Rondo Days 2025 Honors Black Resilience, Legacy, and Community Joy
Rondo Days returned to St. Paul’s historic Rondo neighborhood this July with the sounds of music, laughter, and tradition. Once divided by I-94’s construction, the community gathered to celebrate heritage, connection, and survival with food, art, and multigenerational pride.
The sounds of music, laughter, and joyful chatter echoed through the historic Rondo neighborhood this July as the annual Rondo Days festival brought together hundreds to celebrate a community rooted in resilience, culture and connection.
For more than 30 years, Rondo Days has served as a powerful tribute to a once-thriving African American neighborhood that was dramatically divided by the construction of Interstate 94 in the 1960s. What remains today is a community dedicated to honoring its history, celebrating its heritage, and envisioning a strong future.
A community divided, and defiant
Rondo was once a vibrant, close-knit Black neighborhood spanning several blocks in Saint Paul, Minnesota, known for its rich cultural life and thriving local businesses. That all changed in the mid-1960s when city planners chose the Rondo neighborhood as the route for the new Interstate 94 freeway.
The highway sliced through the heart of the community, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses, displacing thousands of residents, and fracturing generations of families and friendships. The construction of I-94 is widely regarded as a devastating act of systemic racism and urban displacement.
“The freeway came through and destroyed the community,” said Keith Baker, executive director of Reconnect Rondo, an organization dedicated to revitalizing the neighborhood. “Rondo Days really represents part of that joy, that resurgence, that reunion.”
Legacy of strength and survival
“My name is Shamika Jackson, and I’ve been coming here since I was about 15 years old,” said Jackson, a Minneapolis native. Now 47, she described Rondo Days as a deeply personal tradition. “[It is] everything to me, what our ancestors went through to have this moment right now.” For Jackson, the event is about more than food, music, or festivities; it’s a way to pay homage to the sacrifices and struggles that made today’s celebration possible.
Keisha Ray, a Saint Paul resident and founder of Keisha Ray Productions, echoed this sentiment. “Rondo Days is like a family reunion,” she said. “We were displaced by I-94, and this festival is our way of coming back together.” Ray remembers when the event included a parade drawing visitors from across the country. “I hope they bring the parade back someday,” she said. “It was something really big.”
Community ties, cultural pride
Many attendees pointed to the strong sense of community as the heart of Rondo Days.
Friends Sen and Esko, who grew up in Rondo and attended Central High School, described the neighborhood’s legacy as “deep” and “cherished.” “It’s rare these days to find generations appreciating the same thing, but that’s what you see here — community, legacy, heritage.”
Darius Winfield came out representing House of Refuge, a church deeply connected to the neighborhood. His family has sold catfish and chicken baskets at Rondo Days for years to raise funds. “Rondo is community. We know the history — how the highway was built and split us up,” he said. “But we still come together and celebrate.”
The festival also attracts creatives like Louis “Lewiee Blaze” Edward Michael IV, a local artist and community advocate. He called Rondo “a historically Black, wealthy neighborhood” that has faced gentrification and systemic challenges but remains a symbol of unity and love. “We don’t see that unity much in mainstream media,” he said. “But here in Rondo, it’s all love, solidarity and strength.”
Rebuilding through celebration
Keith Baker explained how Rondo Days plays a role in community healing. “Rondo Days represents joy, resurgence and reunion,” he said. “After Covid paused the celebration, it’s been amazing to see the spirit reignited.”
Baker emphasized the power of relationships and laughter during the festival. “The spirit of Rondo runs deep, and it shows in how people connect here.”
Photographer King Demetrius shared his own perspective. “Rondo Days is peaceful, beautiful, like a family reunion without drama,” he said. “It’s inspiring to see Black men and women stepping up, raising their children, and celebrating together.”
More than a festival
Rondo Days is much more than a day of fun and food. It’s a cultural ritual where African American heritage is honored and community bonds are strengthened. For many, it fills a void left by mainstream holidays that don’t fully recognize Black history and experiences.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m African without heritage and American without inheritance,” Lewiee Blaze reflected. “Rondo Days is our way of creating our own holiday, our own tradition, filled with love, music, food and life.”
The festival’s sights and sounds, from children running and playing to vendors selling crafts, underscore a vibrant culture that refuses to be erased.
Looking forward
As Rondo Days 2025 drew to a close, the message was clear: The spirit of Rondo is alive and thriving. It’s a celebration of a community that endured displacement and injustice but continues to build wealth, culture and connection.
“This is a space where generations come together to honor what was lost and celebrate what remains,” said Keith Baker. “Rondo Days is about resilience, identity, and the power of community.”
For those who attended, from longtime residents to first-time visitors, Rondo Days was a reminder that history lives in every smile, every song, and every shared meal — a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of a neighborhood and its people.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com