Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is a celebratory tradition dating back more than 150 years commemorating General Gordon Granger’s reading of federal orders in the city of Galveston, Texas, proclaiming all slaves were to be free in the state of Texas. After almost two and half years since the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed slaves, June 19, 1865 is often recognized as the end of slavery in the United States.
Organizations in the Oklahoma City metro area welcome families to engage in important conversations about race, racial injustice and equality while having fun together. Here are a few Juneteenth events happening in OKC and beyond.
June 13-15
Tulsa Juneteenth Festival in the Historic Greenwood District (Greenwood Ave, Tulsa) features a festival that commemorates African American freedom, emphasizes education, celebrates the rich heritage of Greenwood, encourages healthy and active lifestyles, and advocates community impact.. See website for schedule of events.
June 14-15
FREE Juneteenth on the East in Oklahoma City (N 23rd St Between N Kelham & N Hood) features live music, a 5k race, interactive murals, dance performances, spoken word, food trucks and local small businesses. See website for schedule of events.
June 15
FREE Juneteenth Celebration at Southern Oaks Library (6900 S Walker Ave) features a special Storytime provided by Thick Descriptions in the children’s area and a poetry reading by poets from the Society of Urban Poets, plus crafts, a scavenger hunt and more. 2-4 p.m.
FREE Juneteenth Midwest City Family Festival at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park (8700 E Reno Ave, Midwest City) features activities for the whole family in a fun and safe environment. 3-8:30 p.m.
June 17
Guthrie Juneteenth Celebration at Mineral Wells Park (819 N Division St, Guthrie) features food trucks, live music, games, shopping and more. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
June 18
FREE Juneteenth Celebration at the Oklahoma History Center (800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr) features a book signing, live performances, discussions and more. 5-8 p.m.
June 19
FREE Norman Juneteenth Festival at Reaves Park (2501 Jenkins Ave, Norman) features live music, guest speakers, vendors, food trucks, games, a domino tournament, fireworks and more.. 6-10 p.m.
Find more events honoring Juneteenth on our searchable calendar.
If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate Juneteenth, check out these picture books that the whole family can enjoy.
What is Juneteenth? By Kirsti Jewel; illustrated by Manuel Gutierrez: Discover more about Juneteenth, the important holiday that celebrates the end of chattel slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, a group of enslaved men, women, and children in Texas gathered around a Union solder and listened as he read the most remarkable words they would ever hear. They were no longer enslaved: they were free. The inhumane practice of forced labor with no pay was now illegal in all of the United States. This news was cause for celebration, so the group of people jumped in excitement, danced, and wept tears of joy. They did not know it at the time, but their joyous celebration of freedom would become a holiday–Juneteenth–that is observed each year by more and more Americans. Author Kirsti Jewel shares stories from Juneteenth celebrations and chronicles the history that led to the creation of this joyous day. With 80 black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this book.
Justice Rising by Katheryn Russell-Brown; illustrated by Kim Holt: A celebration of twelve Black women who were pivotal to the civil rights movement and the fight for justice and equal rights in America. You’ve heard the names Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, but what about the many other women who were crucial to the civil rights movement? Told through twelve short biographies, this book celebrates just some of the many Black women–each of whom has been largely underrepresented until now–who were instrumental to the nation’s fight for civil rights and the contributions they made in driving the Movement forward. An empowering, eye-opening look at how one person can impact greater change, this book is both a conversation starter and much-needed history lesson for our modern world.
If you are looking for even more family-friendly events, check out our searchable calendar.
