Celebrating Juneteenth 2023 in Houston and Galveston

Monday, June 19th is Juneteenth, the federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Houston is a particularly special place to celebrate the legacy of this important day, as Juneteenth originated in a place not too far from here: Galveston. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom for slaves in Texas. Two thousand Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay and announced this proclamation, freeing more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state. Celebrate the legacy of this historic event and African American culture in Texas through these myriad upcoming events. 

2nd Annual Juneteenth HBCU Festival
The HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) Alliance is hosting the Juneteenth HBCU Fest. The three-day celebration consists of five free events across Houston. On Thursday at 8 a.m. is the HBCU Alliance’s Golf Tournament at Memorial Hermann Golf Course. The rest of the events will take place at POST Houston. A Career Fair will be held on Friday, and Saturday will feature three events: two during the day – the Black is Beautiful Market and The Black Barbie Exhibit – and The Cream and Canary Yellow Affair at night. Find more information here. 

Juneteenth Liberation Market at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH)
There is no better way to start a weekend than with retail therapy, especially when it’s in support of local vendors and Black literary arts. On Thursday from 6:30-8:30 p.m., SOA Co. Books and the CAMH are hosting a vendor market that will include art, music, and drinks. SOA Co. Books is an independent Black and female-owned pop-up bookstore based in Houston. Also open to the public are exhibitions Ming Smith: Feeling the Future and Where Do We Go From Here. 
The market is free, but RSVPs are encouraged here. 

Juneteenth Kickback by Project Row Houses
Kick it on back with Project Row Houses for their annual Juneteenth commemoration in the Third Ward. The community is invited to join in an afternoon of fun, games, and food on Friday from 5-9 p.m. at Project Row Houses (2521 Holman St.). Be ready to fill up on tasty BBQ, a fish fry, and other treats while enjoying live music. Don’t miss the Community Mural Project from 6-7 p.m., where attendees will design a 3-D replica of a Row House all together. Other festivities include a button-making workshop and live performances in the Project Row Houses’ Artist Courtyard. Admission is free! 

Wave of Freedom Weekend at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum 
As part of the Reparationist Collective collection, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is raising awareness on what lineage-based reparative policies could mean for American Freedmen. The event is hosted by the National Assembly of American Slavery Descendants (NAASD) and National Volunteer Council on Freedmen Affairs (NVCFA). On Saturday from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m., there will be a re-enactment tour, and Sunday will feature the NAASD’s Inaugural Jubilee and Awards Ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. For museum tickets, click here. 

Celebrate Juneteenth at Children's Museum Houston with a three-day event featuring live poetry and performances. Pictured: Joy of Djembe Drumming.

Juneteenth Celebration at the Children’s Museum Houston 
Corral the kiddos and head over to the Children’s Museum Houston for a three-day Juneteenth celebration featuring live poetry and live performances! The headliner on Sunday and Monday is the Juneteenth Performance, a poetic production put on by the Ensemble Theatre. On Saturday, see the compelling “Rhyme and Reason” live show put on by the Express Children’s Theatre, dance to the beats of DJ Ferbidden, and experience the Joy of Djembe Drumming. A djembe is a rope-tuned drum from West Africa whose name comes from the saying “Anke djé, anke bé.” This translates to “everyone gather together in peace.” A beautiful sentiment for a beautiful weekend of celebration. All ages are welcome. 

Kendrick Scott’s “Unearthed”: Stream Free On-Demand
On Friday, June 16, stream the musical production “Unearthed.” Presented by DACAMARA and composed by Kendrick Scott, the production memorializes the Sugar Land 95. The untold story is of a recent discovery of the remains of 95 Black people in unmarked graves in Sugar Land, Texas. Register to stream free here. 

 

Juneteenth At Miller: A Celebration of Freedom Part 1
Friday night at 8:15 pm, Miller Outdoor Theatre will kick off their Juneteenth celebration with a night of Blues, Classic R&B, and Hip-Hop music! The concert will include a national special guest while featuring Houston’s amazing musicians. Listen to the tunes of Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Prince, and more. The list of performers includes The Ernest Walker Band, Eddie Levert, Tweed Smith, and Liz Vaughn. The free event is supported by AARP. 

RAMP Showcase at MATCH-Midtown Arts
MATCH-Midtown Arts is celebrating their fifth season and is showcasing socially relevant work that reflects the human condition through artists’ imaginations. RAMP (Reform, Action, Mobilize, Progress) encapsulates the core tenets of Social Movement Contemporary Dance Theater. The performances are on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with the pre-show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Concert tickets are $25 and can be purchased here. 

Jada Roberts, pictured at the 2019 Juneteenth Festival at Emancipation Park. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra)

Juneteenth Music Festival at Emancipation Park
Emancipation Park will host their annual Juneteenth Music Festival on Saturday. The concerts kick off at 3 p.m. with gospel artist V Michael McKay, followed by Step Rideau, the R&B icons Lakeside, and The SOS Band. The concert is free and doors open at 2 p.m. There will also be various vendors offering one-of-a-kind merchandise and food trucks. 

