Here’s a (mostly) exhaustive list of Juneteenth celebrations across the U.S.
Juneteenth marks the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. I curated a list of events and one may be near you!
June 19, 1865, or Juneteenth, marks the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to let to the more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state know that they were free — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black Texans for over 150 years, with Texas freedman organzing the first recorded “Jubilee Day” in 1866.
Juneteenth activities spread throughout the country during the Great Migration, and millions of Black Texans brought their celebrations to the Northeast, Midwest and the West. Some Juneteenth events in states far from Texas are commemorating 50 years, or more.
Juneteenth — the longest running Black American holiday — became a federal holiday in 2021. Check out the list below and see if there’s a Juneteenth event near you.
Alabama: If you’re in Birmingham, pop by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Juneteenth Jubilee on Friday. Over in Montgomery, the Rosa Parks Museum is commemorating the holiday with free educational programming, live music, and more on June 20.
For Al.com, Alaina Bookman has compiled a list of Juneteenth celebrations happening across Alabama, from Huntsville, Anniston, and Tuscaloosa.
Alaska: Yes, there are Juneteenth celebrations in Alaska. “Celebrating Black Excellence: Past, Present, Future” will take place at the Delaney Park Strip in Anchorage this weekend.
Arizona: On Friday, enjoy a Juneteenth Block Party in downtown Tempe. Head to downtown Phoenix for the 6th annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on June 20 for live performances, Black-owned vendors, and more. About 100 miles away, Tucson will celebrate its 56th annual Juneteenth festival this Saturday.
Arkansas: Juneteenth in Da Rock, organized by the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, is one of the region’s biggest Juneteenth celebrations, taking place in Little Rock on June 20. If you’re in Northwest Arkansas — Fayetteville to be exact — you can celebrate on Saturday as well. Siloam Springs is also hosting its third annual cookout.
California: As one of our largest states and a primary destination for many Black Texans during the Great Migration, California hosts plenty of Juneteenth celebrations. Visit California has a list of events taking place across the state. The Sacramento Juneteenth Festival, the Hella Juneteenth Festival in Oakland, and the Juneteenth Celebration in the famous Leimert Park in Los Angeles will all be taking place.
Colorado: You can celebrate Juneteenth in Colorado with the Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival in Colorado Springs and the 15th annual Juneteenth Music Festival in Denver.
Connecticut: The Town of East Hartford and the City of Hartford have teamed up to celebrate Juneteenth with the “Bridging Freedom” festival on June 20. Or you can head to New Haven for the Juneteenth festival of Culture & Resources this Saturday instead.
Delaware: Stop by Dover for the Juneteenth Festival at the Legislative Mall on Friday. An observance service is also taking place in Wilmington on Friday.
District of Columbia: The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum will host a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on Friday. Then make your way to the Blacksonian to honor the life and legacy of Ms. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, as she celebrates her 100th birthday. There are a handful of other events taking place in the area as well.
Florida: Florida is pretty big, so there are plenty of Juneteenth celebrations taking place across Central Florida, Northeast Florida, and South Florida. Don’t miss the Black on the Block Juneteenth outdoor block party in Miami’s historically Black Overtown neighborhood.
Georgia: Atlanta’s largest Juneteenth event will take place throughout the weekend at Piedmont Park. You can also celebrate at the High Museum of Art with performances and art sessions. If you’re near Savannah, there are multiple celebrations happening.
Hawaii: Hawaiʻi’s biggest Juneteenth celebration will take place at Aloha Stadium on Friday.
Idaho: The Idaho Black Community Alliance will host Treasure Valley Impact Day in honor of Juneteenth on June 20 in Boise. If you’re near Idaho Falls, stop by the Colonial Theater for musical performances and more.
Illinois: Here’s a list of a number of things you can do for Juneteenth in the Chicago area. Don’t miss the DuSable Black History Museum’s Juneteenth celebration on Friday. If you’re in Peoria or Springfield, here’s another list.
Indiana: The Indy Juneteenth Parade and Festival will take place on Saturday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis. If you’re in another part of Indiana, this list might have an event near you.
Iowa: The ACLU of Iowa compiled a list of events taking place across the state, from Des Moines to Cedar Falls.
Kansas: The Parade and Car Show will take place in downtown Topeka on Friday, and a fashion show will follow at New Mount Zion Fellowship Hall. The 13th Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration will happen on Saturday at the Hillcrest Park and Community Center.
Kentucky: Check out Kentucky’s list of Juneteenth events commemorating the day. If you’re in Louisville, here’s a more detailed list.
Louisiana: The NOLA Juneteenth Festival is taking place on Friday at Congo Square within Armstrong Park. Here’s a larger list for New Orleans. There are also several events happening across Southwest Louisiana.
Maine: The City of Brewer is sponsoring a Juneteenth ceremony at Freedom Park on Friday.
Maryland: Visit Maryland has pulled together a list of Juneteenth festivals and events to commemorate the holiday. Don’t forget: Baltimore’s massive 50th Annual AFRAM festival is taking place over the 3-day weekend.
Massachusetts: The Museum of African American History is hosting “Freedom! A Juneteenth Celebration” block party in Boston and then a block party in Nantucket.
