More than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freedom finally reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Celebrated by Black Americans for over 100 years and only recently made a public holiday, Juneteenth commemorates that historic moment, seen as an occasion to honor resilience, uplift communities, and spotlight Black culture. This year, the festivities take on added significance as the holiday marks its 160th anniversary. Ahead, discover ways to celebrate Juneteenth in NYC, from free festivals in public parks to programming at some of the city’s top museums.
Wave Hill Juneteenth Celebration
Thursday, June 12 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
4900 Independence Avenue, Bronx
The 28-acre public garden, Wave Hill, will commemorate Juneteenth with an evening of performances, artmaking, and community celebration. The event includes a workshop and performance led by Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet to show how dance and movement can serve as powerful tools for personal expression. Visitors can also take part in a tree pendant painting activity, enjoy student performances from P.S. 70, and relax with a picnic on the scenic grounds. Admission is free.
Children of the Movement: Growing up with Parents in the Black Panther Party
Thursday, June 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Center for Brooklyn History, 128 Pierrepont Street
Earlier this year, the Guardian released an article and short documentary about the life and legacy of the Black Panthers and the children of its members, known as “Panther cubs.” In partnership with the news website, the Center for Brooklyn History, and the Brooklyn Public Library, an event on June 12 will include a screening of the film and a conversation with reporter Ed Pilkington, Guardian deputy editor Lauren N. Williams, and three Panther cubs, Ericka Abram, K’Sisay Sadiki, and Sharif El-Mekki.
In the film, the three reflect on their upbringing during the party’s active years from 1966 to 1982, their pride in carrying forward its ideals, the trauma they bear, and their evolving views on collective action, community, and the limits of protest as a political strategy. Registration is available here.
Schomburg Centennial Festival
Saturday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
135th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, Manhattan
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is marking its 100th anniversary this June, celebrating a century of promoting literacy and intellectual life in Harlem. To honor the milestone, the center is hosting a centennial festival on 135th Street, between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards, bringing together book lovers for a day of readings, panel discussions, workshops, and photo activations. The event will also include a “bookish” marketplace, a mobile library, and appearances by acclaimed authors and comic book creators. The celebration will conclude with musical performances and a block party.
Juneteenth in Brower Park
Thursday, June 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brower Park, Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Join the Brooklyn Children’s Museum at Shirley Chisholm Circle in Brower Park for its annual Juneteenth celebration. This year’s theme, “Still We Rise,” features performances by the Brooklyn United Marching Band and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, a line dance workshop led by STooPS, storytelling sessions with the Brooklyn Public Library, a book giveaway in partnership with Brooklyn Book Bodega, planting activities with Field Meridians, a special quilting project inspired by the historic Gee’s Bend community, and more. The celebration is free and open to all. You can reserve tickets here.
Juneteenth: Brooklyn and the Abolitionist Movement
Thursday, June 19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Corner of Furman and Old Fulton Streets in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Join the Parks Department’s Urban Park Rangers for a walk through Brooklyn highlighting significant landmarks connected to the abolitionist movement. This hour-and-a-half tour begins at the corner of Furman and Old Fulton Streets in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Thursday, June 19
The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, Manhattan
On the Upper West Side, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan will celebrate Juneteenth with a full day of hands-on programming that honors Black liberation, resilience, and joy.
Guests are invited to contribute to a collaborative “Free To Be Me Mural,” inspired by the work of contemporary artists like Derrick Adams, Kerry James Marshall, and Amy Sherald. At the “Juneteenth Musical Jamboree,” visitors can decorate their own paper instruments and join in a festive song of celebration, while learning about Juneteenth traditions in Galveston, Texas.
The museum will also host an artist workshop with Lillian Young, creator of the “Black Elder Archive,” which features a portrait of Opal Lee, who is known as the “grandmother of Juneteenth.” Through art, read-alouds, and video, guests will learn about Lee’s legacy before creating their own zines using textured paper and markers.
General admission for both adults and children is $17. Tickets can be purchased here.
