The Juneteenth holiday marks the day when Union soldiers marched into Galveston Bay, Texas on June 19, 1865 and announced the end of slavery in Texas. Black Americans in Texas began celebrating June 19, or “Juneteenth” as soon as 1866. Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday in 1980. In 2021, Juneteenth became a national holiday.
This year, more than a dozen events highlight Juneteenth in Broward County with an emphasis on history and joy through the arts in celebration.
Music
Hued Songs: The Juneteenth Experience at Parker Playhouse
Hued Songs brings its annual Juneteenth performance to Parker Playhouse on Saturday, June 14. The South Florida performance group combines dance, spoken word, and song into a concert-theater experience. The event includes several short films by local filmmakers on Black history and liberation, followed by a 75-minute multi-disciplinary performance that includes dance (choreographed by Zest Collective under Gentry George), spoken word and original poetry by Miriam King and multi-disciplinary artist and Florida-based poet Arsimmer McCoy, along with digital projections by Barbados artist Russell Watson, known for his digital media works. Gospel, soul, and classical arrangements provide a musical backdrop for the performance. Attendees can also visit the marketplace at the event featuring works and products from Black artisans and vendors.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Hued Songs’ “The Juneteenth Experience”
WHERE: The Parker, 707 Northeast 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, June 14
Tickets: Starting at $29.50
INFORMATION: (954) 462-0222, Parker Playhouse and Broward Center for the Performing Arts
BEST FOR: All ages
Emoticoncert Program 8: “Admiration (A Juneteenth Concert)”
The South Florida Chamber Ensemble (SFCE) honors African American composers in its concert “Admiration” on Sunday, June 8. The Juneteenth Concert features the works of African American composers who admired each other’s work and collaborated to build themselves professionally and creatively during the Harlem Renaissance and beyond. “Admiration” is the eighth program in South Florida Chamber Ensemble’s Emoticoncert series, with each Emoticoncert exploring a different emotional theme through music.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Emoticoncert Program 8: Admiration (A Juneteenth Concert)”
WHERE: Deerfield Beach Museum and Cultural Center, 84 SE 4th Ave., Deerfield Beach
WHEN: 1 to 2:30 p.m., Sunday, June 8
TICKETS: $10, student and senior tickets, $15, general admission, free for members
INFORMATION: (954) 803-3762 or tickets online
BEST FOR: All ages
Juneteenth Celebration: Music, Culture, and Family Fun With Black Violin
This music-filled Juneteenth Celebration at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) features a live performance from the musical duo Black Violin.
The classically-trained duo on violin and viola combine hip hop and classical music in their sound. Originally from Broward County, the Black Violin duo of Wil Baptiste (on viola) and Kev Marcus (on violin) have been performing for more than twenty years. With three albums and two Grammy nominations, Black Violin’s fusion of hip hop and classical music challenges stereotypes of what a classical musician sounds and looks like. Black Violin also focuses on youth outreach and educational programs.
In addition to the live musical performance from Black Violin, attendees to the Juneteenth Celebration can also join a violin workshop with artist Portia Dunkley. Dunkley is founder of the New Canon Chamber Collective, a choral and orchestral ensemble composed of musicians or color, and founder of Teeny Violini, a nonprofit providing music education to young children.
The program is cosponsore by The Broward Center’s Art for Action: Black Voices initiative.
The Juneteenth Celebration also includes outdoor games for the family.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Juneteenth Celebration: Music, Culture, and Family Fun featuring Black Violin
WHERE: African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 1 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 18
TICKETS: Free, but registration encouraged.
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6282 visit the library event page for details and tickets
BEST FOR: All ages
Festivals
Juneteenth Celebration at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts
The City of Coral Springs hosts its annual “Juneteenth Celebration” on Friday, June 20 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. The free event includes live music and performances by spoken word artist Tenille Brown and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, a historic African American sorority. Event attendees enjoy free admission to the nearby Coral Springs Museum of Art, where they can view the Museum’s latest exhibition “Ancestral Lines” and enjoy a live performance and mural painting involving a human canvas. Children’s activities and complimentary food from local Black-owned restaurants are also included in the Juneteenth Celebration.
