Screenings, celebrations and workshops: Here are 16 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Houston

Juneteenth, or Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States and is celebrated on June 19.

The day has been celebrated since 1866 when the first festivities were recorded. Black church-centric communities gathered in Texas and then later expanded in the South among Blacks recently freed from enslavement and their descendants.

During the 1920s and 30s, the celebrations spread to include various activities, after which they amalgamated with the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Juneteenth was first recognized as a holiday in Texas by proclamation in 1938 and by legislation in 1979, followed by other states and the District of Columbia. It is considered the “longest-running African-American holiday, ” often celebrated on the third Saturday in June.

Houston, a vibrant city rich in culture and diversity, participates in Juneteenth celebrations with pride, confidence, and assurance in Black excellence, grit, and resilience.

Here are some ways you can join in the celebration this year:

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   Juneteenth Celebration: The Stories of Lady Liberty and Emancipation: On June 9, this event will be held at Bisong Art Gallery. The award-winning author, professor, scholar, and cultural curator, Dr. Lindsay Gary, will be performing here. For more context, the Statue of Liberty was established to celebrate emancipated slaves. Lady Liberty and Juneteenth are intrinsic to the narrative of liberty and justice in the country. Workshops will be held, and children will get the opportunity to engage in art, crafts, and storytelling with Chloe Jones and Sharon McLaurin.

   
   
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   Juneteenth Tea Cakes and Tours Every Saturday at The Heritage Society in June: This event comprises a historical journey at three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. The food includes red punch and tea cakes. The Black History Tour will be guided, providing a glimpse into the history of those who lived on plantations and segregated neighborhoods after June 19, 1865. These tours will take place every Saturday this month at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. You can book yours here: .

   
   

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   Celebrate Freedom Fest by Juneteenth Houston: This event took place at Emancipation Park, and had fun activities like food, shopping, and art activations. Attendees were invited primarily from Independence Heights, Fourth Ward, Third Ward, Fifth Ward, Sunnyside, Acres Homes, and South Park.

   
   
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   Virtual Talk: Support Units in the Normandy Campaign: This event will be held on June 7 from 3 pm to 4 pm. Cale Carter, director of exhibitions at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, and archivist Jason Fung will host the virtual talk, discussing the important role of service units during WWII. You can register here:

   
   
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   Another event titledJUNETEENTH JOURNEY: BRIDGING PAST AND PRESENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY will be held onJune 18 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at Ion – Forum Stairs, organized by Blacks at Microsoft (BAM), in partnership with Ion. It will feature speakers from the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and Emancipation Park Conservancy on the evolution of technology from the 1860s to the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) today, and the parallels between the innovations of the Buffalo Soldiers and today’s technological advancements.

   
   
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   Jubilee: A Juneteenth Celebration in Song: The free event will be held on June 8 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ. Organized by Voices of Houston, the concert Jubilee “will honor the legacy of the “Negro Spiritual” and tell the story of Black emancipation through freedom songs.” You can find more information here: .

   
   

1. JUNETEENTH LIBERATION MARKET: This event will be held on June 13 from 6 pm to 9 pm at POST Houston, presented by SOA Co. Books in collaboration with CAMH! There will be a chance to support 30 local vendors and Black literary arts, and music from DJ Womon.

1. 2nd Annual Freedom Run/Walk: Juneteenth celebrations have something for everybody! For our fitness community, this run/walk expects to see more than 200 participants this year on June 15 from 7 pm to 10:30 pm at Emancipation Park. All proceeds from the event will go toward park programming initiatives.

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   Let Freedom Ring: On June 15 from 9 am to 11 am at Beautys Garden, this event will include food, games, and an appearance from some special guests.

   
   
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   Juneteenth Screening of ‘If They Took Us Back’ featuring Daniel Fears: This unique experience comprises the alternate history short film If They Took Us Back, in which the U.S. government mandated the return of all formerly enslaved people to Africa in 1863. The screening will be accompanied by live performances from soundtrack artist Daniel Fears, a mini-documentary on the film “The Making of If They Took Us Back,” panel discussions with the cast and writer/director Holly Charles-Pearson, local vendors, and art, among others.
   A screening of A Soldier’s Story will be heldon June 22 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum.

   
   
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   ANNUAL JUNETEENTH PROGRAM WITH BLACK COWBOY EXPERIENCES AND GOSPEL CHOIR: On June 15, from 9:30 am to 12 pm at the Heritage Society, these events will take place: Martha Whiting-Goddard, the great-granddaughter of Reverend Jack Yates, will share family history and upbringing in the Yates House, the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses-Houston will perform (Organization’s History), and Larry Callies’ discussions on his inspiration behind the Black Cowboy Museum, followed by executive director Alison Bell’s introduction of “From Plantation to Emancipation Tour.”

   
   

1. Juneteenth Celebration at Bayou Bend: This family-centered event promises performances, workshops, and interactive activities centered on Black history. On June 22, from 10 am to 3 pm, a performance of “Rhyme and Reason” by the Express Children’s Theater of Houston will be held. Other activities include a drop-in art-making workshop led by teaching artists Norola Morgan and Janice Warren, guided tours of the Bayou Bend Collection that highlight the significance of Juneteenth, and experiencing the history of African American cowboys with the Black Cowboy Museum in Rosenberg and the legacy of Wilson Pottery Foundation.

1. Juneteenth: A Musical Journey Through Eras: The Wells Fargo event at Miller Outdoor Theatre is on June 14-15 at 8 pm. For music lovers, this evening will be an odyssey in tribute to Black music and the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement — classic R&B, Blues, Inspirational, Hip Hop, and Gospel. The event is free, and tickets can be found here: .

1. Juneteenth Parade and Festival (Vendors Only):  The Black Heritage Society will spearhead the 15th Annual Juneteenth Parade and Juneteenth Jubilee Festival in the Acres Homes area on June 15 at 10 a.m. The parade will kick off at the Acres Home Multi-Purpose Cente and meander through the streets, ending at the Greater Zion Missionary Church.

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   Culture Fest at Discovery Green:  On June 16, from 2 pm to 9 pm at Avenida Plaza, the event will comprise music, dance, and local food, with live performances. The BLCK Market’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration is from June 15-17at BLCK Market on Main Street.

   
   
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   JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR:  This event will be held on June 18 from 10 am to 3 pm at Emancipation Park. From health screenings to information on food and nutrition and community resources, you can find it all here.