June 19 festivals, concerts, family celebrations and other events in the Washington, DC area
Juneteenth is officially observed on June 20 this year, but festivities will take place throughout the weekend.
Live at the Library: Celebrate June 19 at the Library of Congress: The Library of Congress’ after-hours lineup turns to Juneteenth this week, with a performance by the excellent band from South Carolina ranky tanky, whose Grammy-winning sound is inspired by funk, jazz and call-and-response gospel, all steeped in Lowcountry Gullah culture. In addition to a pre-concert discussion, the evening includes an exhibition of items related to June 19 and emancipation from the library’s collection, access to all exhibits, and drinks and snacks in the big room. Although admission to Living at the Library requires a free pass for the hourentrance to the concert requires an additional ticketwhich is also free. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. loc.gov/events. Free.
June 16 weekend in the town of Bowie: A three-day celebration begins with a Friday night screening of “Hidden Figures” at Allen Pond Park. Saturday’s Juneteenth Jubilee at Allen Pond Park, presented by the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts, incorporates African dance, poetry, live music and drumming. The series ends on Sunday with a morning bike ride; a Father’s Day afternoon with music, vendors, games, moon jumping and food; and a sunset concert with reggae band Proverbs. All events are free; the bike ride requires prior registration. cityofbowie.org/juneteenth.
Juneteenth: Journey to Freedom at BlackRock Center for the Arts: Montgomery County’s 25th Annual Juneteenth Celebration is a 12-hour family-friendly festival that covers all the bases, from modern dance performances to a historical exhibit of the Sandy Spring Slave Museum. Live music includes jazz and Caribbean ensembles, go-go legends Rare Essence and an Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band. A section for cinema and poetry offers screenings of “Black Panther” and “Soul”. There are games, food trucks, vendors, books and craft activities, as well as a “Path of Knowledge” passport that families must complete. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. blackrockcenter.org. Free.
June 16 Celebration in Annapolis: In 2021, the inaugural parade on June 16 in Annapolis involved more than 2,000 participants, including floats, school marching bands and dancers. This year, the organizers plan to go even further. The parade starts from the City Dock, passes the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial and ends at the Bates Athletic Complex on Spa Road. The festival, which begins at 2 p.m., features two entertainment stages: one focuses on R&B, featuring the Chuck Brown Band and Avery Sunshine, and the Gospel stage includes Pastor Mike Jr. and Beverly Crawford, backed by the Juneteenth Choir. The day ends with a fireworks display. Parking is available at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, with free shuttles to the festival. Noon to 9 p.m. theannapolisjuneteenth.org. Free.
Juneteenth at Watkins Regional Park: Hosted by the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, this party features music from Kindred the Family Soul, Sugar Bear and EU, and a tribute to Maze; dance performances by Dance Place and the Taratibu Youth Association; art and history exhibits; poetry; arts and crafts activities; sellers; and a treasure hunt. Noon to 5 p.m. pgparks.com/Juneteenth. Free.
June 16 celebration at Frying Pan Farm Park: Fairfax County Park, which depicts farm life in the early 20th century, marks June 19 with storytellers, live music, crafts and food trucks. Reservations are required and the 11 a.m. time slot is already full. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. fairfaxcounty.gov/parks. Free.
Sounds of Africa at the National Museum of African Art: The first in a series of outdoor summer concerts in the Enid A. Haupt Garden, this concert features Eme & Heteru, featuring Chelsey Green, performing “liberation songs” to mark Juneteenth. 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. africa.si.edu. Free.
Juneteenth at the National Archives: The two most important documents relating to Juneteenth are the Emancipation Proclamationwhich declared that effective January 1, 1863, “all persons held as slaves” with the Confederate States of America “are and shall henceforth be free” and General Order No. 3, issued by Major General Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, which announced: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation of the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. ” The National Archives holds original copies of both and displays them from June 18 to 20, with the museum remaining open until 7 p.m. on all three days. A special family day on Saturday includes arts and crafts and other activities from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., while an online program on Friday at 7 p.m. includes a discussion with historians and music live. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. archives.gov. Free.
‘Juneteenth: A time of reflection and rejoicing’ in Alexandria: Alexandria’s June 16 celebrations take place over three days. Saturday is just for the little ones, with a story hour for ages 3-6 at the Charles Beatley Jr. Central Library, followed by a Juneteenth Jubilee with songs, stories and activities from the children’s entertainer Culture Queen. On Sunday afternoons, the Jubilee Voices perform spirituals and African-American folk songs and tell stories of freedom and the Underground Railroad in the city’s marketplace. Monday marks the official opening of the Freedom House Museum on Duke Street. Once the headquarters of the nation’s largest slave traders and later a Civil War prison, the National Historic Landmark was purchased by Alexandria in 2020 and now houses three floors of exhibits examining Black history in Virginia and in America. The museum is open from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. at the nearby Shiloh Baptist Worship Center. alexandriava.gov/Museums. Admission to most events is free; museum admission $5 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12, and free for Alexandria residents.
Celebrating the “Freedom Amendments”: The City of Vienna is again using Juneteenth as the start of a one month party of the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th Amendments, which he calls the “Liberty Amendments.” The commemoration of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, runs June 18-25 and includes an exhibit at the Freeman Store and Museum and guided walking tours of historic African-American sites. A launch event on Saturday includes African dances and drumming; a cover band Earth, Wind and Fire; and a car show. Tuesday brings story time, and Wednesday features a conversation with local blues musician Daryl Davis, who has written a book about his efforts to discuss race with members of the Ku Klux Klan. The week ends with a festival on the town green with artists, games and activities for children. Locations and times vary. viennava.gov. Free.
Juneteenth Foods at the National Arboretum’s Washington Youth Garden: Learn about the cultures of the African Diaspora – especially those growing well in the DC area – at this family-friendly, food-focused event hosted by the Friends of the National Arboretum. Chef Daoud Harris leads “garden-to-table” cooking demonstrations, and FONA offers self-guided tours of the gardens and their bounty. Noon to 2 p.m. fona.org. Free; donations requested.
Juneteenth Community Day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture: The African American Museum on the mall is an obvious place to celebrate June 19th, but it will be difficult to do it in person if you haven’t already made plans. Free admission tickets to the museum are claimed a month in advance, so the only option is to log in at 8:15 a.m. and try to get a limited number of passes for the same day. Those who pass can view the original copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech from the 1963 March on Washington (on display in the “A Changing America” exhibit) as well as living history experiences explaining Juneteenth and the Troops of Color the United States. , as well as arts and crafts activities with the family. A performance by New Orleans jazz artists Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings will take place at the Oprah Winfrey Theater at 3 p.m. — free, but reservations are required – and will be streamed online via the museum’s website for those who didn’t get tickets. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. nmaahc.si.edu. Free.
June 19 Celebration at the African-American Civil War Memorial: The African American Civil War Memorial Museum holds a wreath laying ceremony in front of the memorial’s “Spirit of Freedom” statue, followed by a living history program in the plaza. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. afroamcivilwar.org. Free.