Juneteenth, the oldest commemoration of the ending of slavery, dates back to 1865 when Union soldiers landed in Galveston with news that those who were enslaved were now free — two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. If you’re looking for a way to honor and celebrate the holiday, here are a few opportunities.
Juneteenth Celebration: Moments of Hope
Southlake will be hosting its own Juneteenth celebration tomorrow at Bob Jones Park from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees are invited to share messages of hope, powerful experiences and/or poems and stories. Anyone will be able to speak and for those who may still be apprehensive about gatherings, the event will be accessible by Zoom and Facebook Live.
Not My Son, a community network, dedicated to ensuring the safety of our children while allowing them the chance to express themselves in a safe environment, according to its Facebook page, will be hosting a Juneteenth Celebration at Lofty Places in Dallas tomorrow. The organization’s event will include food, music, games and raffles with free admission. And after the celebration from 3 to 7 p.m., Not My Sons will host a march.
Three North Texas organizations — BYP 100, In Defense of Black Lives Dallas and the Dallas Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression — will be hosting a Juneteenth Day of Action tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. at Dallas City Hall. Coming together to celebrate Juneteenth, these organizations are advocating for defunding the police and investing in Black communities. The event will include music and a march at 3 p.m.
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom Online Exhibit
For those who want to learn more about Juneteenth and its significance, the Dallas Historical Society will be hosting an online exhibit called “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom.” The exhibit will feature General Order No. 3, the only known document declaring slaves in Texas free, a gallery of Juneteenth images, video clips from last year’s DHS Juneteenth Celebration and articles about Juneteenth.
Juneteenth Live Streaming Music Festival
If you love music, one fantastic way to celebrate and honor Juneteenth is through this weekend’s Juneteenth Music Festival. The festival — taking place at The Warehouse on Berry in Fort Worth — will kick off tomorrow at 6 p.m. and run through June 20. If you want to enjoy the festival virtually, tickets are $10 and for those who want to enjoy a night on the town, tickets are $45. No matter how you decide to enjoy the festival, this is a great way to celebrate and honor Juneteenth — especially because the festival will benefit United Way of Tarrant County’s COVID-19 relief efforts, The Artists Outreach and the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum.
There will be a Juneteenth March in Denton on Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. Hosted by the Black Rights Organization, the march will start at the Denton Square around 5:30 p.m. and marchers will make their way over to Fred Moore Park where Juneteenth festivities will be held and attendees can celebrate and reflect on the holiday. Masks are encouraged for attendees and the Texas Street Medics will set up a mini-clinic to provide water, snacks, check vital signs and injuries and provide information to the community. Voter registrars will also be on-site to register people to vote.
Juneteenth Ancestor March and Vigil
By Any Means Necessary will be hosting a march and candlelight vigil tomorrow night from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Starting at Fort Worth City Hall, the march will make its way to the final resting place of Fred Rouse, a black Fort Worth man who was lynched on December 11, 1921. By Any Means Necessary will have a drum leader at the event that will lead a prayer and meditation and then play in honor of Juneteenth. Whether you stay for only a portion of the march or the whole thing, this event is a great opportunity to celebrate and honor Juneteenth.
If making it to an event, whether in person or virtually, isn’t an option for you, another great way to celebrate and honor Juneteenth is by donating to organizations that advocate for black lives. North Texas has a variety of different organizations you can donate to if that’s how you want to celebrate and honor Juneteenth.