7 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth in Austin
There are many ways to honor Juneteenth, a day to commemorate the end of slavery and appreciate Black culture in the U.S.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day federal troops came to Galveston to take control of Texas and ensure that all slaves were freed. The day came more than two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and more than one month after the end of the Civil War. Recognized as the day that slavery effectively ended in the U.S., Texas was the first state to commemorate Juneteenth as a state holiday, starting in 1979. Now memorialized as a federal holiday, many events will be held across Austin to celebrate the significance of the historic date.
Freedom + Juneteenth at Moody Amphitheater
Sunday, June 14, 5 to 9 p.m.
Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park will host Freedom + Juneteenth, a free celebration with DJ sets, a vendor market, local food, family-friendly activities and community activations, including Silent Book Club with Black Pearl Books and “Give Me My Flowers,” an affirmation-focused activation with free succulents.
Austin Public Library’s 100th Anniversary and Juneteenth Community Cookout
Sunday, June 14, noon to 3 p.m.
Austin Public Library is marking Juneteenth alongside its 100th anniversary with a community cookout at the Carver Branch, the library’s first branch on June 14. The family-friendly event will include food, music, dancing, games, crafts, activities for all ages and a Dominoes tournament, along with opportunities to learn more about the branch’s history and role in the community.
Juneteenth Fun Run
Friday, June 19, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Juneteenth morning starts with movement on Leona Street, where ACME’s African American Cultural & Heritage Facility will host its annual all-ages Fun Run along the parade route. Participants can arrive at 7:45 a.m. for warm-ups and community gathering before the run begins at 8:30 a.m.
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Celebration
Friday, June 19, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Austin’s annual Juneteenth parade returns to historic East Austin, beginning at Leona Street and East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and ending at Rosewood Avenue and Hargrave Street. After the parade, the celebration continues at Rosewood Park with food, kids’ activities, local vendors and live entertainment.
Heavenly Beings Fundraiser at Canje
Friday, June 19
On Juneteenth, Canje will turn dinner into a way to support Black artists across Texas. The restaurant will donate a portion of proceeds to Heavenly Beings, a multidisciplinary showcase presented by the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility featuring visual art, film, music, performance and spoken word.
The Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition
Saturday, June 20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center will host a free, all-ages celebration with BBQ plates, music, hands-on activations and vendors. The event brings a relaxed community gathering to one of East Austin’s most important cultural spaces.
Neill-Cochran House Museum Juneteenth Celebration
Sunday, June 21, noon to 4 p.m.
Neill-Cochran House Museum will commemorate Juneteenth with an afternoon of history, food and music. Guests can tour the museum’s slave quarters and grounds, enjoy barbecue from Distant Relatives pitmaster Damien Brockway, hear live jazz and gospel performances, and see the unveiling of a new Toni Morrison Society “Bench by the Road.”