Here’s Where to Celebrate Juneteenth This Year

Juneteenth isn’t just a newly-minted National Holiday(!): for Black folks across America, it’s a piece of living history. June 19th marks the day that enslaved Texans gained freedom back in 1865, and since the legacy of slavery is still quite present in modern-day America, it’s up to every American to get educated when it comes to Juneteenth, as well as everything that led up to it. Legendary novelist and Invisible Man writer Ralph Ellison spent nearly 40 years writing an entire (sadly unfinished, but still brilliant) work about Juneteenth that remains one of the classics of American literature. And today, with cities reopening all across the country, there’s never been a better time than to make like Ellison and celebrate the holiday as it should be celebrated: as a joyful, almost holy experience. 

If you’re looking to celebrate Juneteenth from home or are feeling like you’re ready for some Block Party action, here are some excellent events to check out: 

New York:

Block Party!

Juneteenth in the Park has music, demonstrations, and exhibitions all day. 

Celebrate Black and Indigenous history on the LES

Head to Harlem and support Black-owned businesses

Join a Solidarity March

See Black stories onscreen in Tribeca

And don’t forget to party!

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by It’s a Strategy ✊🏾 (@strategyforblacklives)

PRESS FOLKS: I need your help to amplify our queer JUNETEENTH JUBILEE celebration centering and honoring black trans leaders. I have a lot of connects but oddly SOME of them aren’t responding to my outreach about amplifying the event. Twitter: do your thing!!! Get at me!

— Papi Magick ✨ (@JaimeCepero) June 14, 2021

Los Angeles and SoCal:

#BLKFREEDOM’s Virtual Juneteenth Program can be found here. 

The Black Arts Los Angeles is also hosting a virtual day of events.

You can hang in person at Leimert Park.

🚨PSA 🚨 THIS WEEKEND ILL BE DJ’n in LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JUNETEENTH EVENT AT Leimert Park, Crenshaw District, La AND THEN FATHERS DAY SUNDAY …..ILL BE DJ’n in Dillard’s IN PECANLAND MALL 12-3 #Yadiggggg 🛬THANK GOD FOR ALL THE LONG TALKS AT NIGHT 🙏🏾 #WhosDaDJ🗣#GlobalGoDjs pic.twitter.com/ZGKpMqpzMu

— GODJTWIN318🐶 (@GoDJTwin318) June 15, 2021

And you can chill at Sip & Sonder:

Join fellow LA locals and Lakers fans in celebrating Juneteenth at our friend’s specialty coffee house, @SipandSonder, this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/JJPuTgZgN8

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 15, 2021

And you can read up on the history of Juneteenth here:

Visit https://t.co/VTGwJrKy5b to find recommended books, ebooks and our upcoming events celebrating Juneteenth. pic.twitter.com/XtbckNhqmw

— Valley Plaza Branch – Los Angeles Public Library (@ValleyPlazaLib) June 16, 2021

The category is…Black joy!

Saturday, June 19 at 4 p.m.
Join the Octavia Lab and Sabine Maxine in zine-making to celebrate yourselves and Juneteenth around the theme of Black joy and Octavia E. Butler’s affirmations.
For more information: https://t.co/7bh6Ov9uhZ pic.twitter.com/5PhT6jRmb2

— Valley Plaza Branch – Los Angeles Public Library (@ValleyPlazaLib) June 14, 2021

Chicago: 

Attend the Thank You, Chicago Juneteenth Market

March in Ellis Park:

 

 

 

 

 

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Enjoy a brew (cold OR alcoholic!) and celebrate the neighborhood at South Shore Brew

 

 

 

 

 

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Head to Garfield Park for the 1865 Fest

Or to Huntington Park for My Block, My Hood, My City’s Juneteenth celebrations

Cleveland:

Indeed it is. Check out Mx.Juneteenth: A Black & Queer Liberation Celebration hosted by @DragFTL @TheCommunityCa3 and https://t.co/q2AFcEMHht https://t.co/hBtMYrdzuQ https://t.co/FoYAsePeWI pic.twitter.com/nc8Y6fXjFc

— I’ve never been to oovoo javer (@JuanitaBindEm) June 15, 2021

Texas:

Eat amazing food, listen to live music, buy from black-owned businesses and have fun at BLCK Market’s 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration!!!

📍 Buffalo Soldiers National Museum – 3816 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77004 | Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm pic.twitter.com/vNY9BMWo4k

— SAUEBLACKTX (@SAUEBLACKTX) June 14, 2021

New Jersey:

Woohoo! @Livingston_NJ is having their first Juneteenth celebration and I am super proud to be saying a few words there! pic.twitter.com/aNnpU4sdt1

— Dakashna Lang (@DrDLang) June 11, 2021

Pittsburgh:

Music, food, and artistry can be found at the WPA Juneteenth Festival and Parade

Kansas City:

Head to the Juke House for Emancipation 

West Virginia:

Join us this weekend….it’s a Juneteenth Celebration in Charleston! #unity #cwv #wv pic.twitter.com/Zsu0MUpz5p

— Our Future West Virginia (@ourfuturewv) June 14, 2021

Wherever You Are!

Catch a screening of Daughters of the Dust, a classic of Black cinema.

Participate in a voting event

There are many ways to celebrate Juneteenth in our community! Both @BlackIowa and @CityOfIowaCity are holding both in-person and virtual events, including live music, great food, and more! #JuneTeenth2021 pic.twitter.com/dlK5QU5t8h

— Diversity at Iowa (@DiversityUI) June 14, 2021

Enjoy this pre-Juneteenth panel

Friday, 2:30pm: Join us for a free, virtual event on the eve of #Juneteenth and in honor of #BlackMusicMonth. Firelight Founder @StanleyNelson1 and filmmakers @redrubes14, @MalikaZW, and @Nyjia discuss music documentaries by and about Black artists.

RSVP: https://t.co/QD4dFfHZI2

— Firelight Media (@firelightmedia) June 16, 2021

And don’t forget to check out The National Museum of African-American History and Culture’s huge virtual slate.

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