HOUSTON – Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the enforced end of slavery in Galveston on June 19, 1865.
The holiday celebrates freeing the last enslaved African America people in the United States.
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Here are several Juneteenth celebration events happening around Houston:
Wells Fargo Presents Juneteenth: The Journey To Freedom
A brilliant performance filled with dramatic visuals, live music, narrations, and dance that tells the story of African Americans from 1865 to today and their journey to the celebration of freedom. Performers include Brian Courtney Wilson, Gene Moore, J Xavier, Kathy Taylor, Kirk Richmond, Liz Vaughn, Mary Griffin, Nakitta Foxx, Spud Howard, Stacy J, Tyrone Belle, and Werner Richmond.
All performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre are free. Get more information here.
The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration
The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration offers five days of family-oriented fun-filled events and activities which include: a Kick-off Dance, a Golf Tournament, A Community Service Awards Gala, the “One Mile of Smiles” parade, and a “Festival Under the Stars.” A music festival featuring hip-hop, R&B, jazz, blues, country, Zydeco and renowned musical performers.
The MCJCF utilizes many venues within Missouri City but we place the spotlight on one in particular, the “Freedom Tree” (located in Freedom Tree Park) which serves as a reminder of the tumultuous journey Africans faced upon their arrival to an inhospitable land. Yet in spite of the prevailing conditions, they manage to accomplish so much.
Galveston
Meet & Greet with 2021 National Miss Juneteenth Aceia Spade
Come out and meet Aceia “Ace” Spade - the 2021 National Miss Juneteenth. The Churchill High School senior was awarded the national title in October 2021 during the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation Annual Conference in Tulsa. In a statement about her win, Spade noted that her title came the same year that Juneteenth became a state holiday in Oregon and a federal holiday, too.
Freedom Walk Tour with 2021 National Miss Juneteenth
Tour historic sites of Juneteenth with a special running of the Freedom Walk Tours on Memorial Day with special guest, National Miss Juneteenth 2021, Aceia Spade. Retrace the steps of Union Soldiers through the streets of Galveston as they spread the message of freedom.
Juneteenth Poetry Festival
Join us during the Juneteenth Poetry Festival. The festival will highlight local venues of historic significance through dynamic poetry events, creative writing workshops and readings by prominent nationally and internationally acclaimed poets and authors. Events will be updated as venues and poet rosters are confirmed.
Juneteenth Freedom Tours
“Memory Keepers” or Tour Guides will lead Freedom Walk tours that offer an immersive experience that takes visitors on the march of freedom to the sites of emancipation where Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger read the historic General Order No. 3.
Juneteenth General Order #3 Reenactment
Jun 19 - 520 20th St Galveston, Texas 77550 - General Order #3 Reenactment and the 1861 Galveston Custom House Museum Christening. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony.
Emancipation March
Jun 19 - 2013 Broadway Avenue J - The Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church’s Emancipation March reenacts the first celebration of emancipation that took place in Galveston on January 1, 1866. A diverse group of over 800 men, women and children took part in the historic processional.
Juneteenth Jubilee
Jun 20 - 2100 Strand St - Join us to celebrate the birthplace of Juneteenth on the historic ground with music, live performances, and historic reenactments. This event is completely free and open to the public.
Take the Freedom Walk in Galveston, Texas
Juneteenth and General Order No. 3, read on June 19, 1865, announcing that all slaves were free, is one of Galveston’s most important historical moments.