Throughout South Florida, Juneteenth events will commemorate a critical turning point in U.S. history by honoring the history, resilience and contributions of Black Americans.
June 19 marks the day in 1865 when the news finally arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free. The message arrived two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had become official on Jan. 1, 1863.
Events are planned on Friday as well as before and after the federal holiday, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. These include performances with music, dance, comedy and spoken word that express the rhythm of the holiday — equal parts joyful and reverent — plus, plenty of traditional foods. (Sweet potato pie fans, there’s something special for you.)
Here’s a sampling of Juneteenth festivities taking place in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Broward County
Coconut Creek: The Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration will include music, step performances, spoken word, trivia, and food and beverage vendors from 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the City Hall Courtyard, 4800 W. Copans Road. Free admission. Visit coconutcreek.gov.
Coral Springs: The Juneteenth Pre-Party begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, offering small bites, a DJ and performances. Admission is free. Afterward, the Rickey Smiley Comedy Show begins at 8 p.m. featuring the actor, author, television and radio host. Tickets must be purchased in advance to attend the show. Visit coralsprings.gov.
Fort Lauderdale: Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom comes to Carter Park, 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd., from 5-8 p.m. Saturday with cultural and hip-hop performances, a DJ, spoken word, step teams, street dancers and trivia. Free. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.
Hallandale Beach: Music, food and other entertainment are on tap for the Juneteenth Freedom Festival from noon-6 p.m. Friday at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park & Dream Center, 609 NW Sixth Ave. Free admission. Visit hallandalebeachfl.gov.
Participants take part in a Juneteenth parade and festival at Washington Park in Hollywood last year. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Hollywood: The Juneteenth South Broward 10th Annual Parade & Celebration will take place Saturday. The parade is set for 10 a.m., starting at Butler’s Temple (5701 Flagler St.) and ending at Washington Park (5199 Pembroke Road), where there will be gospel performances, motivational speakers, artists, vendors, a sweet potato pie contest and other activities. Free admission. Visit hollywoodfl.org.
Lauderdale Lakes:
• At 6 p.m. Thursday, Juneteenth Celebration Day will bring traditional foods, theatrical performances, poetry and music to the Hazelle P. Rogers Multipurpose Center, 4340 NW 36th St. Free admission. Visit lauderdalelakes.org.
• The Episcopal Church in Southeast Florida will have its annual Juneteenth Celebration from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at Atonement Church, 4401 W. Oakland Park Blvd. The morning of prayer, reflection and remembrance will include remarks by recent high school graduate Ariana Hylton. Lunch will be provided after the service. Free admission. Visit diosef.org.
Lauderhill: Three events are planned to celebrate Juneteenth at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place.
• The Juneteenth Celebration Dinner at 5 p.m. Friday will honor history and community connections. Free admission. RSVP at lauderhill-fl.gov/juneteenth.
• The fifth annual “Imagination Unchained” Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday includes a multisensory cultural experience with music, poetry and performance. Tickets range in price from $40-$75. Visit showpass.com/imagination-unchained-2026.
• The second annual Juneteenth Block Party from 5-10 p.m. Sunday will feature music, food trucks, vendors and a kids’ zone. Free admission. Visit eventbrite.com.
Miramar: Craft stations, a pop-up African art exhibit and a step show performance are part of Juneteenth Family Day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday at Miramar City Hall Plaza, 2300 Civic Center Place. Free admission. Visit miramarfl.gov.
Pembroke Pines: The Juneteenth Celebration from 6-9 p.m. Friday at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, 601 City Center Way, will feature an exhibition by the Sankofa Museum: “America’s Story Through the Eyes of Its People,” as well as a musical performance, arts and crafts, a guest speaker and food. Free admission. Visit ppines.com.
Pompano Beach: The city wraps up a month of celebrations with two events. Visit pompanobeachfl.gov.
• The South Florida premiere of “The Color Purple” takes the stage from June 21-28 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. Tickets start at $55.
The Brévo Theatre will present the South Florida premiere of “The Color Purple” on select dates from Sunday through July 3 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. General admission is $55, with VIP tickets available.
• The Living Room Concert featuring LaVie is at 7 p.m. June 25 at The Hive Black Box Theater, 335 Dr MLK Jr. Blvd. Tickets are $10.
Tamarac: The Juneteenth Community & Culture Block Party begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the Tamarac Village Amphitheater, 9090 NW 57th St., with music, cultural performances, a Black-owned marketplace, food trucks and community organizations. Free admission. Visit community.tamarac.gov.
Palm Beach County
Boynton Beach: The Juneteenth Celebration from 2-7 p.m. Saturday at Sara Sims Park & Amphitheater, 209 NE Ninth Ave., will have educational exhibits, entertainment, food trucks, games and activities. Free admission. Visit boynton-beach.org.
Mary Graham-Grant will lead workshops in sweetgrass basketry as part of a Juneteenth Celebration in Delray Beach. (Mary Graham-Grant/Courtesy)Delray Beach: The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum will showcase African traditions during the city’s Juneteenth Celebration & Jazz in the Park at the Old School Square Fieldhouse, 51 N. Swinton Ave., from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday. The event will include South Carolina artisan Mary Graham-Grant’s sweetgrass basketry demonstrations, live painting with Florida Highwaymen artists, community planting and other activities. From 6-10:30 p.m., Jazz in the Park takes place at the Old School Square Amphitheater with music, food vendors and community information booths. Free admission. Visit delraybeachfl.gov.
Royal Palm Beach: Gratitude Steel will perform at the Juneteenth Concert Night from 7-9 p.m. Friday at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park, 11600 Poinciana Blvd. Food trucks will be on-site. Free admission. Visit royalpalmbeachfl.gov.
Wellington: The former Juneteenth Redteenth Freedom Day Cultural Festival has been redesigned as the Sickle Cell Foundation Benefit Concert to honor the legacy of Juneteenth while supporting the foundation’s mission. The event will offer musical performances and food trucks from 6-10 p.m. Saturday at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd. Ticket prices range from $50-$150. Visit wellingtonfl.gov.
West Palm Beach:
• The Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, will celebrate Juneteenth Community Day from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday with art, dance and spoken word performances. Spotlight tours will highlight works in the collection by Black artists. Free admission. Visit norton.org.
• The Juneteenth Black Joy Celebration from noon-6 p.m. Friday at the Coleman Park Community Center, 1116 21st St., features music, entertainment, food vendors, children’s activities and Black-owned vendors. Free admission. Visit eventbrite.com.
• The sixth annual Juneteenth: Unity x Black Excellence Festival 2026 from 5-10 p.m. Sunday at the Meyer Amphitheatre, 104 Datura St., will have entertainment, food and retail vendors, music and community resources. Alumni from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are encouraged to wear school paraphernalia. Free admission, with VIP tickets available. Visit eventbrite.com.