Sculpture Planned for John F. Kennedy Park in Richmond
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of 250 years of legalized enslavement of Africans in the United States.
Long before the federal government declared Juneteenth a national holiday, June 19 had become synonymous with the end of legalized enslavement of Africans in the United States, even though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on Jan 1, 1963.
It was on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had become official, Major General Gordon Granger and his regiment of Union soldiers arrived at Galveston, Texas, and gave the news that the Civil War had ended, that President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, and the “enslaved were now and forever free.”
June 19 became known as Juneteenth and in 2021, it became a federal holiday. Here are some of the observations being held ’round the Bay.
By Geoffrey Lee
Marin County
Marin City
June 19
Marin City’s Juneteenth events will last all day, beginning with a prayer breakfast at the Marguerite Johnson Senior Center at 9 a.m. at 640 Drake Ave., followed by a procession to George ‘Rocky’ Graham Park at 850 Drake Ave. in Sausalito where there will be musical entertainment, vendors, a jumpy house for children and more. For more information, call 415 332-1441
Mill Valley
June 17
Mill Valley Recreation, along with the City of Mill Valley and the Mill Valley Force for Racial Equity & Empowerment (MVFREE), will host its second annual Juneteenth celebration this year called the Freedom Festival. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mill Valley Downtown Plaza. Free. For more information, contact Molly Given, recreate@cityofmillvalley.org or 415-383-1370
San Francisco
The Curtis Family C-Notes will perform at 3 at MoAD in San Francisco on June 17. Photo courtesy of MoAD.
June 10
San Francisco Inaugural Juneteenth Parade
The parade route runs from San Francisco’s Civic Center down Market Street to the Embarcadero Ferry Terminal Plaza where it will join ‘Juneteenth on the Waterfront.’ 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For additional information on the Juneteenth Parade, please visit JuneteenthSFC.org.
‘Juneteenth Pop-Up on the Waterfront,’ at 1 Ferry Building, celebrates Black chefs and Black-owned small businesses, among them, Mo’Raysha’s oxtails, mac & cheese and more as well as Brutha’s Honey. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m
June 16
San Francisco public officials will kick off a full weekend of activities welcoming performers and speakers from 12 noon to 1 at City Hall.
June 17
Juneteenth SF Freedom Celebration in the Fillmore. Saturday, June 17 · 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, go to: https://juneteenth-sf.org
Museum of the African Diaspora:
MoAD will honor Juneteenth with free exhibitions and programming for the whole family. Free admission from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. One of the special events is from 3-4 p.m. called A Song of Triumph II: The Diaspora of Black Music with the Curtis Family C-Notes and members of the Community Music Center Black Music Program Faculty. Register at https://29050a.blackbaudhosting.com/
Juneteenth SF Freedom Celebration in the Fillmore
June 18
San Francisco Juneteenth Weekend at Gilman Park
Celebrate Freedom Day and honor fathers with live music, food, and fun at the SF Juneteenth Fathers Day Festival on Sunday, June 18 from noon to 6 p.m. 903 Gilman Ave., SF
Oakland
June 10:
BoomShake Music, in partnership with the Black Cultural Zone, as part of Oakland Juneteenth Liberation Month invites you to a community arts & culture gathering sparked by the seeds, roots, and branches of artist, teacher, mother, and friend Monica Hastings-Smith aka Mo’ Clearly, who transitioned to the ancestor realm in June 2021. 1 – 6 p.m., Free. Liberation Park, Oakland, CA 7101 Foothill, Oakland
June 16:
Oakland Rocks’ Juneteenth week: Celebrating the journey, justice, resilience, and progress culminates in a lunchtime concert featuring the West Coast Blues Society, performances by Oakland’s Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate with remarks by Vice Mayor Mayfield. 11-1 p.m., Oakland City Hall Plaza., 14th and Broadway.
Odun Ayo: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Families, Students and Staff Thriving in Black Joy and Excellence in OUSD. The evening celebrates Black students, staff, and families in Oakland schools. Featuring live performances by Queen Iminah and African American Females of Excellence (AAFE), Kingmakers of Oakland, Spear of the Nation, interactive activities, and community resources to uplift Black Joy and Excellence in Oakland Unified School District. Organized by Spearitwurx with AAFE, African American Male Achievement (AAMA), and OUSD Office of Equity. 5-9 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland CA
June 17:
Afrocentric Oakland FAM BAM Oakland’s 14th Annual Juneteenth Festival
Lake Merritt Amphitheater Lake Merritt Boulevard Oakland, CA 94612
A celebration of Black/African culture that has become a family-friendly tradition for thousands of Bay Area residents. Father’s Day tribute have been a guaranteed good time for the whole family. For more, info, go to AfrocentricOakland.com. 12 noon – 8 p.m.
Berkeley
Musicians at a previous Juneteenth in Berkeley.
Berkeley Juneteenth Week:
June 11.
Prayer for Peace: Pastor Michael Smith, McGee Avenue Baptist Church, 1640 Stuart St. calls for the community to come together at their places of worship and pray for peace, protection for children, community healing, equal justice under the law, and to remember the hope and promise of Juneteenth. An all-denominational and community inclusive event that can be repeated on June 18. 11 a.m.- noon.
June 18
36th Annual Berkeley Juneteenth Festival Sun. 18, 2023, 11 a.m. -7 p.m.
3271-3299 Adeline St. Berkeley. Performances by Sonny Farley, Junior Toots, Nkan music, Guitar Trifecta, II Funk Ky Shu’s Wit Nu Soles, Nat Bolden, Shannon Rhodes, SambaFunk!, Deanna Brewer, Blackcat Zydeco
Richmond and West Contra Costa County
Richmond
June 17
Juneteenth Family Day and Festival
A Juneteenth parade 10 a.m. at Booker T. Anderson Community Center, 960 South 47th St. Richmond, CA 94804 is followed by a festival at 3230 Macdonald Ave. Richmond, CA
11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Albany
A free, outdoor Juneteenth and Father’s Day Celebration including music, art, food, dance, a maker’s fair and more in store. It features performances by: Terrie Odabi (blues), African Heritage Ensemble (African drumming workshop/performance), Keith & The KC Kids (classical fusion), Skip the Needle (rock), Al Lazard and the World Street Players (New Orleans Funk), Tiffany Austin (jazz/soul), Valerie Troutt’s MoonCandy (live house ensemble), DJ K-La V (soulful party music). For more information, go to AlbanyJuneteenth.com
American Canyon
The 2nd Annual Juneteenth Community Fest will be held on Sunday, June 18, 2023, from 1-6 p.m. at Main Street Park, 5500 Eucalyptus Dr., in American Canyon.
Brenda Knight will be the MC and Dr. Lawrence VanHook will be the keynote speaker.
For additional information contact: Brendaknightevents@yahoo.com or 707-319-4773.
East Contra Costa County
June 17
Antioch
Grace Bible Fellowship Church, from 11:30-4:30 p.m. vendors and kid zone, live music, food and drinks. FREE live entertainment featuring headliner R&B Musical Group Surface, R&B sensation Niecey Living Single, Christian Rap Artist CJ Emulous, Gospel Artist Alfreda Campbell. 3415 Oakley Road, Antioch, CA 94509
Pittsburg
Souljah’s 12th Annual Juneteenth Celebration family event at a new location, City Park – Railroad and Civic avenues, noon-5:30 p.m.
June 18
Antioch
Juneteenth: A Freedom celebration. Rides and games; live entertainment, free food and drinks and more. Williamson Ranch Park, Lone Tree Way & Hillcrest. Antioch, CA 94531 noon-5 p.m.
Pleasant Hill
The event will be held at the City Hall lake, 100 Gregory Lane, from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and will feature: a performance for the kids by Unique Derique, a visit from Princess Tiana of ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ a West African highlife band, Sweet Mother Food Truck & The Guzzler Bar Truck and an art display
June 25
Concord
Juneteenth: “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future, includes vendors, games, food, crafts, music, dance, speakers
Sunday, June 25, Todos Santos Plaza, 2175 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA
1-3 p.m.,
South Alameda County
June 15
Hayward
The summer’s first Thursday street party will be presented by the Hayward Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the city’s Juneteenth celebration organizers. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at B and Main Streets.
June 17
The West Coast Blues Society will present the Hayward Russell City Juneteenth Celebration music festival on the plaza behind City Hall with jazz, blues, R&B and gospel performances, including a special guest appearance by the legendary Johnny Rawls, of Hattiesburg, Miss. For more information, call (510) 472-8800 or visit www.westcoastbluessociety.org.
June 19
On national Juneteenth Day of Observance, the Pan-African flag will be flown on Hayward City Hall Plaza. The Hayward Public Library will also be presenting its annual Juneteenth Online Readathon.
Livermore
June 17
Juneteenth Celebration in Partnership with Tri-Valley for Black Lives The local celebration, including music, art, drumming, singing, dancing, and musical performances. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Bankhead Plaza, 2400 First St, Livermore, CA 94550
Vallejo
June 17
33rd Annual Vallejo Juneteenth Festival & Parade will take place at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park downtown behind City Hall at Mare Island Way & Capitol Street. This year’s event will feature a parade in downtown Vallejo. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Stockton
June 19
“Juneteenth Celebrating Freedom, Community and Education” will be held at Weber Point Event Center, 221 N. Center St., Stockton. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, contact Ms. Rosemarie 209-430-4096; Ms. Gloria 209-481-6184 or Ms. Rachel 209-718-9828.
