneteenth Foodways partners may begin load-in at 9:00 AM on June 12, 2026. All partners must be completely set up no later than 3:00 PM.

Early Access Pass guests will begin arriving at 3:30 PM, and the grounds will be open to all other guests at 4:30 PM.

Guests are welcome to tour the first floor of the residence during the event. Entertainment, including a DJ, live food demonstrations, and Freetown Village performances will take place across the Presidential Site grounds.

Tear-down begins promptly at 8:00 PM, and all equipment must be removed from the site that night.

How to Apply

Food partners will be asked to offer 4-5 moderately priced menu options, which will be included in their application. Potential food partners are strongly encouraged to develop small-portion offerings, as guests enjoy purchasing from multiple vendors rather than buying a single full meal.

Application are open from January 1-January 31, 2026. Fill out your application by Clicking “Apply Now” below.

Please note: this is a competitive application process. Make your application stand out by highlighting menu and retail items that speak to the cultural heritage and contributions of Black foodways to American culture, and by submitting images of your menu items or products.

Applications must be received by the organizers no later than January 31, 2026. If selected, you will be notified by email by February 6, 2026. Only fully completed applications received by the deadline will be considered.

Questions? Please contact Tiffany Spears, Special Event Coordinator at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site: TSpears@bhpsite.org.