NYC's Juneteenth Celebrations Are Bigger Than Ever — These Are The Events To Watch

Juneteenth 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, h ere are some Juneteenth celebrations in NYC that you can take part in this year! When is Juneteenth this year? ----------------------------- Juneteenth this year is on Thursday, June 19th . This holiday happens annually on that date to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth NY Festival ---------------------- 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 16 years, and they’re not stopping anytime soon! The week-long Juneteenth celebration kicks off with a free virtual summit and leads into festivities that include a parade, a family day festival, fashion show, Black-owned food vendors and businesses, community art projects, live performances, and so much more ! More than 20,000 New Yorkers are expected to gather throughout the week, especially on Saturday, June 14, the festival’s main in-person day. 🤎 Learn more about the Juneteenth NY Festival and see the full schedule here! When: June 12 – 19 Explore “Dreaming with the Archives” at Brooklyn Bridge Park ------------------------------------------------------------ Opening on June 19th, this initiative and public art exhibition from Kinfolk is designed to “preserve, share, and build collective experiences.” It’s an immersive AR experience with work from artists Hank Willis Thomas, Wangechi Mutu, Ari Melenciano, Olalekan Jeyifous, Kiyan Williams, and Jeremiah Ojo. When: June 19 Have a look at the Empire State Building ---------------------------------------- When the sun goes down on Thursday, June 19th, have a look at Midtown’s most well-known attraction, the Empire State Building. It will shine in red, black, and green in honor of Juneteenth. When: June 19 All About Us Festival --------------------- For “timeless hits and undeniable energy,” look no further than the All About Us Festival. Now in its third year, the celebratory event at Liberty State Park in Jersey City champions Black community through performances from iconic artists like Jadakiss and Mario , as well as other fun activities. “From the moment you walk in, it’s going to feel like joy,” said Shannon Mitchell, founder of the festival. “We created this space to remind us of what freedom looks like—being together, being seen, and celebrating who we are. Black history is American history, and this day is for all of us.” The annual celebration will also feature kid-friendly programs, art activations, a great lineup of food trucks, and opportunities to shop Black-owned brands. Reserve your spot online. When: Thursday, June 19 12-8pm Juneteenth March 2025 --------------------- Put your running shoes on and lace up for the Juneteenth March , an annual 5K that runs throughout Central Park ! The annual run started back in 2020 after many NYC activists came together right after the murder of George Floyd. Ever since, the run has turned into annual Juneteenth event celebrating the health and wellness of Black people . It’s around $30 to run (or walk) and get a bib, and all proceeds go towards the building fund of the Harlem Center , a community hub in Harlem dedicated to serving Same Gender Loving (SGL), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals, along with their families, friends, and allies. 🏃🏿 Learn more about the Juneteenth March and sign up here! Head to the Juneteenth Jubilee at Brooklyn Museum ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celebrate Black liberation and creativity at one of Brooklyn’s most artistic locations: the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway). Enjoy music from Bruce Edwards Trio and Alisa Ohri, craft scrapbooks, and have a look at what’s available at the Free Black Women’s Library, to name a few activities. **Register online**. When: June 21, 1-5pm Commemorate Juneteenth at the NYPL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Throughout June, the New York Public Library will honor Juneteenth with a variety of events across all branches. **Free activities** include storytimes, film screenings, and crafts, to name just a few. You can also head uptown to Harlem to pay a visit to the **Schomburg Center**, which is dedicated to research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African diasporic, and African experiences. With a whopping 11 million items and counting, it’s one of the world’s greatest attractions of its kind. Juneteenth at Lincoln Center --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lincoln Center’s **fifth annual Juneteenth celebration, *Oh Sankofa!*, curated by Carl Hancock Rux, honors African and African-American folklore as a lens for exploring identity, resilience, and history. The event features powerful imagery like the mythical Sankofa bird and characters such as Anansi and Br’er Rabbit, emphasizing the importance of cultural memory and storytelling. Audiences can expect a FREE immersive experience with music, dance, choral performances, and appearances by artists like Phyllis Stickney, Chanon Judson, and Marvin Sewell. 💃🏿 [Learn more about the event here!](https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/oh-sankofaandnbspa-juneteenth-celebration) When: June 19 Where: Hearst Plaza at 6:00 and Damrosch Park at 7:30 (Lincoln Center) Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth ------------------------------ The Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth concert will return to Times Square for their fifth annual outdoor concert, free and open to the public! Songs, dances, and spoken word performances are on the calendar, featuring Black performers from Broadway, including Two-time Tony Award® nominee Jon Michael Hill and 2024 Tony Award winner Kara Young** from the 2025 Broadway play *Purpose*, who will co-host the live concert. The live concert will feature soon to be announced cast members from such shows as *Aladdin, & Juliet, Boop! The Musical, Buena Vista Social Club, Chicago, The Great Gatsby, Gypsy, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child*, and many more. 