Juneteenth in Sacramento: Here’s where you can celebrate this weekend with music, food and more
Juneteenth became a federal holiday for the first time last year, but it had long been honored in the homes of Black and African Americans.
The holiday is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It was passed on June 17, 2021 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, a legal public holiday.
It commemorates June 19, 1865 when enslaved persons in Galveston, Texas were finally made aware of their freedom, three years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by Abraham Lincoln and about two months after the last large Confederate army surrendered to Union troops.
The holiday will be observed on Monday, June 20. Throughout the week, leading up to the federal ‘day-off’, various Sacramento groups and organizations will host celebratory events in observance of Juneteenth.
Here’s a list of festivities you can attend this week and throughout the weekend.
Friday, June 17
Juneteenth at Haggin Community Park
Who: Folsom Cordova Community Partnership
Location: 2197 Chase Drive Rancho Cordova, 95670
When: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Description: This event includes a Black-owned marketplace, local musical guests, dance teams, and spoken word poets. Attendees are encouraged to come early for dinner, while supplies last. Guests are invited to bring a chair, a blanket and hangout in the park. There will be a chance to win a $100 gift card.
Ticket information: This is a free event, RSVP here. To register for a chance to win a $100 gift card, register through this Google Form.
Sacramento Juneteenth Festival
Who: Sacramento Juneteenth Inc.
Location: William Land Park, 3800 Land Park Drive (in the amphitheatre near the pond)
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Description: The “Gospel Under the Stars” Concert will feature performances by Sacramento gospel artists, James Jackson, Yardley Griffin, Charlotte Washington, and I Sound Healing Celebration. The concert will also include many Sacramento church choirs.
Ticket information: This is a free event
Saturday, June 18
Placer County Juneteenth Celebration
Who: seeMYChild , a local nonprofit organization
Location: Johnson-Springview Park, 5480 5th Street Rocklin, 95677
When: 9 a.m. to noon
Description: Placer County will pay tribute to history with a theme of “everybody has a seat at the table.” Family, friends, and neighbors are invited to enjoy the morning in the park to acknowledge, honor, and celebrate Black history.
Ticket information: This is a free event. RSVP here.
Sacramento Juneteenth Festival
Who: Sacramento Juneteenth Inc.
Location: William Land Park, 3800 Land Park Dr.
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Description: The Juneteenth Mile will consist of a one-mile run or walk event in partnership with Black Men Run starting at 9 a.m. The festivities on Saturday will include the Juneteenth Parade where over 20 organizations are scheduled to participate.
The Juneteenth Talent Show will be hosted by Lee Perkins, a radio host on KDEE 97.5FM. Winners of the talent show will receive trophies, bragging rights, and will be featured on promotions next year.
Live performances will be held by local musicians, poets, spoken word, and performing artists. On-site health examinations will be available at the Health and Wellness Pavilion.
Juneteenth Community Soldier Awards will be presented to members of the community who are making a difference.
Ticket information: This event is free.
Juneteenth at Negro Bar
Who: Juneteenth USA Planning Committee
Location: Negro Bar Folsom Lake State Recreation Area Entrance, 9698 Greenback Lane
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Description: Juneteenth is celebrated at the Negro Bar, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, where people are invited for a day of family fun, games, and food to celebrate the emancipation holiday. Attendees will be inspired to reflect upon African Americans’ profound legacy, ancestral roots, and highlight the resilience, solidarity, culture, and progress of Black communities.
Ticket information: This is a free event. There is a $10 parking fee for most vehicles and a $100 bus parking fee.
Oak Park Juneteenth Block Party at 40 Acres
Who: St. HOPE
Location: Esther’s Park, 3408 3rd Avenue
When: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Description: St. HOPE presents its second annual Juneteenth Block Party at 40 Acres in a free, family-friendly event. Third Avenue and 35th Street will be closed to traffic for the neighborhood block party. Event goers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs to enjoy a lineup of music, art and entertainment. There will be local Black-owned vendors offering food and other items. This year’s event is healdined by two groups, ‘The Return of James Brown’ Band and The Curtis Family,a band recently featured on America’s Got Talent. The Oak Park Brewery will also participate and provide unlimited tastes of beer from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Ticket information: This event is free. RSVP here. The OPB event is $40, limited tickets are available here, must be age 21 and up.
