Juneteenth in Memphis: 8 ways to celebrate the holiday, from concerts to festivals

Memphis will be host to a series of festivals and events marking Juneteenth.Juneteenth honors Black ancestry and the events of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were officially told they had been freed by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation two years prior.This year, a mix of festivals and events — from star-studded concerts to bazaars to block parties — will mark the holiday.Here are some ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Memphis.

TONE’s Juneteenth Family Reunion

June 14-16 at Orange Mound Tower, 2205 Lamar Ave.

TONE — a local arts organization uplifting Black communities and creatives — will once again stage its annual Juneteenth Family Reunion Weekend. TONE’s weekend-long celebration of “the emancipation of our ancestors,” will have a "Revival" theme this year  with a focus on “getting back to our roots together as a community.” Festivities will include a spades tournament on June 14, nighttime gala on June 15 and a concert festival on June 16 featuring performances by Hitkidd, Curren$y, Juicy J and a special DJ set by DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown, the pseudonym for legendary neo-soul artist Erykah Badu. The festival will take place at the Orange Mound Tower, 2205 Lamar Ave. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to Tonememphis.org.

Juneteenth Douglas Freedom & Heritage Festival

June 14-16 at Douglas Park, 3299 Omar Robinson St.

Memphians have been marking Juneteenth in Douglas Park — the OG Juneteenth celebration in the Bluff City — for 30 years. Year 31 will brings some changes to the three-day fest. Youth Day will be held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 14, with youth performers, youth vendors and youth DJs and hosts. From 3-8 p.m. June 15-16, there will be entertainment on a mobile Shell stage (courtesy of the Overton Park Shell) with performances by the National Jookin League, Marcus.901, Ekpe Abioto and more. The Douglas Park festival is free, parking is free, and attendees are free to bring grills, coolers, tents, tables and chairs to celebrate a weekend of “love, life, and liberation.” For more details, go to Facebook.com/juneteenthdouglass.

Memphis Juneteenth

June 14-15 at Health Sciences Park, 799 Madison Ave.

Led by Dr. Telisa Franklin, the annual City of Memphis Juneteenth celebration will take place at Health Sciences Park over the weekend. On June 14, the event will feature a health and wellness tent, offering community resources. On June 15, a series of events will kick off with a morning Freedom Run, followed by a Car Exhibition from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. At 6 p.m. there will be a Greek Yard Show hosted by Jeremy Pierre, with music by Cody the Grand. For more information, go to Juneteenthfreedommemphis.com.

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Juneteenth Freedom Ride

June 15 at Mud Island, 101 N. Island Drive

Major Taylor Memphis cycling club will present the fourth annual Juneteenth Freedom Ride on June 15. Cyclists of all levels can participate, with multiple routes/distances offered. Early registration is $45, late registration is $65. There will also be a meet-and-greet/pre-ride social event from 3-7 p.m. June 14 at Loflin Yard and a recovery ride on June 16 at the Greenbelt Park. For details, go to Raceroster.com.

The Official Orange Mound Juneteenth

June 15 at Orange Mound Community Center, 2572 Park Ave.

From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 15, Orange Mound Community Center will host its Juneteenth celebration, with food trucks, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a youth talent showcase, various vendors and more. For more information, call or text 901-649-5827.

Memphis Public Libraries: Juneteenth

June 12-19, various branches

The Memphis Public Libraries will be celebrating the Juneteenth holiday with a variety of events and activities all week at their different branch locations. The programming will include a Juneteenth Crafternoon at the Orange Mound Library (June 12), a Juneteenth Celebration at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library (June 13), a Juneteenth Festival at the Cordova Library (June 15), celebrations at the Levi Library and Hollywood Library (both on June 18), and much more. For a detailed listing, go to Memphis.librarycalendar.com.

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Juneteenth Shop Black Festival

June 15 at Fourth Bluff Park, 51 Jefferson

The fifth annual Juneteenth Shop Black Festival will take place at Fourth Bluff Park in Downtown Memphis. The event will feature Black businesses, food trucks and live music. More than 100 local and regional Black vendors and organizations (among them MLK50, Kaye's Pints and Scoops, and PGlitz Candles) will be on hand, along with an expected 5,000 patrons. For details, go to Juneteenthshopblackfestival.com.

Juneteenth Community Day

June 19 at National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry St.

The National Civil Rights Museum is celebrating the Juneteenth holiday on June 19 as a Community Day with free museum admission. The museum will welcome all visitors to learn more about the origins and importance of the holiday and the stories of hard-fought freedom since its origin. The Juneteenth Community Day will also feature a health equity focus and a range of health-related services, resources and activities. WLOK will be broadcasting live from the museum from 10 a.m.-noon. The free Juneteenth Community Day admission is on a first-come basis. For more details, visit Civilrightsmuseum.org/juneteenth.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How does Memphis celebrate Juneteenth? Check out these events