Five Events to Attend in Honor of Juneteenth
The beginning of June marked the start of preparation for Juneteenth.
Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the end of enslavement when troops went to Galveston, Texas and ordered that all enslaved people should be freed. Although it was officially declared a holiday by the U.S. government last year on June 17, Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1865.
In honor of the holiday, here are five events to attend.
- 13th Annual Juneteenth NY 2022 Festival: Held from June 17 to June 19, the free event offers something different each day. After a summit on the first day, the Juneteenth NY 2022 Festival will host a festival on the 18th. Held in Linden Park, the festival will feature performances, food trucks, vendors from Black businesses, fitness events and food. On the final day, a concert will be held in Prospect Park.
- Juneteenth Community Day: Along with a special display of the original speech by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the 1963 March on Washington, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has a variety of events lined up for Juneteenth. Events include Juneteenth: Dishes to Taste and Savor, One Year Later: Juneteenth for All Americans and A Taste of Juneteenth: Watermelon and Red Birds- A Conversation with Nicole A. Taylor. The Juneteenth Community Day will also be held on June 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hosted in multiple locations and streamed, the day offers free a Juneteenth storytime with author Rio Cortez, a living history performance, and a concert featuring Alphonso Horne and the Kotham Kings.
- Tribeca Festival Juneteenth Programs: For Juneteenth, the Tribeca Festival has a variety of programs lined up. In addition to honoring the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award winner, artist Common, for his activism, the Tribeca Talks series presents conversations between Tyler Perry and Gayle King as well as Pharrell Williams and Minya Oh. The Tribeca Talk Series will also feature a conversation between critics and writers, such as Wesley Morris, Salamishah Tillet and Margo Jefferson, on topics like Black representation in the entertainment industry. Tickets for the presentation cost $40 each. The festival will also be showing films, documentaries and immersive projects, including “Beauty,” “For Love and Legacy,” “Supreme Team” and “Black Movement Library- Movement Portraits” amongst others. Free outdoor events include showings of “Purple Rain,” “Set It Off,” “Hargrove” and “Moonlight.”
- Juneteenth Music Festival: Held at the Five Points neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, the Juneteenth Music Festival is a two-day celebration in honor of Juneteenth. The festival kicks off festivities with its annual parade and continues with two full days of entertainment, vendors to support Black-owned stores, food, activities and more. Performs at the event include rapper Twista and R&B artist Kayla Rae amongst others. To attend the celebration, an RSVP is required, but general admission is free. For VIP access, the tickets cost $125.
- Something in the Water: From June 17 to June 19, the Something in the Water music festival will commemorate Juneteenth in the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Created by artist Pharell Williams, the festival is a celebration of the country’s diverse artists, culture and music. This year’s lineup includes a variety of performers; Chloe x Halle, Jon Batiste, Pharrell & Friends, Tyler, the Creator and Usher are amongst the many artists slated to perform. Tickets cost $450 to view all of the three-day performances.