6th Annual Juneteenth March, Run, Walk, & Roll
Thursday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
5th Avenue and East 69th Street, Manhattan
Celebrate Juneteenth by getting your steps in at the 6th annual Juneteenth March, Run, Walk & Roll. The annual event winds through Central Park, starting at Terrace Drive near the Naumburg Bandshell and across from Bethesda Fountain. Proceeds support the construction of the Harlem Center, a decade-long initiative led by more than 30 New York-based community organizations to expand services and address critical local needs. Entry is $25 plus fees and can be purchased here.
Juneteenth Family Trolley Tour
Thursday, June 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Greed-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
Discover the stories of remarkable Black Americans laid to rest at Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery. This trolley tour invites guests of all ages to learn about both celebrated figures and lesser-known heroes, highlighting the resilience, creativity, and contributions that define the Black American experience. Admission is free, but registration is required.
Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth
Thursday, June 19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Times Square
Created by and featuring Black performers and allies, Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth highlights the talent and distinct artistry of Broadway’s Black community, centered on themes of unity and cultural pride. The free event also includes the presentation of the annual Legacy Award, honoring esteemed Black artists for their outstanding contributions to Broadway and impactful community involvement.
This year’s event will feature an all-Black Broadway cast performing iconic musical numbers. The live concert will be co-hosted by two-time Tony Award nominee Jon Michael Hill and 2024 Tony Award winner Kara Young from the play “Purpose.” The song lineup, to be announced soon, will include hits from legendary shows like “Aladdin,” “Chicago,” “The Lion King,” “Moulin Rouge,” and more.
Juneteenth in Queens
Thursday, June 19 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Roy Wilkins Park, Queens
Enjoy a day of celebration and reflection in St. Albans at the annual Juneteenth in Queens festival. The event offers family-friendly interactive games, a showcase of top local Black-owned businesses from NYC and beyond, engaging workshops, and captivating live performances. Admission is free, but registration is required here.
Juneteenth in Seneca Village
Seneca Village, Central Park
Thursday, June 19 at 12 p.m.
The Central Park Conservancy is commemorating Juneteenth with an intergenerational gathering of musicians and poets in the historic Seneca Village landscape, the former site of a thriving Black community displaced during the creation of Central Park. Featured performers include the Rakiem Walker Project, 2024–2025 NYC Youth Poet Laureate Kai Diata Giovanni, 2023 New York Gubernatorial Inauguration Poet Laureate Kayden Hern, Courtney Symone Staton, and Jayden Antwine. The event is free and open to the public.
Museum of the Moving Image
Thursday, June 19 at 12 p.m.
36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria
Hosted in partnership with the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Astoria’s renowned Museum of the Moving Image will present two collaborative programs in celebration of Juneteenth. There will be a Louis Armstrong Collage Animation Workshop led by the LAHM’s Director of Engagement Charanya Ramakrishnan, inspired by the collage art of Louie Armstrong, at 2 p.m., and a screening of Martin Ritt’s jazz musical “Paris Blues” at 4 p.m., followed by a conversation including a presentation of archival materials from the LAHM about Armstrong’s renowned performances in films from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Juneteenth Black Music and Dance Celebration
Thursday, June 19 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Richard Rodgers Amphitheater, Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem
Celebrating community, movement, and the sounds of the Black Diaspora, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem presents the fifth annual Juneteenth Black Music and Dance Celebration in Marcus Garvey Park. This year’s free event features an impressive lineup of musicians and performers, including Calvin Sexton, the J-MUSIC Ensemble, Tammy McCann, and Kim Holmes’ Universal Dance Movement.
Juneteenth Celebration at Van Cortlandt House Museum
Thursday, June 19 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Broadway at West 246th Street, Bronx
The Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Bronx Arts Ensemble invite New Yorkers to celebrate Juneteenth with an evening of music, reflection, and community on the lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum. The event begins at 6 p.m. with live music and spoken word performances, followed by a drum procession to the Enslaved African Burial Ground for a libation ceremony honoring the memory of the enslaved. Register here.
June Late Shift at the Guggenheim
Thursday, June 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
1071 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
The world-renowned Guggenheim Museum is hosting a special Juneteenth edition of its Late Shift series, honoring the holiday through poetry, movement, and reflection. Presented in collaboration with DreamYard Projects’ Rad(ical) Poetry Consortium, this after-hours event invites guests to experience the museum as a “living, breathing site” of creative expression and communal care. Programming includes poetic interventions and embodied performances by artists such as Nanya-Akuki, Lisa Green, Juan Ospina, Tristan Parks, and more. General admission tickets cost $30 and can be purchased here.
