Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to the last enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. It marks the formal end of slavery after the Civil War.
Black Americans have celebrated Juneteenth for generations, but it became more widely recognized after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020, which sparked a nationwide racial reckoning. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, with the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act by President Joe Biden, and has since become a day to celebrate freedom, hope, and African American pride. Los Angeles also made it a paid holiday for its city and county employees, and many offices, courts, libraries and schools are typically closed.
Here are some local Juneteenth events and community celebrations around the Los Angeles area, valley and South Bay.
June 16: “Freedom Brunch Celebrating Power, Permanence & Progress” in South L.A. at the Community Coalition, 8101 Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, 9 to 11 a.m. Join community groups and keynote speakers for a brunch to celebrate Juneteenth and launch the Center for Community Organizing and Southwest Mountain States Carpenters Union Local 323 South Los Angeles Training Facility. Info: www.CoCoSouthLA.org
June 17: 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration, from 12 to 7 p.m. at Monrovia Station Square Park, 1629 S Myrtle Ave. Join for live music, games, dancing, vendors and more, hosted by BLMMonrovia and DayShift.
June 17: Juneteenth Community Celebration at the Rocky Young Park at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, from 1 to 6 p.m. The Zawadi Cultural Collective and Black in the Valley present a free, all-ages family-friendly celebration with a beauty pageant, guest speakers, live performances, games, yoga, raffles, Black businesses and more. Use the parking lot entrance from Victory Boulevard at Mason Avenue. Info: 818-925-6904, zawadiculturalcollective@gmail.com
June 17: Juneteenth Community Festival at Amelia Mayberry Park, 13201 Meyer Road in Whittier. Free community festival will feature live performances, a barbershop, entrepreneur workshop, health and wellness info, live art, vendors and activites; starting at 12 p.m. Info: 909-378-5631, contact@soulfulofnoise.com
June 17: Juneteenth Father’s Day Celebration all day at the MLK Center for Public Health 11833 Wilmington Avenue, Los Angeles. The day will start at 10:00 a.m. with a walk to honor Bridgette Cromer, followed by a community baby shower, festival and resource fair with free haircuts, 4D ultrasounds, child support services, health, employment and education resources, dental services and more. The event honors Black fathers and families. Info and RSVP: tinyurl.com/y6ak2a3w, facebook.com/BlackInfantsandFamilies
June 17: Pasadena’s 15th annual Juneteenth celebration, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., at Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be live music, arts and crafts, local vendors, food, community resources and more. Grammy award-winning rapper and producer Hit-Boy will perform. Info: (626) 744-7300, parksandrec@cityofpasadena.net
June 17: Taste of Compton Juneteenth Celebration, 1051 W. Rosecrans Ave. in Compton, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community event with food, crafts, housing and business workshops and live music, in partnership with Councilmember Deidre Duhart.
June 17: “Liberating Words” Writing Workshop Series with Lorinda Hawkins Smith, 1:30 p.m. on June 17 at the Altadena Main Library at 600 E. Mariposa St. The workshop will explore the story of Bridget “Biddy” Mason. Space is limited and registration is required at altadenalibrary.org/programs. The library will also display a community-made freedom quilt in the Children’s Area from June 20 to June 30.
