What To Do On Juneteenth in NYC? 15 AMAZING Ideas!

Juneteenth is an annual event and federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. In addition to being a date honoring the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans, it is also a time for celebrating African-American culture. 

Since originating in Galveston, Texas in 1865, Juneteeth has become an important celebration throughout the country. In addition to being a federal holiday, it is also a public state holiday for state employees in New York and has been since 2020.

Read on to see when is Juneteeth celebrated in 2023 and how you can take part in this important holiday in New York.

When Is Juneteenth 2023?

Juneteenth has been celebrated annually on June 19th since 1865. This year, Juneteenth is on Monday, June 19th, 2023.

My tip: here you find the best things to do in New York in June

The Bast Juneteenth Events In NYC

Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth (FREE event)

The Broadway League’s Black to Broadway Initiative have announced the date and details for this year’s event. We’re going to be celebrating the third annual Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth concert on Sunday, June 18th from 11:00am –12:30pm. Rain or shine, Times Square is going to be buzzing with the love and energy of our community. Hosting the event this year is the talented Michael James Scott, who I’m sure is as excited as we are! The best part? This concert is entirely free, open for everyone to join in and honor this significant day.

My tip: Here is everything you need to know about Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth.

Big Mix – Juneteenth

In addition to its historical significance, Juneteenth is an important way to celebrate the lasting influence of African-American culture. At the Amph on Little Island, you’ll have a chance to commemorate Juneteenth in NYC by taking in music, art, performance, and more. 

As part of a three-week-long series dedicated to three uniquely American holidays – Juneteenth, LGBTQIA+ Pride, and the 4th of July – audiences will have multiple dates to stop by and see the Juneteenth-themed show. Performance dates are June 16th – June 19th, with one backup date on June 20th in case of inclement weather.

Read more about the Big Mix Juneteenth here on Little Island’s official website.

The 13th Annual Juneteenth NY

For a three-day celebration featuring talks, concerts, and great community events, reserve your free tickets to the 13th Annual Juneteenth NY. Scheduled around the theme of Unity in the Black Family, the event kicks off on Friday, June 17th with an all-day online summit. 

This is followed by an in-person festival on Saturday, June 18th at Vermont Street, and the ticketed event The Celebration of Black Kings Award Brunch. This Juneteenth in NYC celebration has its finale on Juneteenth – Sunday, June 19th – at Prospect Park with an all-day concert. 

Learn more about Juneteenth NY at the official website.

I Dream a Dream That Dreams Back at Me: A Juneteenth Celebration at the Lincoln Center

The culminating event of Carl Hancock Rux’s three-day commemoration of Juneteenth, I Dream a Dream features performances, original songs, costumes, and a Silent Disco Dance party highlighting Black American contributions to modern music.

As a free celebration of the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth, this event can be accessed in two ways. There is General Admission, first-come, first-served access as well as a limited number of Advance Reservations that will be available starting Monday, June 13th.

Read more about I Dream a Dream That Dreams Back at Me: A Juneteenth Celebration at the Lincoln Center’s official event page.

Juneteenth Talk and Exhibitions

In addition to the Lincoln Center event, Carl Hancock Rux is commemorating Juneteenth in NYC with two other essential events. On Thursday, June 16th at 7pm at the Harlem Stage, he will be moderating a panel discussion on “the myths of the Emancipation Proclamation and the truth of modern-day slavery.”

On Sunday, June 19th, the official holiday for Juneteenth Day in New York, there will be a curated art installation exploring the legacy of emancipation featuring newly discovered works of Archer Aymes. Archer Aymes Retrospective: A Juneteenth Exhibition will be hosted at the Park Avenue Armory starting at 3pm. In addition to a light and sound installation, there will also be archives of images, objects, and sounds, as well as concert performance.

All the details of Carl Hancock Rux’s three-part Juneteenth series can be found here on the official website.