2022 marks 157 years since the first celebration of Juneteenth in Galveston, Texas. Although Juneteenth is now officially recognized as a federal holiday, it's important that we invest and support events that authentically align with the true purpose of the day. Through the celebration of our ancestors' collective freedom from enslavement, our community is reminded of our resilience and the strength of us forging a brighter future together.
Here is a list of events happening around the country in honor of Juneteenth that honor the true roots and legacy of liberation for African Americans.
Juneteenth: Celebration of Liberation
Sunday, June 19, 2022
Southampton, NY
Hosted by Black Women in Media, this upscale event honors individuals who embody the fortitude and spirit of liberation through their commitment to bettering the Black community in their respective fields. Attendees can participate in a tour of the Southampton African American Museum and revel in the rich Black history on the island. As Sunday is also Father's Day, the event will include a cigar lounge for fathers to take part in and fellowship with one another.
Louisville Juneteenth Festival
Thursday, June 16, 1022 - Sunday, June 19, 2022
Louisville, Kentucky
With sponsors such as the Urban League of Louisville, Churchill Downs and a bevy of others, the 3rd annual Louisville Juneteenth Festival incorporates art, HBCU pride, culture and social good over a span of four fun-filled days.
Juneteenth at Emancipation Park
Saturday, June 18, 2022 - Sunday, June 19, 2022
Emancipation Park, Houston, Texas
Emancipation Park is a significant landmark in the state of Texas as it is one of the oldest parks in Houston. In 1873, community members in Houston rallied together to raise money in order to purchase ten acres of land and exercise their right to property ownership. This land continued to represent a space of resilience for the Black community in the area and has served as the site of Juneteenth celebrations since. This year's Emancipation Park's Juneteenth celebration will include performances from Sheila E, Kool and the Gang, Frankie Beverly & Maze and the Isley Brothers.
Black On The Block Juneteenth Festival
Sunday, June 19, 2022
1147 Palmetto Street, Los Angeles, California
Headlined by singers Sevyn Streeter and Arin Ray, Black on the Block's Juneteenth Festival is set to turn up the Los Angeles area through unique shopping opportunities, activations, games and more. Black on the Block is a curated festival held monthly that boasts over 100 vendors. The Juneteenth edition of the festival will have over 200 Black-owned vendors in attendance.
Juneteenth Food Festival
Saturday, June 18, 2022 -Sunday, June 19, 2022
Weeksville Heritage Center, New York, New York
The Weeksville Heritage Center operates with a mission of protecting the historical lineage of Black folks in Weeksville, Brooklyn. It is this charge that inspired the Juneteenth Food Festival. Through a sampling of Black diasporic cuisine, attendees will be able to taste the beauty in Blackness and celebrate in the connectivity of all Black cultures and their respective origins.
Juneteenth Celebration at Carlyle House
Sunday, June 19, 2022
Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314
The Carlyle House is transforming their space into a productive display of Black history through honoring Black communal art and advancement.
Blackbird House Reopening
Sunday, June 19, 2022
The Blackbird House, Culver City, California
The Blackbird House is a luxury private membership collective and co-working space that specifically caters to the needs and endeavors of women of color. This Juneteenth, it will celebrate its reopening through a series of panels on entrepreneurship, media and, blockchain, as well as engage visitors with creative and wellbeing activations.
Juneteenth Poetry Slam: Evening of Rhythm, Rhymes, and Reparations!
Saturday, June 18, 2022
Roxbury, Massachusetts
This poetry slam will feature 8 gifted poets as they share their reflections on the holiday and its legacy. The event will utilize a hybrid format, which will allow attendees to experience it virtually or in-person. The secondary purpose of this event is to draw increased visibility for 40 Acres and a School, an initiative for Black thinkers, doers and and leaders to facilitate community-based programming.
Juneteenth Jubilee Freedom Weekend at the Wright Museum of African American History
Saturday, June 18, 2022 - Sunday, June 19, 2022
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, Michigan
The Wright Museum of African American History is a pillar of truth in the city of Detroit. Leading up to the anniversary of Juneteenth, the historical institution will host a variety of cultural events under the banner of their Juneteenth Jubiliee Freedom Weekend. These events include opportunities for economic empowerment, local partnership activations and a screening of the film We The People by BlkFreedom, a national coalition of Black museums and institutions.
