The San Antonio Juneteenth Commission officially began holiday celebrations for Juneteenth this weekend.
Yesterday, the organization began festivities with a prayer breakfast to mark the start of a series of events leading up to June 19. Officially celebrated as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth marks the date that enslaved people in Texas found out that they were free, commemorating the end of enslavement.
In honor of the holiday, here are five events to attend nationwide.
32nd Annual Harlem Juneteenth Parade and Street Festival: Scheduled for June 14 on W. 116th, the 32nd annual Harlem Juneteenth Parade and Street Festival features not only a parade and floats, but also a street fair boasting information and products for education, culture, health and recreation. The free event is expected to start at 11 a.m. and last until 6 p.m. Vendors will also line up, while several musicians are also expected to perform for the event.
Juneteenth Community Day: Set for June 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Juneteenth Community Day is hosted by the National Museum of African American History & Culture. The free event features a tour of the Caribbean through dance and music. Along with stories, the Ras Lidj Regg’Go Band is set to perform. The crafts will continue with Caribbean instrument-making activities. Food will be available in the form of a special Juneteenth-Caribbean fused menu.
Juneteenth Atlanta: From June 14 to June 15 this year, the Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival will be held at Piedmont Park. Along with a car show, the parade will feature floats and live performances curated by artists such as Kebbi Williams, Jeremiah Dawson, Shar Bates and Pastor St. Claire. Animated DJs will also be featured at the event. The parade will further be supplemented with vendors, food, fly-over jets, dance troops, marching bands and appearances by dignitaries of the state. This year’s themes include reparations and true freedom.
Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival: Considered one of the biggest Juneteenth celebrations in the country, the Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival is a three-day festival held at the Citadel Mall from June 20 to June 22. Dedicated to bringing together people from all different backgrounds, the festival uses music, art and educational activities to unite the community. The festival is scheduled to have a health fair as part of its lineup for this year, alongside performances by local musicians and a car show featuring motorcycles and bicycles.
Museum of the Moving Image’s Juneteenth Event: Set for June 19, the all-day event will celebrate Juneteenth by highlighting the legacy of jazz legend Louis Armstrong. Created alongside the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the Museum of the Moving Image will present events dedicated to Armstrong by holding a Louis Armstrong Collage Animation Workshop and screening of Martin Ritt’s jazz musical “Paris Blues.”
A scavenger hunt will also be held to celebrate the connections between Black music and film, while the museum’s partner, Edge School of the Arts, will present African and jazz dances. The day will further include performances by the Entrfied Band, media game lab activities and a panel with historian Hyland Harris.