Drunk Black History
Thursday, June 19 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Bell House, 149 7th Street, Brooklyn
This Juneteenth, enjoy a special edition of Drunk Black History, which celebrates the achievements and uncovers the untold stories of Black historical figures through humor and storytelling. Comedians, radio personalities, and experts in economics and sociology share these stories, while slightly inebriated, to bring a lighthearted touch to sometimes complex and challenging biographies. Tickets cost $32.05 and can be purchased here.
Movies Under the Stars: “Harriet”
Thursday, June 19 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Morningside Park, West 114th Street and Morningside Park, Manhattan
In honor of Juneteenth, the Parks Department and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment present a special family-friendly movie night featuring “Harriet.” The film follows the life of Harriet Tubman, from her escape from slavery to her work leading hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Register here.
Historic Harlem Parks Juneteenth Festival
Saturday, June 21 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Park Bandshell, Harlem
NYC Parks and Jazzmobile are teaming up to present a day of musical fun in celebration of Juneteenth. This free, family-friendly festival will include jumbo games for kids, music by DJ Dade, Winard Harper, and Jelli Pose, plus a line dancing class. Jamrock Jerk will also be on-site with a food truck serving up Jamaican fare.
We Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteenth, Vol III
Saturday, June 21 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Plaza at 300 Ashland, Downtown Brooklyn
Back for its fifth year, 651 ARTS and the Soapbox Presents’ “We Outside!” returns to the Plaza at 300 Ashland for another unforgettable Juneteenth celebration. This free, family-friendly event honors African American liberation, resilience, and self-determination through live performances, community activities, and creative expression.
This year’s lineup includes: “Stoop Sessions, Freedom Songs,” a journey through protest music to a party of “radical joy;” “Made Black,” a marketplace highlighting Brooklyn’s finest Black artisans and entrepreneurs; “The Cypher: Rep Your City,” which invites participants to share stories of their cities, countries, and cultures through dance; “Young, Gifted and Black,” which celebrates Historic Black Colleges and Universities with marching bands, majorette squads, and a step show; and “Melanated Notes,” which matches poets with musicians for a sonic exploration of freedom. You can reserve a ticket here.
Good Vibes in the Park 2025
Saturday, June 21 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Nicholas Park, Harlem
Good Vibes in the Park, the beloved community gathering focused on mental health, joy, and safe spaces, returns to Harlem’s St. Nicholas Park for a special Juneteenth edition. Now in its fifth year, the free event features guided meditation, live performances, music, a visual artist painting on site, interactive activations, and sets by some of the top DJs from across the five boroughs. The event is open to the public, and registration is available here.
Juneteenth Jazz Jubilee
Saturday, June 21 at 7 p.m.
Adler Hall, 2 West 64th Street
Hosted by the New York Society for Ethical Culture, the annual Juneteenth Jazz Jubilee brings together proteges and their mentors from Music on the Inside (MOTI) alongside top jazz artists for powerful performances that highlight MOTI’s mission to bring harmony and hope to the criminal justice system. This year’s jubilee will showcase the music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Mahalia Jackson, and other iconic artists who inspired hope during challenging times. The concert is available both in person and virtually. Tickets for the in-person event range from $30 to $200, while livestream access costs $15. You can purchase tickets here.
Juneteenth Family Festival at Lewis Latimer House
Saturday, June 24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
34-41 137th Street, Queens
Queens’ historic Lewis Latimer House, a landmarked residence of the famed African American inventor, is celebrating Juneteenth with a lively outdoor festival. Co-hosted with Cool Culture as part of its 25th anniversary, the special 160th Juneteenth event will feature a full day of family-friendly fun, including live music and dance performances, hands-on STEAM workshops exploring light, sound, flight, and invention, storytelling, games, and cultural traditions. The free event is open to all, and you can reserve a spot here.
Juneteenth at the New York Public Library
Events throughout June
The New York Public Library is hosting a range of free events across its Manhattan branches in celebration of Juneteenth, including author talks, panel discussions, film screenings, book clubs, arts and crafts workshops, story times, and more. The library also offers an online resource hub with book lists, historical information, and educational materials for educators.
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