This week will be packed with events in the Sacramento area in celebration of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day.Some events took place last weekend. There are more events taking place this week and heading into the holiday weekend.(Previous coverage in the video above: Juneteenth celebrated early in Elk Grove.)This holiday is not only for celebration but also for learning and remembering one of the most important parts of American history.Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery.On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news of the war ending, and that all enslaved people were now free. This news came nearly two and half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. This established June 19 as a federal holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States.Juneteenth has been recognized and celebrated in Black American communities for years, as this Friday will mark 161 years of celebration.Read below for a list of festivals, parades, parties and other events in our region. California Legislative Black Caucus Juneteenth Freedom Day in downtown SacramentoA free Juneteenth concert will take place at the State Capitol, with musical performances from acclaimed artists Goapele, The Philharmonik, and the local Grant High School Drumline.The concert is hosted by the California Legislative Black Caucus on the West Steps of the State Capitol on Wednesday, June 17. The doors will open at 4 p.m. and the concert will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend the celebration. To learn more about the event and reserve a spot, click here.Juneteenth celebration in Rancho Cordova’s Hagan Community ParkAlso Wednesday, there will be a Juneteenth celebration at the Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova. Anyone attending this celebration can expect musical performances, free food, a children’s play area, a Black-owned marketplace, and a chance to win prizes. The celebration will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.Sacramento’s 23rd annual Juneteenth Festival in Land ParkThe Juneteenth Festival at William Land Park will be held on Friday and Saturday. The Friday celebration will start at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. The Saturday celebration will start at 11 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Both events will feature live performances, food trucks, art exhibits, and health and wellness activities. The festival will also honor community member Reginald “Sir Duke” Simon. For a full schedule of events and detailed information, click here.St. Hope celebrates Juneteenth with a Block Party in Oak ParkA Juneteenth block party will be held on 35th Street and Broadway in Sacramento on Saturday. The party will take place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. People should expect art, music, entertainment, activities and food. Get tickets here.Juneteenth Art Walk in Midtown SacramentoA free Juneteenth parade and art walk will be held through Sacramento’s Midtown area on Friday. This event will kick off at Celebration of Arts, a theatre for Black performers located at 2727 B Street. The walk will stop at 2700 Capitol Avenue. The walk is expected to take around three hours to complete. Everyone is welcome to join the free Juneteenth Art Walk, which will feature exhibitions, performances and pop-up activations from Black artists across Midtown Sacramento. For a full schedule of the walk and detailed information location, click here. Freedom Celebration in StocktonThe 50th annual Juneteenth celebration will be held on Saturday at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. The event will feature live performances, food vendors, family activities, and a Golden Gala awards program honoring members of the community. The event will run from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. For a full schedule of events and detailed information, click here.Heritage Committee Celebration in LathropThe city of Lathrop is hosting a Juneteenth celebration on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The celebration will be held at the Lathrop Generations Center. Anyone attending can expect food vendors, food trucks, games, live bands, and a spoken word performance. For more information, click here.Juneteenth celebration at Black Miners Bar in Folsom Black Miners Bar will be hosting a Juneteenth festival on Saturday, June 27. The event will feature live music, entertainment, merchandise from local and regional vendors, food, and a beer garden hosted by Oak Park Brewery. There will be family-friendly activities and water sports for everyone. The event will start at 11 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. For more information, click here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
This week will be packed with events in the Sacramento area in celebration of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day.
Some events took place last weekend. There are more events taking place this week and heading into the holiday weekend.
(Previous coverage in the video above: Juneteenth celebrated early in Elk Grove.)
This holiday is not only for celebration but also for learning and remembering one of the most important parts of American history.
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news of the war ending, and that all enslaved people were now free. This news came nearly two and half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. This established June 19 as a federal holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States.
Juneteenth has been recognized and celebrated in Black American communities for years, as this Friday will mark 161 years of celebration.
Read below for a list of festivals, parades, parties and other events in our region.
California Legislative Black Caucus Juneteenth Freedom Day in downtown Sacramento
A free Juneteenth concert will take place at the State Capitol, with musical performances from acclaimed artists Goapele, The Philharmonik, and the local Grant High School Drumline.
The concert is hosted by the California Legislative Black Caucus on the West Steps of the State Capitol on Wednesday, June 17. The doors will open at 4 p.m. and the concert will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend the celebration. To learn more about the event and reserve a spot, click here.
Juneteenth celebration in Rancho Cordova’s Hagan Community Park
Also Wednesday, there will be a Juneteenth celebration at the Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova. Anyone attending this celebration can expect musical performances, free food, a children’s play area, a Black-owned marketplace, and a chance to win prizes. The celebration will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sacramento’s 23rd annual Juneteenth Festival in Land Park
The Juneteenth Festival at William Land Park will be held on Friday and Saturday. The Friday celebration will start at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. The Saturday celebration will start at 11 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Both events will feature live performances, food trucks, art exhibits, and health and wellness activities. The festival will also honor community member Reginald “Sir Duke” Simon. For a full schedule of events and detailed information, click here.
St. Hope celebrates Juneteenth with a Block Party in Oak Park
A Juneteenth block party will be held on 35th Street and Broadway in Sacramento on Saturday. The party will take place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. People should expect art, music, entertainment, activities and food. Get tickets here.
Juneteenth Art Walk in Midtown Sacramento
A free Juneteenth parade and art walk will be held through Sacramento’s Midtown area on Friday. This event will kick off at Celebration of Arts, a theatre for Black performers located at 2727 B Street. The walk will stop at 2700 Capitol Avenue. The walk is expected to take around three hours to complete. Everyone is welcome to join the free Juneteenth Art Walk, which will feature exhibitions, performances and pop-up activations from Black artists across Midtown Sacramento. For a full schedule of the walk and detailed information location, click here.
Freedom Celebration in Stockton
The 50th annual Juneteenth celebration will be held on Saturday at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. The event will feature live performances, food vendors, family activities, and a Golden Gala awards program honoring members of the community. The event will run from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. For a full schedule of events and detailed information, click here.
Heritage Committee Celebration in Lathrop
The city of Lathrop is hosting a Juneteenth celebration on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The celebration will be held at the Lathrop Generations Center. Anyone attending can expect food vendors, food trucks, games, live bands, and a spoken word performance. For more information, click here.
Juneteenth celebration at Black Miners Bar in Folsom
Black Miners Bar will be hosting a Juneteenth festival on Saturday, June 27. The event will feature live music, entertainment, merchandise from local and regional vendors, food, and a beer garden hosted by Oak Park Brewery. There will be family-friendly activities and water sports for everyone. The event will start at 11 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. For more information, click here.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel