Juneteenth in NYC is more than a moment—these 11 powerful events across the five boroughs invite you to honor Black freedom, culture, and joy in meaningful ways.
Juneteenth—also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day—commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. It marks a delayed justice, but an enduring triumph.
Juneteenth has grown into more than a symbolic date in New York City. It is a living, breathing celebration—one that pulses through borough blocks, parks, and performance spaces with the sounds, tastes, and stories of Black freedom, resilience, creativity, and culture.
This year’s commemorations span solemn moments of reflection and high-energy gatherings of community. From Harlem and the Bronx to Brooklyn and Queens, this guide highlights 11 thoughtful, immersive ways to honor Juneteenth across the city—whether you are looking to reflect quietly, gather joyfully, or simply bear witness.
If you followed our [Summer in NYC Guide] or [June BKLS Bookmarks], you already know—at BKLS, we believe summer is not just about sun and skyline. It is about meaning, memory, and how we show up. This Juneteenth, we invite you to continue that spirit through culture, reflection, and joy.
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Juneteenth in NYC: A Weeklong Celebration of Black Excellence
📅 Date: Thursday, June 12 through Thursday, June 19 |📍Location: Various Locations, Brooklyn
Now in its 15th year, Juneteenth NYC presents a dynamic lineup of events honoring Black culture and community. Kicking off with the Black Kings Awards Dinner on June 12. The celebration continues on June 14 with a spirited parade and festival at Gershwin Park in East New York—featuring dance, live performances, food vendors, and small Black-owned businesses.
On June 19, a virtual summit offers workshops and panels on empowerment, business, and education. This hybrid celebration remains one of the city’s most comprehensive Juneteenth tributes.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Juneteenth in the Park
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19 | 🕒 6 PM |📍 Location: Lena Horne Bandshell—Prospect Park
BRIC’s beloved festival returns to Prospect Park each summer, and Juneteenth takes center stage with a powerful evening of music and community. This year’s headliner is Grammy-nominated R&B artist BJ The Chicago Kid, with performances by Tamar-kali, Mahogany L. Browne, and Dionne McClain-Freeney. As always, admission is free and first-come, first-served. Pack a blanket, bring friends, and experience one of the city’s most beautiful open-air stages.
🔗 bricartsmedia.org/event/bric-celebrate-brooklyns-3rd-annual-juneteenth-in-the-park
We Outside: A Brooklyn Juneteenth, Vol. III
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21 | 🕒 2 PM – 8 PM |📍 Location: The Plaza at 300 Ashland—Downtown Brooklyn
More than just a festival, We Outside is a multidisciplinary art experience rooted in movement and joy. Presented by 651 ARTS, this free gathering includes pop-up performances, dance cyphers, live music, and interactive installations. Designed to reflect the richness of Black identity, this year’s event promises surprises and community-centered energy at the intersection of art and activism.
Schomburg Center’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19 | 🕒 Noon – 6 PM | 📍 Location: 515 Malcolm X Boulevard—Harlem
A pillar of Black scholarship and cultural preservation, the Schomburg Center’s annual Juneteenth event offers a deeply engaging day of films, panels, and performances. This year’s program includes youth-led presentations, an open house of historical archives, and special guest speakers. A great option for those seeking educational and cultural depth.
🔗 nypl.org
Seneca Village Tour with NYC Parks
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19 | 🕒 1 PM – 2:30 PM📍 Location: West 82nd–89th Street—Central Park
Join NYC Parks and the Urban Park Rangers for a guided walking tour of Seneca Village. A once-thriving 19th-century African-American community displaced by the creation of Central Park. Learn about the lives, legacy, and struggles of this early free Black settlement and reflect on what was lost in the name of “progress.”
🔗 nycgovparks.org | centralparknyc.org/activities/tours/seneca-village-tour
Jamaica Juneteenth Food Fest
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19 | 🕒 1 PM – 7 PM |📍 Location: Rufus King Park, Jamaica Avenue and 153rd Street—Jamaica, Queens
The Jamaica Juneteenth Food & Music Festival is a free, family-friendly celebration of Black culinary heritage, taking place from 1 PM to 7 PM at Rufus King Park in Queens. This vibrant gathering brings together local food vendors offering dishes like jerk chicken, oxtail, vegan soul fare, and Caribbean sweets, all set to the backdrop of live reggae and soul performances.
More than just a food fest, the event is a joyful expression of resilience, rhythm, and community spirit, welcoming a festive, multigenerational crowd.
[Take the LIRR to Jamaica; it is just a 5-minute walk.]
Crotona Park Juneteenth Music Festival
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19 | 🕒 2 PM – 8 PM |📍Location: Crotona Park, 3103 3rd Avenue—Bronx
The Bronx celebrates Juneteenth with a full day of live entertainment and community connection—enjoy local DJs, spoken word artists, dancing, and diverse food trucks spreading aromas of Brooklyn-style empanadas and more. Guests can expect a celebration centered on Black joy, curated by Friends of Crotona Park and open to all ages
Lefferts Historic House Juneteenth Programming
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19 |📍 Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Step into the past at this 18th-century farmhouse-turned-museum in Prospect Park. Lefferts Historic House will offer hands-on educational programming, storytelling, and exhibits about the lives of enslaved people who once lived in Brooklyn. A reflective and intimate option for families and history lovers alike.
Juneteenth Reflection & Celebration
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19 | 🕒 2:30–3:30 PM |📍 Location: Various NYC Parks
NYC Parks will host a citywide series of events reflecting on the history and future of Black freedom in America. Locations include Harlem’s St. Nicholas Park, Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn, and several community gardens across the city. Expect performances, readings, and community engagement for all ages.
🔗 nycgovparks.org/events/2025/06/19/juneteenth-reflection-celebration
The Lay Out’s Juneteenth Celebration
📅 Date: Thursday, June 16 | 🕒 10 AM through 9 PM |📍 Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Hosted by The Lay Out, this Fort Greene Park gathering centers on radical rest, joy, and Black collective care. Think of it as an unstructured yet intentional field day—with DJs, drumming circles, affirmations, food vendors, and low-pressure fun. Bring a blanket, bring your friends, and bring your whole self.
Federation of Black Cowboys Juneteenth Event
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19 |📍 Cedar Lane Stables, 8311 S Conduit Avenue—Howard Beach, Queens
Experience the legacy of Black cowboys firsthand at this celebratory event featuring horseback riding demos, cultural storytelling, soul food, and live music. Hosted by the Federation of Black Cowboys, this event offers a unique look at Black equestrian heritage in NYC, right in the heart of Queens.
🔗 federationofblackcowboys.org
Juneteenth in NYC: Reflecting on Freedom
Juneteenth in NYC is more than a celebration—it’s a collective moment of remembrance, reflection, and renewal. Across parks, rooftops, museums, and community spaces, the city comes alive with the sounds, stories, and spirit of Black freedom. Whether you’re dancing in Fort Greene, exploring the legacy of Seneca Village, or gathering with neighbors over soul food and song, each experience is an opportunity to honor the past while shaping a more just future.
Let this Juneteenth be one of presence and purpose—wherever you go, go with intention.
Stay with BKLS all season long for more ways to connect with New York City’s culture, community, and soul.