June 18: Taste of Inglewood Juneteenth Street Festival: Honoring fathers, the community festival presents a diverse food and live entertainment line-up on Market Street, between Regent and Manchester in Inglewood, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Info: 310-590-1234, 310-590-8439, tasteofinglewood.com, @taste_of_inglewood
June 18: Juneteenth in L.A.: The 4th annual caravan parade of registered vehicles begins at noon on Sunday, June 18 at Inglewood High School at South La Brea Avenue and Manchester Boulevard, and ends at Inglewood City Hall (1 W. Manchester Blvd.) and the Taste of Inglewood street festival. The parade will be televised. Info: juneteenthinla@gmail.com, juneteenthinla.com
June 18: Juneteenth Celebration, Resource Fair and CicLAvia South L.A., all day. Run/walk, skate, bike, and more along 6.2 miles of open streets in South L.A., along Vermont Ave, between Exposition Blvd to the north and Century Blvd to the south. The event is part of the annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair, presented by L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. The fair includes live performances, food, resources such as on-site record expungement, mental health services, support with tenant protections and more. Info and registration: mitchell.lacounty.gov/juneteenth2023, ciclavia.org
June 19: Juneteenth – A Global Celebration of Freedom: The 5 p.m. all-star Junetenth concert at the L.A. Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., includes performances by Charlie Wilson, Miguel, Kirk Franklin, Nelly, SWV, Davido, Coi Leray, Jodeci, Muni Long and more. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks, and Chlöe Bailey will pay tribute to the late entertainer Tina Turner. The show will air live on CNN platforms and on OWN. Tickets/info: lagreektheater.com
June 19: Leimert Village Juneteenth Festival: At the historic Leimert Park Village, 4395 Leimert Blvd. The free, open festival will feature three stages for live music and entertainment with headliner Jazmine Sullivan, spoken word, arts and cultural displays, networking opportunities, Black-owned business vendors and food. Event starts at noon until 9 p.m. on June 19. Three areas for public parking: Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza (3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles); Crenshaw High School (5010 11th Ave., Los Angeles); Audubon Middle School (4120 11th Ave., Los Angeles). Watch for street closures. Information: bit.ly/3PfDSSI, leimertparkjuneteenth.com
June 19: Juneteenth Celebration at Farmsworth Park, 568 Mountain Curve Ave. in Altadena. Ellen Garrison Clark Scholarships will be awarded to John Muir H.S. seniors during the luncheon. Info: 626-644-6760.
Long Beach/South Bay
June 15: Juneteenth Storytime with Princess Indigo at the El Segundo Public Library, 111 W Mariposa Ave, El Segundo. Free children’s storytime, crafts and face-painting inside the Sue Carter Community Room, featuring fairy Princess Indigo at 11 a.m., presented by Black in Mayberry. Info: Blackinmayberry.org.
June 17: Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration at Rainbow Lagoon Park, 400 East Shoreline Drive in Downtown Long Beach, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Join Long Beach for one of the biggest events of the year, featuring live performances, arts and crafts, networking and more. The free event requires a ticket for entry. Parking is available at the Marina Green for $20. Tickets/info: lbjuneteenth.com
June 17: Juneteenth Rhythm & Blues Celebration: The City of Carson and Carson Citizens Cultural Arts Foundation present a free, all-ages event at Mills Park, 1340 E. Dimondale Drive, in Carson on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Live music by funk band Slave, Greg Rose and the Greg Rose Orchestra, Sonny Green and DJ Alcatraz; Afrikaan cultural arts, food and community booths, a car show and more. The theme is “A Celebration of Freedom and Achievements of African American Luminaries.” Info: City of Carson 310-631-3130 or the recreation division, 310-847-3570.
June 17: Juneteenth Day in the Park at Drake Park, 951 Maine Ave. in Long Beach, at 12 p.m. A free, youth-centered event celebrates the holiday with arts and crafts, games, prizes and more. Info/RSVP: MADjuneteenth.eventbrite.com
June 18: Juneteenth at King Park, 1950 Lemon Ave. in Long Beach, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate Juneteenth and Father’s Day with free breakfast, ‘Church in the Park’ by Grace Memorial Baptist, and a community celebration with food, entertainment and vendors. Info: @juneteenth_at_kingpark on Instagram.
June 19: Juneteenth Festival at the El Segundo Recreation Park, 401 Sheldon St., from noon to 6 p.m. on June 19. The 2nd annual Juneteenth celebration recognizes Emancipation Day and celebrates freedom with live music, arts and crafts, a kids’ zone, Black-owned business vendors, community contests and more; presented by Black in Mayberry, a nonprofit whose mission is to combat racism through the arts. Info: Blackinmayberry.org.
June 19: Juneteenth Fireworks Spectacular at Cabrillo Beach, presented by Juneteenth 400 and the Port of Los Angeles. Fireworks begin at 8:45 p.m. on Monday, June 19, at 3720 Stephen S. White Drive, San Pedro. Info: 310-732-3508, portoflosangeles.org