News Summary
New Orleans is set to honor Juneteenth with a variety of engaging community events on June 19, celebrating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Activities include an art exhibition at Armstrong Park, the NOLA Juneteenth Fest featuring live music, community service projects, and celebrations at local venues, all reflecting the city’s commitment to Black history and culture. The festivities extend beyond June 19 with additional events, including a Free Community event in Pontchartrain Park, emphasizing the importance of heritage and collective remembrance.
New Orleans will celebrate Juneteenth with a series of engaging events on Thursday, June 19, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. Various activities are planned throughout the city, reflecting a commitment to honoring Black history and culture through arts and community engagement.
Key Events Scheduled
The day will commence with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the art exhibition titled “The Stories of Us in New Orleans”, taking place at Armstrong Park at 9:30 a.m. This exhibition is created in partnership with the Descendants of Truth and Reconciliation Foundation and aims to present nine sculptural drums discussing the contrast between America’s founding ideals and its history of slavery.
At noon, the Afro-Indigenous Society will launch the NOLA Juneteenth Fest in Armstrong Park, starting with a vibrant second line procession. The festival is set to provide an entertaining atmosphere with more than five hours of live music.
In addition to celebrations, a service project at Audubon Park begins at 9 a.m., welcoming volunteers who can register online to participate in community initiatives.
The Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home will host a Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., featuring a variety of vendors, local artists, and food. Concurrently, the Goretti Park Juneteenth Festival will be in full swing, offering live DJ entertainment, performances, face painting, and games from noon to 6 p.m.
Evening and Additional Activities
Later in the evening on June 19, the New Orleans African American Museum will unveil a permanent installation called “Ancestral Odyssey”, inspired by the tradition of Black Masking Indians. This event marks the museum’s dedication to cultural preservation and storytelling.
The Juneteenth festivities in New Orleans will not be solely limited to June 19. A special free community event called “Park and Play” is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, in Pontchartrain Park, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Local attorney Juan LaFonta will also host a free Juneteenth celebration at the Lakefront, starting at 6:00 p.m. on June 21, which offers food for the first hundred attendees, followed by a fireworks display at 8:00 p.m.
For families, the “Help Other People Endure” organization will present a Juneteenth Splash Day Celebration at Behrman Park, taking place on June 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event will feature swimming, games, as well as free food and drinks.
Cultural Significance and Growing Interest
The Juneteenth celebrations also include a Freedom Ride bike event at City Park on June 19, scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. In celebration of the holiday, a second annual Freedom for All Sneaker Ball is set to take place on Friday, June 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at The New Orleans Jazz Museum.
The growing public interest in Juneteenth celebrations underscores New Orleans’ unwavering dedication to honoring local Black history and culture through diverse artistic expressions and community gatherings. As this federal holiday gains recognition, the events planned for June 19 and beyond serve as a testament to the ongoing efforts to acknowledge and celebrate the heritage of African Americans.
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HERE Resources
Summer Events Galore in New Orleans
Additional Resources
- WWLTV: New Orleans Juneteenth Events
- WGNO: New Orleans Juneteenth Celebrations
- Axios: Juneteenth Events and Festivals in New Orleans
- Offbeat: Juneteenth Happenings in New Orleans
- NOLA: New Orleans Events and Juneteenth
- Wikipedia: Juneteenth
- Google Search: Juneteenth
- Google Scholar: Juneteenth
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Juneteenth
- Google News: Juneteenth
