Where to Celebrate Juneteenth 2022!
Check out these in-person and virtual events for Juneteenth 2022 events! Get ready to celebrate the best way WE know how!
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NEW YORK CITY
Juneteenth Festival - Brooklyn
Friday, June 17 - Sunday, June 19
The 13th Annual Juneteenth NY Festival gathers thousands of attendees in Brooklyn for a vibrant day of rich culture through music, dance, poetry, skits, history, vendors, and families. This year, it will happen over the course of three days (June 17-19), kicking off virtually on Friday, June 17, and then for in-person gatherings in Brooklyn on June 18 and June 19. This year's theme is "Unity in the Black Family Unit," and it will feature the best in Black culture with a performance from Renée Neufville, exhibitions, authentic local cuisine, wellness activities and a fashion exhibition highlighting today’s hottest emerging Black designers. The Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty will also be on hand to host a basketball clinic for children aged 6-17. New this year, Juneteenth NY will host an awards luncheon in recognition of Father’s Day and in honor of Black men who have been working to make a difference in the Black community. There will also be a new component—"Libation & Liberation: The Quilt Project," a multi-city community-based initiative channeling the cultural legacy of Black American textile-making, where you can design a block in memory of loved ones lost to COVID-19.
13th Annual Juneteenth Festival - East New York
Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 19
The event—which is centered around creating economic and creative opportunities for small, Black-owned businesses—will kick off with a virtual series that includes several panel discussions on family health and wellbeing; online photo booths; and special giveaways. The in-person portion of the program starts on Saturday, June 18, in Linden Park with live music by local talent; a range of vendors offering handmade goods; and a Festival Food Market filled with bites courtesy of NYC-based, Black-owned restaurants. For sports lovers, the famed local teams the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty will also be hosting a basketball clinic with contests and drills for children aged 6-17. Wrapping up the weekend, on Sunday a fashion exhibition will shine a spotlight on hot new designers accompanied by a performance from R&B duo Zhané as well as Renée Neufville, with more to be announced. This event is FREE.
Juneteenth Literary Festival - East Harlem
Saturday, June 18, 10:30 am–6 pm
Before a busy Sunday jam-packed with events, spend the day before exploring the culturally rich festival programming at the Schomburg Center Literary Festival. Founded in 1925 by Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, a Puerto Rican author and bibliophile, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. At the outdoor and indoor event, in addition to the flurry of a book and poem readings by prominent Black authors like Jason Reynolds and Roxane Gay, the day is also stacked up with activities including live music, yoga plus meditation, author signings, performances by the Harambee Dance Company, and more.
Juneteenth Jubilee - Manhattan
Friday, June 17, 4pm–5:30pm
Greenwich House Music School (16 Jones St.) on Friday will host a free Juneteenth Jubilee with interactive performances that exhibit the cultural contributions of Black Americans with music, dance, puppetry, drag and ball, spoken word, double dutch, and storytelling. This free outdoor celebration from 4 to 5:30pm is for New Yorkers of all ages and hosted in partnership with The Soapbox Presents, Ars Nova, Little Mozart Foundation, and The Door.
LOS ANGELES, CA
Santa Monica Juneteenth Celebration - Santa Monica
Saturday, June 18, 1pm–7pm
Santa Monica City park
Santa Monica’s 30th Juneteenth Celebration has a jam-packed schedule. In addition to a performance by three-time Grammy-winning artist Dee Dee Bridgewater, you can catch dances, writers reciting original work about Juneteenth and DJ sets. End the day at Virginia Avenue Park with closing remarks by LaVerne Ross, the founder of the Santa Monica Juneteenth Celebration. This is a FREE event.
SoulfulofNoise Juneteenth Festival - Downtown LA
Sunday, June 19, Noon–6pm
SoulfulofNoise, which runs open mic events called Soulful Sundays in L.A., is dedicated to empowering children to believe in themselves. “At that tender age, they’re put into an environment where there’s a bunch of nos and we want to give them a day of yeses,” founder Henderson said in a YouTube video advertising the group’s Juneteenth event. The free event in a parking lot next to soul food restaurant Comfort LA will include health and wellness activities and a creative entrepreneurship workshop to help kids build their own business websites and imagine ways to monetize their talents. Attendees can also get haircuts, which can be purchased with “Black dollars” flowing through the event.
CHICAGO, IL
1865 Fest - Garfield Park
Friday, June 17 - Sunday June 19
Head to the Garfield Park neighborhood for 1865 Fest, held from June 17 – 19. This community Juneteenth celebration will honor Black military members and fathers, as well as provide a space for cultural activities, live music, arts and entertainment, food, and more. The festival will take place on Music Court Drive on the scenic grounds of Garfield Park.
Juneteenth Village Festival - Douglass Park
Saturday, June 18
This lively Juneteenth Village Festival will take over Douglass Park on Saturday, June 18. Expect games and activities for the entire family, including a Ferris wheel, petting zoo, rock climbing wall, inflatables, carnival rides, community vendor booths, face painting, and giveaways. There will also be a main stage and a kid’s stage with live performances.
3rd Annual Juneteenth Block Party - The Woodlawn
Sunday, June 19
The Third Annual Juneteenth Block Party at The Woodlawn has a little something for everyone. This year’s festivities will take place on Sunday, June 19, and will feature activities for kids and adults alike, with local vendors, a 360-degree photo booth, karaoke, games, prizes, and of course, lots of food and live music.
Juneteenth Father's Day Celebration - Lawndale Neighborhood
Sunday, June 19
Join the Lawndale neighborhood on June 19 for an old-school kickback, as they celebrate Father’s Day and community on beautiful Douglas Boulevard during their Juneteenth/Father’s Day Celebration. Catch double dutch contests, potato sack races, live DJs, free food, and more.
ATLANTA, GA
Atlanta Juneteenth Celebration - Centennial Olympic Park
Friday, June 17 Noon-10pm; Saturday, June 18 10a-10pm; Sunday, June 19 9am-8pm
Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival is a member of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation that brought you Juneteenth as a national holiday! Join the Atlanta community as we celebrate Juneteenth 2022 with national artists, speaks, cultural arts & film amphitheaters, community vendors, father's day celebration, and much more!
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