Following the Celebration, there’s a comedy show by Marlon Wayans, the comedian, actor, producer, and film director known for hit films like “White Chicks” and “Scary Movie.” Tickets to the “Marlon Wayans Wild Child Tour!” must be purchased before the show.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Juneteenth Celebration
WHERE: Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Dr, Coral Springs
WHEN: 5:30 . to 7:30 p.m. (Juneteenth Celebration), 8 p.m. (Marlon Wayans Wild Child Tour! Comedy Show), Friday, June 20
Tickets: Free; comedy show tickets start at $56.27
INFORMATION: (954) 344-5990 or visit the Coral Springs website for info and comedy show tickets
BEST FOR: All ages
24th Annual Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival: A Juneteenth Event
The City of Pompano Beach, Broward County Library, and the Friends of Northwest Library present the 24th annual Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival on Saturday, June 14.. The free festival is held at Apollo Park (next to Northwest Branch Library) and includes live music and performances, food, history and cultural exhibits (including a living history museum), games, creative activities for children, face painting, and a sweet potato pie tasting contest.
Live performances at the Festival include the Cross Family Singers (a family gospel group), Dottie Kelly (Blues singer), Julius Sanna and Positively Africa (an Afrofusion musical group), Delt the DJ, Erick Carter (poet), Kennadi Nikol (singer), and the Ashanti Cultural Arts Performers from Ashanti Cultural Arts, a non profit promoting children’s academic skills and wellness through art and dance.
Rhonda B. Walker, a Northwest Branch Library “Manager of Excellence,” founded the Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival in 1999 before Juneteenth was a nationally-recognized holiday. The festival continues today and honors her legacy; special historic games at the festival also honor her memory and include a tug-of-war, hula hoop contest, sack races, and foot races.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: 24th Annual Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival: A Juneteenth Event
WHERE: Apollo Park, 1580 NW 3rd Avenue, Pompano Beach
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 14
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6599 or Northwest Library; visit the Pompano Beach website for event details
BEST FOR: All ages
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom at Carter Park
The City of Fort Lauderdale celebrates Juneteenth with an outdoor event at Carter Park featuring live performances, a deejay, food vendors, arts and crafts activities, and a bounce house and kids’ zone for the children. The event is free to attend; food and other specialty items are available for purchase from vendors.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom
WHERE: Carter Park, 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 828-5411 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Evening Events
Destination Freedom
The African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) presents “Destination Freedom,” a special Juneteenth ceremony on Friday, June 20 to honor emancipation and reflect on the fight for equality. The ceremony uses dance, music, poetry, storytelling, and food to follow the African-American journey to freedom. The evening also includes discussions about the continued fight for equality and justice.
“Destination Freedom” is a ticketed event; attendees must be 21 or older.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Destination Freedom
WHERE: African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 14
TICKETS: $50
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6282 or the library event page
BEST FOR: Adults 21 years of age or older
Juneteenth Jubilee: A Cultural Arts Celebration by Victory Black Box Theatre
Victory Black Box Theatre partners with the Broward County Cultural Division for “Juneteenth Jubilee,” a cultural arts celebration at L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center. “Juneteenth Jubilee” is a night of joy, reflection, and artistic expression to honor the Juneteenth holiday and Black culture. The evening event includes live performances from local artists—including poets, visual artists, and musicians, and includes live music, food, dance, artisan vendors, and storytelling reflecting on the history of emancipation.
