Boston Moms is committed to honoring diversity, dignity, and justice. We are proud to share some of the many Boston-area Juneteenth events that celebrate hope, independence, and achievement!
The B.L.A.C. Project Juneteenth Celebration
June 10 :: Boston
The Black Literacy and Arts Collaborative (B.L.A.C.) Project, in partnership with the Salvation Army’s Children’s Learning Center, is proud to treat families to a day of Black joy, love, laughter, goodies, and fun. There’s something for everyone!
Journey to Juneteenth with Storyteller Valerie Tutson
June 10 :: Salem
In commemoration of the upcoming Juneteenth holiday, Essex Heritage and the National Park Service are bringing award-winning storyteller Valerie Tutson to the Salem Armory Visitor Center. Valerie will be presenting “Journey to Juneteenth,” a 45-minute program comprised of a collection of short stories celebrating freedom. During the performance, you will hear about the day the news of Emancipation came to Galveston, Texas, through the eyes of a fictional character Valerie created. Audiences will learn about her life as an enslaved person, the day General Granger read Order No. 3, and what happened to her and her family after.
Embrace Ideas Festival
June 14-16 :: Multiple Venues in Boston
The Embrace Ideas Festival is a yearly celebration grounded in arts, ideas, culture, and public scholarship. This multi-day gathering brings together local, state, and national leaders to amplify anti-racism and create a vision for a transformed Boston by 2030.
Juneteenth Joy Celebration
June 17 :: Hyde Park
This Boston Juneteenth event will feature a ceremonial celebration followed by performances, awards, group arts, dance activities, a vendor fair featuring the work of local Black artists, educational exhibits, activities for children, and tastings from local eateries.
Juneteenth Block Party
June 17 :: Brockton
The first annual Juneteenth Block Party aims to encourage diversity efforts in the community by developing community-wide partnerships and local resources available to youth, children, and families. This day of family-friendly fun will feature music, food, activities, and more! Various games will be available for everyone to enjoy, from simple to challenging. For those who prefer a relaxed approach, there will be multiple “break-time” areas where guests can bring their chairs and blankets to enjoy the music.
JuneteenthFest
June 17 :: Framingham
This free event at Framingham Farm Pond will feature food, music, games, raffles, and face painting! Guests are asked to bring their own chairs or blankets to relax and enjoy the music!
Juneteenth Festival
June 17 :: Fall River
This celebration of freedom, sponsored by the Bristol Black Collaborative, will feature live entertainment, music, dancing, food, drinks, and plenty of joy!
Juneteenth Block Party
June 18 :: Brookline
This will be a day of family-friendly fun featuring music, food, activities, and more in the form of a block party on Harvard Street! There will be something for everyone, from bounce houses and face painting for the kids, to live music and dancing for the adults.
Juneteenth Emancipation Observance
June 19 :: Roxbury
On Monday, June 19, the Boston Juneteenth Committee and the Museum of the National Center of Afro American Artists (NCAAA) present the 13th annual Juneteenth Emancipation Observation. This event begins with a flag raising at the Dillaway Thomas House in Roxbury at 11 a.m. A parade to the NCAAA museum grounds follows the flag raising and ends in a celebration including speakers, live music, food and craft vendors, and family-friendly activities.
MFA Open House (Featuring the Exhibit “Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield South Carolina”)
June 19 :: Boston
Admission is free on June 19 for all residents of Massachusetts! Guests are invited to visit the MFA for performances, art-making activities, a Spotlight Talk, and “Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina,” a new exhibition honoring the work and legacy of the enslaved men, women, and children who crafted stoneware storage vessels in Old Edgefield for roughly 50 years before emancipation.
Juneteenth Freedom Day
June 19 :: Hingham
Head to the Bandstand at Hingham Harbor to celebrate Freedom Day with free family fun for all! There will be live music by Sympli Whitney, an African drum performance by Moussa Traore, a performance of the Black National Anthem by acclaimed gospel artist Rakeem Andre, kids activities, and delicious food for purchase.
Reading Juneteenth Freedom Festival
June 24 :: Reading
Reading town hall, Reading Public Library, and the Office of Equity and Social Justice invites everyone to a community celebration of freedom with music, food, dance, beer, and art! Entry to this family-friendly event is free for all ages.
