Juneteenth (June Nineteenth) commemorates the end of slavery.  On June 19, 1865 General Gordon Granger and federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and took control of the state to free the last remaining enslaved people in America. It is celebrated in America as the Black Freedom Day.

D.C. residents and visitors will be able to celebrate Juneteenth this year in person with free events and festivals for all ages. There are also virtual events for those that are not comfortable gathering in person (just yet!).

Listed below are a list of Juneteenth events that will be happening in D.C. this weekend.

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Resilience at The National Museum of African American History and Culture

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will be hosting Juneteenth: A Celebration of Resilience on June 19th starting at 10 am. The event consist of a conglomeration of different discussions and lectures starting with Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue. The other discussions and lectures throughout the day are: Genealogy & Records of Intrigue, Porch Stories – Tales of Slavery and Beyond, Juneteenth: Connecting the Historic to the Now, and Community Soundstage: A Conversation with Amythyst Kiah.

Date / Time: June 19th from 10 am to 8 pm

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Juneteenth Virtual Celebration hosted by Step Afrika!

Step Afrika! will be hosting a virtual event on June 19th at 8 pm. The event will feature the performance of their unique works of Trane, Little Rock Nine, and The Movement. You can register to attend the virtual event, here.

Date / Time: June 19th at 8 pm

Location: Virtual 

Cost: Free

Moechella Rock the Block Party & Unity Fest

Moechella will be hosting multiple events throughout the Juneteenth weekend. On Friday (June 18th), the organization will be hosting the Rock the Block Party at Audi Field that features workouts to go-go music. On Sunday (June 20th), the organization will be hosting Moechella’s Unity Fest at Gateway Pavilion. Moechella’s Unity Fest is a music festival featuring multiple go-go bands, food trucks, and vendors.

Date / Time: June 18th from 6 pm to 9 pm, June 20th from 12 pm to 8 pm

Location: Rock the Block Party- Audi Field, 100 Potomac Ave SW & Unity Fest- Gateway Pavilion, 2700 Martin Luther King Ave SE

Cost: Free

Juneteenth DC hosted by ONE DC

Juneteenth DC will bring about the reopening of the Black Workers & Wellness Center. This event will include a walkthrough of the new center, live go-go music, food ventures and community booths.

Date / Time: June 19th from 11 am to 5 pm

Location: ONE DC Black Workers & Wellness Center, 2500 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE 

Cost: Free+ (Price may range) 

Juneteenth Run & Ride 2021 

The second annual race includes a run on Saturday (June 19th) and a bike ride on Sunday (June 20th). The run will start at 6:19 am where attendees will be guided through the D.C.’s Civil War Defense Trail in Anacostia. Runners can join the organizers of the race at a post-workout cookout that will start at 9 am. On Sunday, there will be an option for bikers to ride for 6.19, 18, or 65-miles. The ride will begin at 6:30 am.

Date / Time: June 19th at 6:19 am & June 20th at 6:30 am

Location: Run- Fort Stanton Park, 1820 Erie Street SE   & Bike Ride- Urban Athletic Club, 804 N St NW

Cost: Free

Check out: Everything You Need To Know About Juneteenth in 60 Seconds

Don’t Miss: The Final Moments Leading to Juneteenth National Independence Day