New York City is gearing up for Juneteenth this Friday and Saturday. In celebration of the holiday that commemorates the official end of slavery, New York City will be hosting some of the largest celebrations of the holiday in all of the country.
On Friday, June 19th, there will be evening celebrations at City Park, with live music and a grilling cookoff event. On Saturday, there will be a number of events at Douglas Park from 8 AM all the way to 2 PM.
Additionally, spectators can attend the official Juneteenth NYC Parade, which celebrates the resilience of Black American culture and local black community leaders. The parade starts at 10:30 AM on Pennsylvania Avenue between Pitkin Avenue and Stanley Avenue. Staten Island also has its own Juneteenth Parade, which starts at Tappen Park at 12 PM on Friday.
The Juneteenth parade and festival will primarily be hosted in Brooklyn. There, the public can enjoy the free festival, which will host a number of live performances, a cultural fashion show, vendors, international food, kids’ soccer clinics, activities for families, and much more.
From the Knicks’ celebrations to the ongoing World Cup games, this year’s Juneteenth celebrations will have a larger turnout than past years, thanks in part to the influx of international travelers.
Additionally, be on the lookout for other free Juneteenth events around the city, including free film screenings at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, for the film The Inkwell. Additionally, a cookout event at Prospect Park.