Victory Black Box Theatre is a special events space within L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center in the historic Sistrunk area.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Juneteenth Jubilee: A Cultural Arts Celebration
WHERE: L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center, 1409 NW 6th Street Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18
TICKETS: Starting at $19
INFORMATION: (954) 315-0116 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Teens and adults
Arts
Storytelling with Windell Campbell:Celebrate Juneteenth
Storyteller Windell Campbell brings the story of African American folk heroes alive with his story-based puppet shows. The show combines the art of story and puppetry to bring folk tales to life and share character-building lessons with the audience. Campbell shares stories such “John Henry,” the legendary African American railroad worker, and “The People Could Fly,” a Black folktale about people who escaped slavery by flying.
Campell was an elementary school teacher for more than 40 years, and brought his love of teaching into his storytelling and puppetry. He d trained as a Prime Time Storyteller for the Florida Humanities Council in 2009. Campbell has brought his show to dozens of schools, museums, festivals, and summer programs throughout Florida, including the Tampa Museum of Art, the Clearwater Folk Festival, the Broward County Storybook Festival, Ocala’s Central Florida Community College Early Childhood Conference, and others.
Windell Campbell will host five performances in different Broward County libraries on Monday, June 16, Tuesday, June 17, and Wednesday, June 18:
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Juneteenth: Storytelling with Windell Campbell – Celebrate Juneteenth
WHEN and WHERE:
Monday, June 16:
10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, June 16: Broward Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale
2 to 3 p.m., North Lauderdale Saraniero Branch, 6901 Kimberly Blvd., North Lauderdale
Tuesday, June 17:
11 a.m. to noon, Riverland Branch, 2710 Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
4 to 5 p.m., Carver Ranches Branch, 4735 SW 18th St., West Park
Wednesday, June 18:
2 to 3 p.m., Lauderdale Lakes Branch Library, 3580 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-7444 or visit the Storytelling with Windell Campbell events calendar page for details
BEST FOR: Children, including toddlers.
Freedom Quilts: A Juneteenth Story in Fabric
Artist, author, and educator, Kim D. Harris, Ed.D., comes to Lauderhill Towne Centre Library to lead an art workshop on creating mixed media pieces. Harris will lead participants in creating mixed media panels (using paper collage) inspired by the “freedom quilts” created by African American quilters to express their desire for freedom and equality and honor their cultural legacy.
Harris is the artistic director of The Creative You, an organization that encourages creativity, cultural sustainability, heritage preservation, and emotional healing through art workshops and community outreach events. She utilizes art, yoga, and storytelling in her programs; she is the author of two children’s books, “The Colors of Kwanzaa” and “This is a Story.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Freedom Quilts: A Juneteenth Story in Fabric
WHERE: Lauderhill Towne Centre Library, 6399 W Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderhill
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 17
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6406 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Celebrate Juneteenth: Paint, Sip, and Sing for Families at Northwest Regional Library
Northwest Regional Library hosts a free afternoon paint and sip (with orange juice) to celebrate Juneteenth. Listen to music while you enjoy an afternoon of painting; this event is free and open to kids, teens, and adults.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Celebrate Juneteenth: Paint, Sip, and Sing for Families
WHERE: Northwest Regional Library, 3151 N University Dr, Coral Springs
WHEN: 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 18
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-7990 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Juneteenth Pride Celebration: ArtsUnited Gallery
ArtsUnited Gallery hosts its Third Annual Juneteenth Pride Celebration on Thursday, June 26 to celebrate the pride and legacy of Juneteenth. Sponsored by The Legacy Builders, a nonprofit focusing on intersectionality and building bridges in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and LGBTQ+ communities through the arts, the evening includes a cocktail hour, live performances, and a panel discussion on addressing stigma. The event also features the work of local artists whose work exhibits themes of freedom and liberation within the African Diaspora.
ArtsUnited Gallery is a nonprofit in Wilton Manors that empowers artists, builds artistic community, promotes cultural inclusivity, and fosters LGBTQ+ community.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Juneteenth Pride Celebration: ArtsUnited Gallery
WHERE: ArtsUnited Gallery, 2401 N Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors
WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, June 26
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: Visit the event page for details or the ArtsUnited website
BEST FOR: Adults