Juneteenth Block Party
Who: A collaborative effort of Sacramento nonprofits
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Martin Luther King Blvd between 7th Avenue and 9th Avenue
Description: The celebration of this independence day is dedicated to the remembrance of what was won and the struggles that lay ahead. There will be food, music, and games, including activities for kids such as free pony rides, workshops, community mural painting, and more. DJ One Gone will provide sounds for the event.
Ticket information: This is a free event.
Hella Juneteenth, The Black Supper
Who: The Last Supper Society, HOFisbetter, &Things
When: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Tiger Bar and Restaurant, 722 K Street
Description: Hella Juneteenth kicks off with “The Black Supper”, a collaborative, culinary tour de force exploring creativity in Black food dishes. Last Supper Society executive chef Byron Hughes is hosting three chefs Nelson German, Kiki Louya, and Chris Viaud who were featured on Bravo’s reality competition television series, Top Chef. Guests will enjoy eight courses with wine pairings from Black-owned wine brands, set to live jazz from the Matt Major Trio. The meal will be followed by a panel discussion on Black people in the culinary space presented by Los Rios Community Colleges. After the panel is an after-party with special musical guests.
Ticket information: $200, available here.
Sunday June 19
2022 California State Capitol Juneteenth Freedom Extravaganza
Who: San Diego Peace Coalition
When: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: California State Capitol Park, 1300 L Street
Description: On the state capitol steps, residents are invited to come out and learn about the Juneteenth holiday and California history in relation to enslavement where nearly 2,000 Black and African-American troops fought to end chattel slavery in California and the United States.
Ticket information: This event is free
Juneteenth Holiday Rejoice Festival
Who: Black Expo Events
When: Noon to 6 p.m.
Location: Robert Brookins Park, 3432 Paseo Nuevo St.
Description: This Del Paso Heights event is a celebration of unity, community and opportunity bringing together fun, information, resources and entertainment. There will be gospel, holy hip-hop and spoken word on the community stage where local talents, including youth will perform.
Ticket information: This event is free.
Arden Fair Juneteenth
Who: Arden Fair’s unchARTed series, The HeART of Sacramento
When: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (celebration from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
Location: Arden Fair Mall, 1689 Arden Way
Description: Check out an art exhibit with live music and light refreshments from Spidermonkey’s Dessert Studio and Lemon Mob. There will be performances by DJ Yodeci and Sita Kali Ma’at. There will be complimentary wine and water provided by Arden Fair.
Ticket information: This is a free event.
Hella Juneteenth, The Cookout
Who: The Last Supper Society, HOFisbetter, &Things
When: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Ali Youseffi Square, 705 K Street
Description: Last Supper Society will host a cookout in Ali Youssefi Square and invite the city out for food and fun. “The Cookout” is a quintessential Black social and culinary institution where they harness community, creativity, and joy at its core in celebration of Juneteenth. he food program will showcase some of Sacramento’s top Black culinary talent such as Gregory Desmangles of Urban Roots and Bawk, N’Gina Guyton of South and Miss N’Gina, Rasheed Amedu of Naija Boy Tacos, Gerine Williams of Devil May Care Ice Cream, Dennis Sydnor Jr. of Renegade Dining, Jamie Mack of Spidermonkey Desserts and more. Black Vines will provide a wine garden and a Black wine tasting experience at the event.
Ticket information: This is a free event.
Juneteenth, The Freedom Day
Who: The Brickhouse Gallery and Art Complex
When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: 2837 36th Street
Description: Join the Brickhouse Gallery on Sunday and enjoy performances, music, art, and food from local vendors. All ages are welcome.
Ticket information: This is a free event.
This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.