Michigan: Celebrate Juneteenth at the Wright Museum (don’t forget to read my story about my hometown museum) on Friday. There are some events taking place in Metro Detroit, and mid-Michigan as well.
Minnesota: Meet Minneapolis, the official tourism site, has an event calendar for the holiday. The ANIKA Foundation is hosting its 5th annual Juneteenth Celebration at the State Capitol on Friday.
Mississippi: The Mississippi Free Press has compiled a list of events across the state, from Jackson to Natchez.
Missouri: Visit Missouri compiled a list of events taking place across the state, from St. Louis to Kansas City.
Montana: Montana State University in Bozeman is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration on Friday.
Nebraska: There will be free food, live entertainment, and more at the Juneteenth Celebration in Lincoln’s Trago Park on June 20.
Nevada: The 25th anniversary Juneteenth festival will take place in Las Vegas, featuring a free festival and marketplace on Saturday. Or you can head over to Henderson for a Juneteenth festival at Water Street Plaza on June 19.
New Hampshire: The Juneteenth Music Festival will take place at the Robbins House in Concord on Friday. Crossway Christian Church is hosting its 3rd annual Juneteenth event in Nashua on Saturday. There are a few events in Portsmouth you can take advantage of as well.
New Jersey: There are over two dozen festivals and performances taking place across the Garden State on Juneteenth. Here’s the list.
New Mexico: The largest celebration in New Mexico takes place in Albuquerque on Friday at Civic Plaza and the Albuquerque Convention Center.
New York: New York’s tourism site lists Juneteenth events taking place across the state. The New York Amsterdam News, one of the oldest Black newspapers in the country, also compiled a list.
North Carolina: The Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas will take place over the weekend in Charlotte. Here’s a broader list of events taking place in North Carolina.
North Dakota: Yes, there are Black people in North Dakota! Head on over to Grand Forks on Friday for a celebration at University Park. Bismarck’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration will happen on the same day. If you’re closer to Minot, Freedom Day in the Park will take place on Saturday.
Ohio: From Columbus to Toledo, the state is celebrating Juneteenth with a variety of family-friendly festivals and events.
Oklahoma: Stop by Norman for the 6th annual Juneteenth Festival in Reaves Park on Friday. And of course, Tulsa, the home of Black Wall Street, boasts a major Juneteenth celebration on Saturday. Lupe Fiasco is headlining Juneteenth on the East in Oklahoma City.
Oregon: The Oregon Black Pioneers, a nonprofit that works to preserve the history of Black Oregonians, compiled this list of Juneteenth events around the state, from Portland to Salem to Eugene. The Juneteenth Oregon Festival and Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade is celebrating its 54th year on Saturday.
Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival has become one of the largest in the country. It lands on June 21 this year. Here’s a list of events across South and Central Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh!
Rhode Island: This tiny state boasts two major Juneteenth celebrations — the 8th Annual Juneteenth RI Festival and the Taste of Juneteenth New England.
South Carolina: There are several Juneteenth events taking place Upstate, and others around the Lowcountry. South Carolina’s largest Juneteenth festival takes place on Saturday at Finlay Park in Columbia.
South Dakota: If you happen to be in South Dakota, the 7th annual Juneteenth Celebration is set for Friday at Pioneer Park in Brookings.
Tennessee: The annual Juneteenth615 Celebration is set for Friday in Nashville’s Centennial Park; there will be a parade in Knoxville, events in Murfreesboro and Gallatin, and multiple free celebrations happening throughout Memphis — including one at the National Civil Rights Museum.
Texas: As the birthplace of Juneteenth, the state hosts a variety of celebrations and festivals. Head on over to Galveston for the day-long Juneteenth Music Festival & Fireworks at Menard Park on Friday. Austin had its first Juneteenth celebration in 1867, and the city still celebrates with a parade on Friday. There are events in Houston, Dallas and more.
Utah: Surprisingly, there are quite a few Juneteenth events taking place in Utah! The 35th annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival takes place on Saturday at the Ogden City Amphitheater.
Vermont: There are two major events in Burlington: the Richard Kemp Juneteenth Block Party on Friday and the City of Burlington Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday. For other celebrations in Vermont, check out this list.
Virginia: Here’s a pretty robust list of events taking place in the Commonwealth, from Nottoway County to Richmond.
Washington: The state’s largest Juneteenth festival takes place on Friday in Tacoma at the Lemay Car Museum Haub Family Field. Seattle’s long-running Juneteenth Freedom Fest is also happening on Friday at Jimi Hendrix Park.
West Virginia: If you’re near Charleston, check out the parade on Juneteenth at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. The City of Bluefield Parks and Recreation is putting on a Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration on June 20.
Wisconsin: The 18th Annual Juneteenth Celebration is set for June 20th at Buttermilk Park in Fond du Lac. Milwaukee’s 55th annual Juneteenth celebration begins with a parade on Friday at 9 am. And if you’re in the capital, Madison has a long-running Juneteenth celebration on Saturday.
Wyoming: Anyone near Wyoming? The Cheyenne branch of the NAACP is hosting its annual Juneteenth celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. Park this Saturday.
Thank you and bless you Mr. Phil Lewis. And Happy Freedom Day to you and yours!
Thanks for putting this together