ORLANDO, Fla. — Juneteenth is the oldest nationally recognized celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It commemorates the day — June 19, 1865 — when the last African American slaves learned they were free, 2-1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 

What began in the 19th century as a local celebration in Galveston, Texas, has since spread to cities across the country. 

Florida’s own Emancipation Day is on May 20, 1865, 11 days after the end of the Civil War, and two years after the proclamation first issued by Lincoln when he freed those enslaved in Southern states. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.

Here’s how Central Florida is celebrating Juneteenth this year.

Clermont

Juneteenth: A Family Celebration
Waterfront Park | Saturday, June 20, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The event will bring together cultural performances, food, local vendors in order to reflect, celebrate and raise the community’s voices together in unity.  

Daytona Beach

Juneteenth Family Festival
Cypress Park | Saturday, June 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event features live entertainment, educational exhibits, food vendors, youth activities and cultural programming that celebrates freedom and heritage.  

Hometown Heroes Banquet
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — Mori Hosseini Student Union | Saturday, June 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
An event to honor community leaders and unsung local heroes.

Deltona

Juneteenth Celebration: Remembering Unity in the Community
Greater Faith AME Church | Friday, June 19, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A historical lecture, held in the parking lot. 

Festival in the Park
Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex | Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Highlights are the Gospel Choirs on Parade.

Eatonville

Central Florida Juneteenth Gala 2026: The Legacy Ball
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church | Saturday, June 13, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Organizers call the event “A Night of Freedom, Heritage and Future.” The gala brings together community leaders, families and supporters for a night of dinner, live entertainment, cultural reflection, and community recognition. They will honoring heritage, celebrate freedom, focus on investing in youth and recognize the historic legacy of Eatonville. Tickets are required and are available online.

Groveland

Juneteenth Celebration 2026
Cherry Lake Park | Friday, June 19, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
This is a family-friendly event featuring live entertainment, guest speakers, food vendors and a kids’ zone.

Kissimmee

Annual Juneteenth Festival
Kissimmee Lakefront Park | Saturday, June 13, Noon – 4 p.m.
Live music will be provided by 69 Boyz and Tyesha Williams and will be hosted by Tight Mike. The event also will include local food vendors, artisans, community organizations and activities for all ages such as the KUA Kids Power Zone.

Public parking is available at:

Mount Dora

Juneteenth — A Summer Celebration of Culture
Cauley Lott Park | Saturday, June 20, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Festivities will include musical performances by E-Turn, DJ Samp Da Champ, and other guest musicians, an appearance by 104.5 The Beat, community basketball activities, food and drinks, and activities in celebration of community and connection.

Orlando

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings Juneteenth Celebration
Orange County Regional History Center Heritage Square | Wednesday, June 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The event, co-hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. initiative, focuses on education, community, and recognizes history of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

Lenox Ave. in Concert
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Judson’s Live | Friday, June 19, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; and Saturday, June 20, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Grounded in the poetry of Langston Hughes from his 1926 book, “The Weary Blues,” composer Brandon Martin blends genres of blues, jazz, swing, and Caribbean calypso to paint the aural image of the Harlem Renaissance. The production features original choreography by Adonus Mabry. Tickets are required.

City of Orlando Juneteenth Community Resource Fair
Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center | Saturday, June 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This free event will also feature a live DJ and entertainment, a kids’ zone, a community fair and free food. It also offers the opportunity to access to essential health services, learn preventive care tips and build connections that can help strengthen economic stability.

Love & Liberation Juneteenth Pride Celebration
Central Florida Fairgrounds Pavilion | Saturday, June 20, 2 p.m.
The event is curated to be family friendly and centered on Black queer and trans voices through live performances, local artists, vendors, community resources and food.

Oviedo

Juneteenth Celebration
Riverside Park | Saturday, June 20, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
There will be educational resources, food, games, a live DJ and a large Juneteenth display.

Sanford

What is Juneteenth?
Dr. Velma H. Williams Westside Community Center | Friday, June 19, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The educational event will feature local public speakers, cultural demonstrations, dance and music.

Juneteenth 2026 Block Party
Sanford Civic Center | Saturday, June 20, noon to 4 p.m.
The community celebration on the Riverwalk will include live music, food, dancing and arts and crafts.

Winter Garden

Juneteenth Community Celebration
Charlie Mae Wilder Park | Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Festivities will include family-friendly activities, entertainment, community resource booths and a variety of food and merchandise for sale.

Winter Park

11th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Historic Hannibal Square
Hannibal Square Heritage Center | Sunday, June 14, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Threads of Freedom: Memory, Resistance and Legacy. Community arts workshop to create a quilt that will be on display in the Heritage Center and give participants a chance to learn how the art form preserves ancient histories. Also, a panel discussion featuring guest speakers to include Phyllis Elmore, Author of “Quilt of Souls”; Dr. Denise Evans-Sheppard, executive director of Oyster Bay Historical Society; Janice Gilyard, genealogist and historian; and Keidra Daniels Navaroli, an independent curator who specializes in textiles.

The Association for the Study of African American Life & History In Conversation: Honoring The Michael Gladden Collection 
Edyth Bush Theatre | Sunday, June 14, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
The archive is intended to make known the tradition of safekeeping in the Black American community, following in the footsteps of the Gladden Archive’s namesake, Michael

Juneteenth: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Edyth Bush Theatre | Sunday, June 17, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Florida historian and psychologist Dr. Marvin Dunn in conversation with Dr. Rebekah McCloud, discussing his book, “A History of Florida Through Black Eyes”. Then Dr. David Ponton, director of African and African American Studies at Rollins College, will present Juneteenth: Pride, Freedom and Love. His discussion will encourage people to think critically about the distinction between emancipation and freedom.

A Night Under the Stars: Jazz & Jubilee
Shady Park | Saturday, June 20, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. 
Presented by the Equity Council Corp. in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department.