It offers a time to remember the history that Black Americans endured, honor and center Black culture and achievements, and fight for justice and against systematic inequalities that still exist today. It is an official holiday in New York State, and has been considered a federal holiday since Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in 2021. (You can learn more about its history here.). So, without further ado, here are 20 Juneteenth celebrations in NYC that you can take part in this year!
1. 18th annual Juneteenth virtual summit, festival, and concert
The East New York and Brownsville Community have been a huge support in building the Juneteenth NY Festival into a community staple over the last 12 years, and this year it’s happening Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19. Attend an online summit, head to Linden Park in Brooklyn for a Saturday festival with performances, food trucks, vendors, and more, and then end the weekend at Prospect Park on Sunday for a concert. Learn more here.
2. 2nd annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest
Juneteenth Freedom Fest NYC presents their 2nd Annual Juneteenth Block Party “For The Culture.” Juneteenth Freedom Fest NYC is a 5-day hybrid Juneteenth celebration! You can enjoy virtual content streaming throughout the week and end the party in Harlem on Saturday, June 18th! Learn more here.
3. Juneteenth UNITYFEST 2022
Join leading arts and media institution anchored in Downtown Brooklyn BRIC on Sunday, June 19, at 7:30p.m. for their Juneteenth UNITYFEST, a BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! concert co-presented by Robert Randolph Foundation. Featuring Jay Lamont as host with performances by Tye Tribbett, Israel Houghton, Mali Music, and Robert Randolph. RSVPs are encouraged but not required and entry is first come first served. Learn more here.
4. Jubilee Juneteenth Variety Show
Head to the Bell House’s 4th annual Juneteenth Jubilee for a variety show of comedians, storytellers, (whatever!) featuring Black/POC performers, and hosted byChinisha S. This event goes down Sunday, June 19, at 6p.m. Learn more and get your tickets here.
5. Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Juneteenth Celebration
Join the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music for an afternoon of music and culture commemorating Juneteenth in Brower Park. This year’s event, which also falls on Fathers Day, will celebrate Black fathers and it is free to attend. It’s happening on Sunday, June 19 from 11a.m. – 4p.m. Learn more here.
6. Brooklyn Museum Juneteenth celebration
This year the Brooklyn Museum is honoring Juneteenth with a full day of activities celebrating self-expression, community, and Black liberation and creativity. Since it’s taking place on Father’s Day this year, Sunday, June 19 at 12p.m., this year’s event will feature activities for the whole family. This program is free, but registration is required and can be done so here.
7. Juneteenth at Seneca Village
Seneca Village was a predominately African-American community that existed before New York City created Central Park and long before we celebrated Juneteenth. This year you can celebrate Juneteenth on Sunday, June 19 starting at 10a.m. with performances by world-renowned artists as they interpret the fascinating history and significance of Juneteenth and Seneca Village through dance, poetry, music, storytelling, art activities, and more! Learn more here.
8. Black-Led Film Screenings at the Museum of the Moving Image
From Friday, June 17 through Sunday, June 19 the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens will be showing The Princess and the Frog, a modern retelling of the classic Grimm fairy tale featuring Disney’s first Black American princess. You can also learn how to design a game that takes the player on a magical adventure into a Black utopian future or explore their Behind the Screen exhibition with a scavenger hunt, and learn more about legendary actress Lena Horne and civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. Find more info here.
9. Juneteenth at Van Cortlandt Park
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Bronx Arts Ensemble are hosting an evening celebration of Juneteenth this year. The program will begin on the back deck of the Van Cortlandt Golf House with performances including music and spoken word. Then enjoy a procession with drums to the Enslaved African Burial Ground for a libation ceremony, honoring the memory of the enslaved people. The celebration takes place on Monday, June 20 at 6p.m. Learn more here.
10. Listen to The Food Dialogues at the New York Botanic Garden
The African American hand in rice is foundational to American food, from its introduction as a colonial crop to its presence in every cross-cultural cuisine. In this dialogue on Saturday, June 18 at 11a.m., food historian Michael Twitty and Chef JJ Johnson reveal the history and present-day importance of rice on the plate. And of course, they will talk about the food traditions of Juneteenth! Learn more here.
11. Juneteenth Celebration at The Shed
12. Yoga at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Celebrate the International Day of Yoga along with Juneteenth on Sunday, June 19 at 10a.m. with an experience that will open your mind and heart as Brooklyn Bridge Park brings together local teachers and partners for a full day of classes and wellness experiences. The yoga practices that will be shared are accessible for any body type and skill level and will take place on the Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn. Learn more here.
13. Celebrate Juneteenth with the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca will celebrate and amplify the richness of Black stories and uplift the voices of Black storytellers across feature and short films, talks, immersive, audio storytelling, music, and other special events during the Festival. The programming will take place on Sunday, June 19 and will give audiences the opportunity to dive into the stories and events that highlight the Black experience in the United States and abroad. Learn more here.
14. Greenwich House’s Juneteenth Jubilee
On Friday, June 17 at 4p.m., Greenwich House will host a “Juneteenth Jubilee.” The free outdoor celebration for New Yorkers of all ages will honor Black American culture through music, dance, puppetry, drag and ball, spoken word, double dutch, and storytelling. Learn more here.
15. 6th annual Juneteenth Celebration at Battery Park City
Battery Park City is hosting a family-friendly afternoon of education and celebration on Saturday, June 18, from 2p.m. – 5p.m. at Belvedere Plaza. Members of the Federation of Black Cowboys will share a brief history of Juneteenth while bluesmen Michael Hill, Jerry Dugger, Junior Mack, and Bill McClellan lead a Juneteenth Jam. There will also be sing-along to songs, make your own Juneteenth flag and greeting card, and pony rides.
16. Juneteenth Food Festival
On Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19, the Weeksville Heritage Center x Jummy’s Picks by Black-Owned Brooklyn Juneteenth Food Festival will feature 21 Black-owned food vendors with cuisine representing nations across the African Diaspora. There will also be a small marketplace of goods that express Black pride and culture as well as family-friendly cultural performances, cooking demonstrations, and DJ sets curated by the Brooklyn-based collectives. Learn more here.
17. The Black Creatives and Culture Market: Juneteenth Edition – Freedom Is
This free two-day festival will highlight Black excellence, spotlight local creativity, and celebrate community. It will take place on Saturday, June 18th and Sunday, June 19th at City Point and BKLYN STUDIOS. Program highlights include a marketplace with 65 local brands, an art show with 9 visual artists, live music by 5 indie musicians, a panel discussion, an author meet and greet, and a small business pitch contest. Learn more here.
18. Strategy for Black Lives’ 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Strategy for Black Lives, an organization that centers youth voices around developing a response that would mobilize communities to fight against racism, discrimination, and inequity, is hosting their 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday June 18th at Riverside Park from 12p.m. – 9p.m. Enjoy food, music, dancing, and more! Learn more here.
19. Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Showing
This Friday, June 17th, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) will return to the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage to open their season of shows in neighborhood parks, commemorating Juneteenth. The film, returning for a second year to SummerStage, will screen for free and outdoors in Marcus Garvey Park, where The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed. Learn more here.
20. Juneteenth with FRIENDS at Prospect Park
Head to Prospect Park on Sunday, June 19 for a fun filled evening with sets by FUN with FRIENDS NYC’s favorite DJ’s (Gab Soul + Khalil), performance by Grammy-Award winning Angela Hunte, peer-to-peer games, food, and more. Fun with Friends is a community-based lifestyle brand striving to cultivate growth, relationships, and genuine connection through events.