👨🏿‍🎤 Learn more about the concert here! When: June 19, 11 am – 12:30 pm Where: Duffy Square in Times Square (46th and 47th Streets between Broadway and Seventh Avenue) BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth in the Park ----------------------------------------------------------- BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!’s summer lineup is soon to kick off, and one date on Juneteenth will be their third annual celebration of the holiday ! Celebrating Black freedom and creativity, this year’s lineup taps into the holiday’s historic Texas origins by welcoming Dallas-based funk band Ghost-Note as headliners. Rounding out the lineup includes an anthology reading from Voices of a People’s History and a DJ set from DJ Flash Gordon Parks . The whole event is FREE ! 🤘🏿 Learn more about the event and RSVP here! When: June 19, 5 – 9 pm Celebrate Juneteenth 2025 at Museum of the Moving Image ------------------------------------------------------- Join the Museum of the Moving Image for a Juneteenth celebration that will be both honoring the holiday as well as the legacy of the great Black American musician Louis Armstrong. In partnership with Louis Armstrong House Museum, June 19th will see plenty of activities including **a film screening of Martin Ritt’s lively jazz musical *Paris Blues*, a scavenger hunt through the *Behind the Screen* exhibition, African and jazz dances by Edge School of the Arts, jazz performances by New York City–based musicians of the Entrfied Band, and so much more. Gallery admission will be FREE from 2 – 6 pm! 🎥 [Learn more about the event here!](https://movingimage.org/event/celebrate-juneteenth-2025/) When: June 19, starting at 12:15 pm Juneteenth in Brower Park ------------------------- Join Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Brower Park this Juneteenth, where they’ll be hosting their a special Juneteenth commemoration featuring live performances, interactive activities, and community engagement from 11 am – 3 pm! This year’s theme is “Still We Rise” in tribute to Maya Angelou’s powerful poem of resilience and determination, and will feature performances by Brooklyn United Marching Band**, line dance workshops from STooPS, a story time from Brooklyn Public Library, music performances by duo Red Sahara, and so much more. It’s totally FREE and open to all! 🧒🏾 Learn more about the event here! When: June 19, 11 am – 3 pm 651 ARTS’ Fifth Annual Juneteenth Celebration ------------------------------------------------- 651 ARTS is bringing serious vibes to Downtown Brooklyn with “We Outside: A Brooklyn Juneteenth, Vol. III,” a high-energy celebration centering Black joy, movement, and community power. Inspired by legendary artist Faith Ringgold, this year’s theme explores coalition-building through dance cyphers, marching bands, spoken word, and their signature Stoop Sessions at Ashland Plaza . Expect food trucks, HBCU pride, and freedom-focused art in full force on Saturday, June 21 from 2 – 8pm. 🎶 Learn more about the event here! Where: The Plaza at 300 Ashland in Downtown Brooklyn When: June 21st, 2 – 8 pm Juneteenth Celebration at Hudson River Park ------------------------------------------- One of the many free summer performances happening this summer, Hudson River Park will be hosting a special FREE Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 20 ! Expect a special concert featuring dance, music and more, in collaboration with Ladies of Hip Hop ! 🎤 Learn more about the event here! Where: Pier 45 at Christopher St When: June 20th, 6:30 pm Juneteenth in Queens -------------------- The annual Juneteenth in Queens festival will return to Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans to celebrate black culture and creation on Juneteenth. The free-to-attend festival will feature interactive fun, local black-owned businesses available for shopping, workshops, live performances, and a whole lot more ! 🙌🏿 Check out the full schedule and learn more here! When: June 19, 12 – 8 pm A Union of Hope: 1869 at Tenement Museum ---------------------------------------- This exhibit at the Tenement Museum is the only permanent exhibit in New York City focused on Black history during and after the Civil War . It’s a recreation of Lower Manhattan’s tenements in the 1860s and 1870s...specically black New Yorkers Joseph and Rachel Moore . The exhibit, which was created in large part by a team of Black researchers and historians, is a moving an inspirational one that you should definitely check out this Juneteenth. Plus, the museum is also hosting “Reclaiming Black Spaces” walking tours , which explore the stories of Black New Yorkers and their resonant impact on local communities. 🏠 Learn more about the exhibit and the walking tours here Where: 103 Orchard St Support Black-owned restaurants and businesses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whether you’re grabbing a bite to eat at Sylvia’s, home to the best soulfood in the city, or snagging gifts at The Schomburg Shop, which just celebrated its centennial, there are plenty of ways to show your support for the Black community in NYC. Source: https://secretnyc.co/juneteenth-events-nyc-2025/