Parades, poetry and a free Scarface concert: 12 ways to observe Juneteenth in Austin
Juneteeth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, over two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to inform enslaved people that they were free and to press enslavers to comply with the directive. Texas was the final Confederate state to have the proclamation announced.
The holiday became federally recognized in 2021, but even before its official status, celebrations in Texas were well-established.
Now another year of celebrations is about to kick off, and Austin is ready to join in on the festivities. Here are some local Juneteenth events to check out:
Juneteenth Festival Barbecue Taste-Off
When: June 14 from 7 to 11 p.m.
Where: Old Settlers Park at 3300 Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock
What: A barbecue competition with live music.
Juneteenth Festival Round Rock
When: June 15 from 5 p.m. to midnight
Where: Old Settlers Park at 3300 Palm Valley Blvd.
What: A concert featuring Lloyd, Paul Wall, 1K Spin and more.
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade and Festival
When: June 15 from 10 a.m. to noon for the parade and noon to 9 p.m. for the festival
Where: Parade begins at corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street; festival held at Rosewood and Boggy Creek Park
What: A Juneteenth parade followed by a festival with food, vendors, music, children's activities and more.
A Juneteenth House Party: Celebrating Black History, Cultivating Black Stories
When: June 15 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: 1501 E. 12th St.
What: An outdoor event celebrating the reopening of the historic Southgate-Lewis House, a residence originally constructed for Dr. Thomas H. Davis, one of the first Black physicians in the city and occupied by other prominent Black Austinites.
Leander Juneteenth Block Party
When: June 15 from 5 to 9 p.m.
Where: Robin Bledsoe Park at 601 S Bagdad Road, Leander
What: A festival with live music, food trucks, craft vendors, bounce houses, a swimming pool, a splash pad and a basketball tournament.
Freedom Fest
When: June 15 from noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Turner Roberts Recreation Center at 7201 Colony Loop Drive
What: An event from Austin Area Urban League complete with a slingshot showcase, children's activities, a comedy show, live music and free food.
Black Makers Market
When: June 15 from noon to 6 p.m.
Where: African American Cultural and Heritage Facility at 912 E 11th St.
What: A market of over 40 vendors with food trucks, giveaways, DJs and more.
Community Juneteenth
When: June 15 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library at 1161 Angelina St.
What: An event featuring African dancers and drummers, a puppet show, arts and crafts, a fashion show, vendors, an art gallery, a DJ and guest speaker Professor Roland Hayes.
Buda Juneteenth Jubilee
When: June 15 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Where: Buda Amphitheater and City Park at 204 San Antonio St.
What: A party featuring music, dance, food, shopping and more.
Juneteenth Community Celebration
When: June 15 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Willie Mae Kirk Branch of the Austin Public Library at 3101 Oak Springs Drive
What: An event with food, games, live music, face painting and crafts.
Juneteenth Festival with Scarface and Free Your Mind Symposium
When: June 15-19, check juneteenthatx.com/festival for detailed daily schedule.
Where: George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center? at 1165 Angelina St.
What: A Saturday cookout and free concert with Houston legend Scarface and NOLA funk crew Tank and the Bangas. Readings and lectures, including a talk with Amanda Johnston, the 2024 Texas State Poet Laureate and founder of Torch Literary Arts in Austin and a screening and discussion of "Miss Juneteenth." Events also include a poetry slam, theatrical performances, a drag ball and more.
The Neill-Cochran House Museum Juneteenth Celebration
When: June 22 from noon to 5 p.m.
Where: The Neill-Cochran House Museum at 2310 San Gabriel St.
What: The debut of new exhibit A Juneteenth Rodeo, plus guided tours of the only intact and publicly accessible dwelling for enslaved people in Austin and a performance from a gospel choir.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: From parades to a Scarface show: 12 ways to mark Juneteenth in Austin
