A Federal holiday as well as a state holiday in Washington state, Juneteenth is an occasion for contemplation and remembrance, but it’s also increasingly become a time for joyous celebration that honors Black history while also celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.

To honor the legacy of Juneteenth, there are a terrific variety of events taking place across Puget Sound, with something for everyone in 2024, with celebrations ranging from civic events to musical concerts, fairs and farmer’s markets, museum exhibitions, story readings for children, and more!

Following is a quick guide to some of the highlights across Puget Sound.

Wednesday, June 19

Northwest African American Museum: Celebrate Juneteenth
https://www.naamnw.org/juneteenth
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
12–8 p.m.
Jimi Hendrix Park
Address: 2300 S Massachusetts St., Seattle

Juneteenth is NAAM’s opportunity to bring the community together for a celebration of Black freedom and liberation — Seattle’s largest Juneteenth celebration. Features a host of enthusiastic partners, presenters, volunteers, and vendors who support the museum every year to ensure that this annual Juneteenth celebration is a success. NAAM with the continued support of its community helps to advance justice and equity, cultivate educational empowerment, while centering and celebrating Black history, art, and culture — a continuation of the decades-long annual tradition begun by the late DeCharlene Williams in 1983.
 
Learn more about this and other Summer of Soul events at www.summerofsoulseries.org.

Juneteenth: A Tribute to Tina Turner
https://theroyalroomseattle.com/event/south-hudson-music-project-presents-juneteenth-the-music-of-tina-turner/
June 19, 7:30 p.m.
The Royal Room
5000 Rainier Ave. S, Seattle

The South Hudson Music Project Presents: Juneteenth, a Community Celebration! A stellar band of Ayesha Brooks, D,Vonne Lewis, Darren Loucas, Wayne Horvitz, Jeremy Lightfoot and The South Hudson Horns will be performing the music of Tina Turner. South Hudson Music Project develops and presents innovative musical collaborations that cross boundaries of genre, culture, generation, and neighborhood. They strengthen and engage their community through performances, community events, workshops and more — all at the Royal Room in Columbia City.

Juneteenth: Reparations Now (Jimi Hendrix Park)
https://www.summerofsoulseries.org/juneteenth
June 19, 12–8 p.m.
Jimi Hendrix Park
2400 S Massachusetts St., Seattle

Join the commemoration of the liberation of our ancestors from chattel slavery and collectively envision and explore what future freedom can look like for us all through formatted virtual and in-person discussions and festival activations.

Juneteenth is a reminder of the resilience and strength of our communities and that, in the face of oppression and injustice, we continue to press into our collective brilliance and strength. We recognize this day, just as others that tend to receive temporary limelight in this country, as one that gives us focused opportunity to contemplate how we may continue to honor the contributions and sacrifices of our ancestors. We honor their tireless fight for freedom and are grateful for the paths they have paved that have allowed for the progress we have made today. We are thankful for these sacrifices and contributions each and every day.

Juneteenth (Shoreline)
Wednesday, June 19, 4–8 pm
Shoreline City Hall Meridian Park (Seattle)
17500 Midvale Ave N Shoreline, WA 98133
Free for all ages.

Celebrate Juneteenth with performances, Black small business marketplace, food vendors, a guided mural stroll and much more!

“We’re Free Now” A Juneteenth Celebration Of Black Genius
https://www.langstonseattle.org/
Wednesday, June 19, 5–9:30 pm
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute Central District (Seattle)
104 17th Ave S Seattle, WA 98144

On Juneteenth, Da Village will be hosting a very special celebration! “We’re Free Now” is a celebration of Blackness, genius, creativity, and liberation. There will be an open mic, a special performance art piece, and a finale dance party + networking mixer with space for artistic expression via painting and visual art.

Juneteenth (National Nordic Museum Ballard)
https://nordicmuseum.org/events/free-admission
Wednesday, June 19, 10 am–5 pm
National Nordic Museum Ballard (Seattle)
2655 NW Market St Seattle, WA 98107

In honor of Juneteenth, the National Nordic Museum is pleased to offer free admission on Wednesday, June 19! Ticket includes access to special exhibition Nordic Utopia? African Americans in the 20th Century. Reserve your tickets in advance for quick entry! Discount will be applied at checkout.

Freeform Dance Dance Juneteenth
https://www.facebook.com/events/3597922257088380/
Wednesday, June 19, 7:15–9:15 pm
Russian Community Center Stevens (Seattle)
704 19th Ave E Seattle, WA
Cost: $15 — $25

JUNETEENTH Ecstatic Dance with a Juneteenth Set List! The Special Weds F2D2 set list: freedom music, honoring Juneteenth, dance your way; no steps, no choreography, no special movements, dance the way you want to move. We’ve been invited to DJ and we will have a fabulous set list honoring freedom for all, African artists, and African American artists. Kids welcome with their caregivers. DJ-Zondo (aka Jon Elizondo) and G-Race (Grace Bell) will create something special.

Come dance with us at the dancing playground. Like a dance party in your living room with friends!

7:00pm PT doors open; 7:30 pm dance starts. 9:00 pm music ends, followed by a short closing circle. 9:15ish: done! Tickets at the door: $15 — $25 adults sliding scale. Children 13–17 $5 to $15 sliding scale. Children 12 and younger — $5 suggested (pay what you can). No credit cards please. Cash, Venmo, Paypal.

