8 Ways To Commemorate Juneteenth In Southern California

Events commemorating Juneteenth, a celebration of emancipation and a reminder of the long struggle for civil rights and equality, are taking shape across Southern California.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that enslaved people there were free. The announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.

The date became known as Juneteenth, a portmanteau of "June" and "nineteenth." It is a nationwide civic and cultural observance, not just a single-day holiday. For generations, Black communities marked the day with gatherings, food, music, prayer, education and celebrations of freedom.

Commemorative events, ranging from large marquee celebrations to local community programming, will be held in dozens of major cities in every region of the country.

Here are eight ways to commemorate Juneteenth in SoCal:

Black on the Block Los Angeles

• When: June 13
• Where: Los Angeles Center Studios, Los Angeles
• What: The pre-Juneteenth celebration will feature live music, more than 100 Black-owned brands, a food court, a kids' zone, activations, giveaways and more.

Cooper Family Foundation Juneteenth Freedom Festival

• When: June 20
• Where: Memorial Park, San Diego
• What: The free festival celebrates culture, community and the roots of Juneteenth. The event will offer live gospel and jazz music, cultural performances, a fun zone, food trucks and local vendors.

Juneteenth Celebration

• When: June 19
• Where: Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
• What: Attendees will discover the traditions of this annual celebration through music, storytelling and more.

Juneteenth Celebration

• When: June 20
• Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Long Beach
• What: The event will feature cultural performances, live music, food, and opportunities to reflect on the journey toward freedom and equality.

Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom

• When: June 19
• Where: Boisseranc Park, Buena Park
• What: The event will feature community vendors, food trucks, a guest speaker, live entertainment, and activities for children.

Juneteenth Festival

• When: June 20
• Where: Centennial Regional Park, Santa Ana
• What: The event will celebrate culture, community, tradition and heritage.

Juneteenth Freedom Weekend

• When: June 18-20
• Where: Palm Springs
• What: The weekend kicks off with Village Fest in Downtown Palm Springs, followed by the Unity Picnic at Downtown Park and the Youth Pageant at James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center.

Kinfolk Fest

• When: June 20
• Where: Waterfront Park, San Diego
• What: Kinfolk Fest is San Diego's largest Juneteenth celebration bringing together music, culture, food and Black-owned businesses.

Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980. It became a federal holiday in 2021 and is now observed annually on June 19 by the federal government and many state governments, schools, banks and private employers.

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