Dallas resident Shandia McMillon dances during the Arlington Juneteenth Celebration on June 21 at Levitt Pavilion.
With Juneteenth on the horizon, UTA, Arlington and organizations around Dallas-Fort Worth are hosting events.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and became a federal holiday in 2021. The holiday marks the day when Federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure that all enslaved people were freed in 1865, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
UTA Juneteenth Celebration
The university’s annual celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Brazos Park. The event will include free barbecue, desserts, giveaways, fellowship, live performances and guest speakers who will reflect on the cultural significance of Juneteenth.
Arlington Juneteenth Celebration
The 5th edition of the event will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at Levitt Pavilion with a vendor market and food trucks. Stage activities will begin around 6 p.m., including the singing of the National Anthem and the Black National Anthem, followed by a scholarship presentation from Phi Beta Sigma and a video reflecting on the history of Juneteenth.
The event will also include performances from Brannoofunck and 4Ya Soul Band starting at 7 p.m.
The event is free and parking will be available throughout downtown Arlington. Attendees can bring blankets and lawn chairs for open seating on the lawn.
Opal’s Walk for Freedom
The 2.5-mile walk will kick off at 9 a.m. Friday at Will Rogers Square to honor Juneteenth and Opal Lee’s contribution to making Juneteenth a federal holiday, according to the event website. Guests can register online. Tickets are $39.74 for adults and free for youth 18 and under.
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