Juneteenth Commemoration (Washington State History Museum Tacoma)
https://www.washingtonhistory.org/event/juneteenth-2024/
Thursday, June 20, 5:30–7 pm
Washington State History Museum Tacoma (Seattle)
1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402

Commemorate Juneteenth through an evening of programming curated by BLK WINS. BLK WINS strives to be a direct resource for people, specifically Black youth, to discover and identify who we truly are, where we come from, and how we got here.

The session will include a presentation and conversation facilitated by the BLK WINS team that reflects on the importance of Black history on a local and national level and the significance of Juneteenth in Washington State. The program will conclude with an interactive mural-making session.

Juneteenth Story Time (Children’s Museum of Tacoma)
https://greentrike.org/event/juneteenth-2024-storytime-cmt/2024-06-13
Children’s Museum of Tacoma
1501 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 @ 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Cost: Included with museum admission (pay as you will)
RECOMMENDED AGES: Ages 10 and younger

Children’s Museum of Tacoma hosts special storytime readings and activities in honor of the Juneteenth holiday. The Children’s Museum of Tacoma is very excited to host special storytime activities honoring and celebrating Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day, which commemorates the day in 1865 that enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free. For families with young children, books can be a great start for important conversations about understanding the history and traditions of Juneteenth! Join us on June 19 at 11 a.m. for a Juneteenth story time and special Studio activity!

Admission will be Pay As You Will, and no registration is required. We’d like to thank Tacoma Creates, whose support makes this event available for visitors at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma.

Washington State Parks Free Day
https://www.parentmap.com/calendar/37691
Date and time: Wednesday, June 19
Cost: Free

Enjoy a fee-free day in one of Washington’s amazing state parks, perhaps considering how freedom is fundamental to our human existence.

Tukwila Juneteenth Commemoration
Sullivan Center
14350 Tukwila International Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98168
Date and time: Wednesday, June 19, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: Free

The City of Tukwila holds its fourth annual commemoration of Juneteenth with performances from DaNell Daymon & Greater Works and THROWBACKS Dance Team at the Sullivan Center at Tukwila Village. A free lunch will be served to the first 120 attendees.

Juneteenth at the Beach
https://www.edmondswaterfrontcenter.org/
Edmonds Waterfront Center
220 Railroad Ave Box 717, Edmonds, WA 98020
Date and time: Wednesday, June 19, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Cost: Free

Show up for story time, music, free food, performances, a movie screening with free popcorn and more at Edmond’s annual Festival of Freedom celebration held at the Edmonds Waterfront Center.

City of Mercer Island Celebrates Juneteenth
Wednesday, June 19. 12 p.m. — 4 p.m.
Mercerdale Park
3009 77th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040

Hosted by the Mercer Island High School Black Student Union and the City of Mercer Island, the Juneteenth Celebration will be held at Mercerdale Park. Enjoy children’s activities, live music, and food trucks. Children’s activities include face painting, a balloon artist, and more. Get ready for the MIHS Drill Team to perform. Free.

Juneteenth Celebration: Road to Economic Freedom
https://www.juneteenthwa.com/
Wednesday, June 19. 11:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Stewart Heights Park
5715 Reginald Gutierrez Ln
Tacoma, WA 98404
Cost: Free event

Coming off a highly successful 2023 Juneteenth — A Road to Economic Freedom event which boasted over 8,000 in attendance, national recording artists, state and local dignitaries, 100-plus vendors, the Miss Juneteenth Pageant and performances by local talent and artists, they’re are happy to announce that they are doing it again — and are excited about another opportunity to bring this event to the community again in 2024.

This Juneteenth Celebration will host over 100 vendors from trade associations, local businesses, nonprofits, and finance. The festival will be at Stewart Heights Park in Tacoma and include a main stage filled with performances and speakers, an interactive kid’s zone and stage, face painting, and a playground, including a Kid’s Play Zone — bouncy houses, games, arts/crafts.

Thursday, June 20

Juneteenth Commemoration at the Washington State History Museum
Thursday, June 20. 5:30 p.m. — 7 p.m.
Washington State History Museum
1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402

Hear local youth writers present their original work as well as writer from the African American Writers’ Alliance will compose and read their original works that talk about the historical significance of the holiday. This program will conclude with an interactive mural-making session. Free with registration.

Saturday, June 22

Atlantic Street Center’s 23rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 22. 11 am — 3 pm
Rainier Beach Community Center
8825 Rainier Avenue South Seattle, WA 98118
Free.

For the 23rd year, Atlantic Street Center is proud to present its Annual Juneteenth Celebration! In honor of freedom and culture, Atlantic Street Center offers a day featuring a resource fair, local vendors, excellent food, family-friendly activities, raffles, and vivacious performances. Thank you to the Rainier Beach Community Center for hosting again on the beautiful plaza.

Notes: Weather plan: If the weather is rainy, etc. we may be inside the Community Center. Like every year, each event attendee will receive one (1) ticket for a free food item from one of the confirmed food vendors. You can support these vendors further by purchasing additional food while supplies last. This year’s food vendors include: King’s Catering (soul food), Soul Fusion, Seattle Sorbet, and Big Dawgs Hot Dogs.

Othello Park 8th Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 22, 1:30–6:30 pm
Othello Park Brighton (Seattle)
4351 S Othello St Seattle, 98118 98118

Includes a vendor marketplace and community resources. Donations welcomed. Includes Soul Food, Entertainment, Children activities, and good company.

Juneteenth Community Celebration — NAACP Snohomish County
https://naacp-snoco.org/
Saturday, June 22. 11 a.m. — 3 p.m.
Willis D. Tucker Park, 6705 Puget Park Dr, Snohomish, WA 98296

Celebrate with the community and join the Juneteenth Community Celebration at Willis D. Tucker Park. Free food and fun.