The Juneteenth historical marker is located on 2201 Strand Street in Galveston. One of over 200 markers on the island, the marker honors the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abe Lincoln and was sponsored by the Texas Historical Commision. (Photo courtesy of Galveston CVB)  

Galveston Juneteenth Parade & Picnic
Drive out to Galveston on Saturday for their annual free Juneteenth Parade and Picnic and celebrate the legacy of the holiday at its birthplace. The parade starts at 26th and Avenue H and ends at 41st and Avenue H. The picnic will subsequently follow at Wright Cuney Park. The parade is from 1-2 p.m., while the picnic starts at 2 p.m. and lasts till 5 p.m. 

Galveston Juneteenth Festival 
On the other side of the island on Saturday, there will be the Galveston Juneteenth Festival on the historical grounds of McGuire Dent Recreation Center, known today as Menard Park 2222-28th Street on the Seawall. The event is family-friendly and will include food and a vendor marketplace. Lawn chairs are allowed but personal coolers are prohibited. The free festival starts at 1 p.m. and lasts till 8 p.m. 

Celebrate Juneteenth at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens.

A Juneteenth Celebration at Bayou Bend 
Mosey on down to the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens for their family-friendly day celebrating Black history. On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., appreciate a myriad of activities. Learn about the history of the African American cowboys from the Black Cowboy Museum in Rosenberg, the history of Houston’s Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, and the Wilson Pottery Foundation. The Express Children’s Theater will put on a poetic celebration, and attendees can participate in an art-making workshop and tour the former home of Ima Hogg. Admission is free. 

Juneteenth Tea Cakes and Tours
On Saturdays in June, join the Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park for Tea Cakes and Tours. Attendees can tour the three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Slave Trade Project” and enjoy teacakes and red punch. There are four tours each Saturday: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. The cost is free, but booking is required here. 

10th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Ride 
Pump your bike tires and pull up to the 10th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Ride! Join the Freedmen's Town Bike Tour as they lead a ride through the historic Black communities of Houston. The celebratory ride is on Saturday morning and begins at Emancipation Park before traveling to Sunnyside & South Park and back. Check-In/Arrival is at 7 a.m.; the bike ride commences at 7:45 a.m. with an average pace of 14 mph. To make the most out of witnessing all the historic sites, be sure to wear comfortable active wear and closed-toed shoes, bring a lot of water (and then some more), and wear a helmet. When looking for free street parking, search for Freedmen’s Town Bike Tour Signs. Registration for the ride is $50 and includes a t-shirt, free parking, and a complimentary lunch. Register for the ride here. 

Healthy Cooking: Juneteenth with H-E-B
Beauty’s Community Garden presents a truly inspired event: a Juneteenth Celebration featuring Chef John from H-E-B, who will be teaching a grilling demo with fresh H-E-B ingredients. On Saturday from 9-11 a.m., attendees can learn culturally connected Healthy Cooking Recipes and new grilling techniques for healthy meals on the grill. The event will also include games, prizes, an Ice Cold Smoothie Station, and a Grower’s Market of fresh produce available for purchase. All ages are welcome and admission is free; RSVPs are highly encouraged here. 

Juneteenth Market at the Houston Museum of African American Culture
If you missed Thursday’s Liberation Market, don’t fret! On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, the Houston Museum of African American Culture is hosting another cultural shopping event. From artwork to artisan gifts, attendees can purchase a myriad of products from local vendors and The Culture Shoppe, an Afrocentric jewelry, clothing, and artwork store. 

A Wine Walk to Remember at the Houston Botanic Garden 
The Houston Botanic Garden will be enjoying an entertaining and educational Juneteenth experience at their gardens. On Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., immerse yourself in the Gardens at their summer peak while relaxing with live music, live painting, and three distinct wines from the Pur Noire portfolio. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here. 

 

Juneteenth At Miller: A Celebration of Freedom Part 2
Saturday night at 8:15 p.m., Miller Outdoor Theatre’s Juneteenth celebration will honor the contributions of African Americans to American music. Immerse yourself in Jazz and Inspirational music that pays tribute to legendary musicians such as Miles Davis, Grover Washington Jr., Aretha Franklin, and more. So grab a blanket, some refreshments – bug spray wouldn’t hurt – and go enjoy a free concert! 

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom at Avenida Houston
The third section of Miller Outdoor Theatre celebrations’ will be at Avenida Houston, a new entertainment area in downtown. This six-hour performance is on Sunday at 2 p.m., and will feature live music from artists Soultre, The Goodfellaz, Matthew Hartnett and The Gumbo Allstars, Anthony Hall, Mario, Kai Hicks, and more. Admission is free. 

Freedom on the Field: Mets at Astros 
Join the Houston Astros as they kick off a three-game series against the New York Mets. Monday night’s game at Minute Maid Park will be a special commemoration of Juneteenth. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.; tickets range from $21 to $95 and can be purchased here. 

Editor’s note: Read more about the origins of Juneteenth in Galveston here and more about Emancipation Park here.