Once again, Juneteenth is being commemorated in the D.C. area with parades, festivals and events in museums, parks and neighborhoods. The celebrations, marking June 19, 1865, the day the last enslaved people in Texas were freed, actually began last weekend and continue through Saturday. Many events are free.
Juneteenth Community Day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture is sold out, but there are plenty more community events, with go-go music as the ever-present soundtrack.
Wednesday
‘Something for the People’ at Songbyrd
This event celebrating Juneteenth and Black Music Month is truly something for all people. It’s all ages and happening at Songbyrd, the Union Market music venue that doubles as a bar and restaurant. At 7 p.m., guests can catch a screening of the go-go documentary “Something for the People” next door at the Angelika Film Center and then head to Songbyrd for performances from Takeova Band, also known as “TOB, the crank of the bounce beat,” alongside Long Live Go-Go founder Justin “Yaddiya” Johnson and the Honest Politix. 7 to 11 p.m. $19.32. songbyrddc.com.
Thursday
Juneteenth celebration at Harrison Park
Harrison Park, right off the U Street corridor, which was home to “Black Broadway” and long considered the center of Black culture in D.C., is hosting its fourth annual Juneteenth celebration. There will be go-go music and DJs, local food and vendors, giveaways, a basketball tournament and activities for children. Artwork by local artists will line the park fence, turning the space into an outdoor gallery celebrating Black freedom and culture. 3 to 9 p.m. Free. districtbridges.org.
Friday
Soulversations Block Party at Union Market
It’s a block party — a Juneteenth block party. Union Market returns with another community celebration packed with live music, local vendors, food and drinks, and a dance party on the plaza. Bands and DJs will rotate throughout the day while kids (and kids at heart, too) can stop by art-making stations on the plaza. 12 to 8 p.m. Free. Eventbrite.com.
Juneteenth at the Anacostia Community Museum
Think double-Dutch ropes flying through the air, trumpets blaring from the stage and groups line dancing through the crowd while the Chuck Brown Band and Black Alley perform. That will be the vibe at the Anacostia Community Museum’s 12-hour Juneteenth event. There will also be spoken-word performances, cooking demonstrations and spaces designed to feel like front porches during family cookouts (the food comes from local food trucks). Gardeners can join activities focused on planting and sustainability, and the museum will be open late for visitors to see its latest exhibition, “We Make History.” Bring your skates for late-night rollerblading in the museum’s parking lot with music from DJ Heat. In case of extreme weather, the festivities will move to Saturday. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free, registration recommended. anacostia.si.edu/juneteenth.
Juneteenth: A Time of Reflection and Rejoicing in Alexandria
There are several free events planned for Friday in Alexandria, beginning with a lecture at Douglass Cemetery, where Coppin State University professor Elgin Klugh will speak about genealogy, heritage and community history from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Then, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will present a concert featuring traditional storytelling and songs about freedom and the history of Juneteenth. Later, the celebration will move to the Charles Houston Recreation Center, with music, games and activities from 3 to 8 p.m., including line dancing, tours of the African American Hall of Fame, TikTok dance competitions, athletic activities geared toward younger visitors and a community blood drive. Free. alexandriava.gov/juneteenth.
Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration at National Harbor
You can mark the day by the water, too: National Harbor’s Capital Canopy will be transformed into a marketplace featuring Black-owned businesses, live music and food vendors. If you stay long enough, you can catch a performance by Black Alley, which will be pulling double duty after performing at the Anacostia Community Museum. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. nationalharbor.com.
Family Day at George Washington’s Mount Vernon
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate on Friday and Saturday, visitors can learn about Ona Judge, Peter Hardiman, Hercules Posey and other enslaved people who lived and worked on the property. Throughout the grounds, there will be interactive drumming, music from the African diaspora and demonstrations of Colonial textile making. Visitors can also explore cooking demonstrations to learn about the recipes and food traditions of the enslaved people. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $16-$30. mountvernon.org.
Juneteenth Jubilee at Shanklin Hall
The Shanklin Hall social club, on 18th Street NW, will be ground zero for lovers of Black American music in all forms, including hip-hop, R&B, funk, soul, deep house, Nola bounce, Jersey club and Baltimore club. Both of the club’s levels will be open for dancing, so you can move between floors to find the music that speaks to you. 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. $23.59-$51.84. posh.vip/e/juneteenth-jubilee-shanklin-hall-takeover.
Juneteenth at the Sully Historic Site
Commemorate Juneteenth at the Sully Historic Site in Fairfax County, home to an 18th-century plantation where enslaved people lived and worked. There will be storytelling, family activities, food and guided tours of the homesite, which was once home to Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia’s first congressman. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free, registration requested. fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully-historic-site.
Saturday
‘Freedom to Flip Out’ at Lyman’s Tavern
Lyman’s Tavern on 14th Street NW was thinking outside the box when it decided to combine pinball and a Juneteenth celebration. Organizers acknowledge that pinball “isn’t something many of us grew up around,” but that lack of opportunity is what inspired this event and has kept it going into a second year. The day begins with two hours of open play, then moves into a more guided tutorial format and ends with a tournament and awards. All skill levels are invited to partake in the friendly competition, even if you’ve never touched a pinball machine. Kids younger than 10 play free. Free admission. 1 to 5 p.m. whut.org/events/2nd-annual-freedom-to-flip-out.
Juneteenth parade and festival in Annapolis
“160 Years — A Legacy of Resistance” is the theme of this year’s Juneteenth celebrations in Annapolis. The day will begin with the city’s annual parade through downtown, starting at St. John’s College and ending at the Bates Athletic Complex with a battle of the bands and a festival. The festivities will feature music, food, family activities and more, and end with a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. Noon to 9 p.m. Free. theannapolisjuneteenth.org.
Juneteenth Freedom at the BlackRock Center for the Arts
Montgomery County is hosting its Juneteenth celebration at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, with events indoors and outdoors, including a marketplace of local artisans, food from local food trucks, music, dance and readings. To make getting there easier, the county’s Ride On shuttle will run from two stops directly to BlackRock. 1 to 10 p.m. Free. blackrockcenter.org/juneteenth.
Juneteenth Literary Jubilee & Black Author Book Fest at Planet Word
Planet Word Museum on 13th Street NW is giving a platform to Black local authors with a day of readings and book signings. The event will be led by award-winning poet and author Tony Keith Jr. Throughout the day, guests can snack on bites from SoFull Eats, make holiday-themed crafts and listen to the sounds of a West African drum ensemble. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free. planetwordmuseum.org.
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