How to Celebrate Juneteenth
Juneteenth (June 19) honors the end of slavery in the United States. It is considered the longest-running African American holiday.
It has only been a federal holiday since 2021, so many people are still creating their own traditions around this holiday. If you’re still looking for ways to commemorate this national holiday, here are some ideas to help make this day more meaningful.
Attend a local festival
Local festivals are a great way to celebrate Black history and culture. Usually, these festivals have good food, performances by local music artists, activities and games. Find a local Juneteenth celebration using Eventbrite and social media.
Learn about African American history
Visit your local African American museum or an exhibit based on African American history. Some popular Black history museums include:
- National Museum of African American History and Culture (Washington, DC)
- National Museum of African American Music (Nashville, TN)
- International African American Museum (Charleston, SC)
- The Legacy Museum (Montgomery, AL)
- Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit, MI)
If you can’t make it to a museum, consider watching a documentary or mini-series about Black history. Some popular options to start with are:
- 13th (Netflix)
- Hidden Colors (AppleTV)
- High on the Hog (Netflix)
- I Am Not Your Negro (YouTube, Tubi, Pluto)
- Black Boys (Peacock)
- The 1619 Project (Hulu)
- John Lewis: Good Trouble (Hulu)
Celebrate Black art
Visiting local art exhibitions is a great way to celebrate Black culture. You can drive to see murals in your community or support a Black art exhibition at your local library or museum.
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You can also make a playlist of your favorite songs by Black artists, watch Black movies or read books by Black authors.
Host a cookout
Invite family and friends over for a Juneteenth cookout.
Barbecue originates from the Taino people in the Caribbean, where native cooks would build smoky fires and place meat on racks above them. While you don’t have to do pit smoking, having a cookout still honors this ancient tradition and brings families and friends together.
Enjoy red foods
Red foods are a popular Juneteenth tradition, symbolizing power, sacrifice and transformation.
Some popular food items include red velvet cake or cupcakes, strawberry soda, watermelon, red fruit punch, red cabbage slaw and red beans.
Support a Black-owned business
Juneteenth is a great opportunity to support a Black-owned business. Use the ByBlack website, Etsy and social media to find businesses. You can also share a meal at a Black-owned restaurant. If the restaurant has barbecue, that’s a bonus!
How do you celebrate Juneteenth? Share your favorite traditions in the comments.
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