South Florida is preparing to honor Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, with events that highlight culture and reflect on the Black community’s struggle for equality throughout American history.
June 19 marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to bring word that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were free. The message arrived two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had become official on Jan. 1, 1863.
The federal holiday has officially been recognized on June 19 since 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
For the occasion, cities, and cultural, nonprofit and arts organizations are planning dance and musical performances, historical retrospectives and family festivals, among other events before and after June 19. Below, find a sampling of activities where you can commemorate Juneteenth this month in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
BROWARD COUNTY
The Broward County Library has organized events throughout the month featuring guest speakers, performances, discussions, storytelling and crafts. Visit broward.org/library for a full list of activities.
Coconut Creek
The Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at City Hall Courtyard, 4800 W. Copans Road, will feature a drumming and dance performance, a concert by O-Town Motown and food vendors. Bring blankets, chairs and coolers. Free. Visit CoconutCreek.net/Juneteenth.
Coral Springs
A Juneteenth Celebration will take place at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, before an 8 p.m. Marlon Wayans comedy show at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive. The free party includes small bites, a DJ, performances and admission to the Coral Springs Museum of Art. Visit coralsprings.gov. Tickets for the Wayans show are available for purchase at thecentercs.com.
Dania Beach
Bounce houses, food vendors, face painting and other activities are planned for this Juneteenth Celebration from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Frost Park, 300 NE Second St. Free. Visit daniabeachfl.gov.
Deerfield Beach
Freedom to Future: Juneteenth and 100 Years of Deerfield Beach is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex, 445 SW Second St. Enjoy entertainment, food trucks, a kids’ zone, empowerment sessions and family reunion tents. Free. Visit deerfield-beach.com.
Fort Lauderdale
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- Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom will include cultural performances, a DJ, food vendors, kids’ zone, bounce houses, and arts and crafts from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Carter Park, 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd. Free admission. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.
- Hued Songs: The Juneteenth Experience, part of the Arts for Action: Black Voices Series, is an immersive event with a variety of performers “combining soulful melodies, gospel rhythms, and classical arrangements with spoken word and dance, paying homage to the spirit of liberation and freedom,” according to the website. The show is at 7:30 p.m Saturday, June 14, at The Parker, 707 NE Eighth St. Tickets range in price from $29.50 to $53.10. Visit browardcenter.org.
Hallandale Beach
A Juneteenth Freedom Festival will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at OB Johnson Park, 1000 NW Eighth Ave. Music, networking, food, entertainment and vendors will be part of the event. Free admission. Visit hallandalebeachfl.gov.
Hollywood
- A Juneteenth Celebration is set for 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2400 Charleston St. There will be a financial literacy workshop, live music, stilt walkers and children’s activities. Free. Visit Facebook.com/cityofhollywoodfl.
- The Juneteenth Parade and Festival will take over Washington Park & Sports Fields, 5199 Pembroke Road, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 19. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Washington Park, travels along Pembroke Road to 56th Avenue, north to Washington Street, east to 52nd Avenue and back to the park. There will also be music, a car show, vendors and food trucks. Free. Visit hollywoodfl.org.
Lauderhill
A Whitney Houston tribute by Cande Rivers will highlight the fourth annual Juneteenth Experience Concert: Imagination Unchained, set for 8 p.m. Friday, June 20, at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center. 3800 NW 11th Place. Producer and DJ EchoSlim also will perform. Tickets range in price from $30 to $75. Visit showpass.com/imagination-unchained-2025.
Miramar
Juneteenth Family Day will showcase interactive activities for kids from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at City Hall Plaza, 2300 Civic Center Place. Festivities will include line dancing, book reading, poetry, a step show and choral performance, craft workshops, fashion show and guest speaker Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. (educator, author and political commentator). Free. Register at juneteenthfamilyday.eventbrite.com.
Pembroke Pines
Honor the history and significance of the day at a Juneteenth Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 20, at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, 601 City Center Way. On the schedule: music, food, arts and crafts, panel discussions and presentations. Free. Visit ppines.com.
Plantation
Learn about the holiday in nature during Celebrate Juneteenth @ Plantation Heritage from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 13, at Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane. The book “Opal Lee and What It Means To Be Free” will be read at 4:30 p.m. Participants can plant a native seed in a pot of soil to take home. Kids can color and pick up educational materials. Free. Register at webtrac.broward.org.
Pompano Beach
Blues singer Dottie Kelly, Julius Sanna & Positively Africa and The Cross Family Band will headline the 24th annual Blues & Sweet Potato Pie Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Apollo Park, 1580 NW Third Ave. Activities include games, face painting, a fashion show, food vendors, poetry, DJ, dancers and historical displays. Free admission. Visit parks.pompanobeachfl.gov.
Sunrise
The Tunes ‘N Trucks Concert Series will have a Juneteenth Celebration starting at 6 p.m. Friday, June 20, at City Park, 6600 Sunset Strip, when the food trucks open. At 7 p.m., the Valerie Tyson Band is expected to take the stage. The Empower Market: Celebrating Black-Owned Businesses will be set up, and the Piper High School Band of Pride and Men of Impact Step Team will perform. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free admission. Visit sunrisefl.gov.
Tamarac
Food trucks, artisan vendors and cultural performances will be part of the city’s Juneteenth Celebration from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Tamarac Sports Complex, 9901 NW 77th St. Learn about the significance of Juneteenth in the United States and celebrate with music from the Valerie Tyson Band and LaVie. Free. Visit community.tamarac.gov.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
The Palm Beach County Library System will offer activities at different branches throughout the month, including crafts, stories, music and poetry. Visit pbclibrary.org for details.
Boca Raton
The Pearl City Juneteenth Celebration will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Hughes Park, 200 NE 14th St., with performances, food, community partner vendors and activities for all ages. Free admission. Visit myboca.us.
Boynton Beach
Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom — set for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Sara Sims Park, 209 NW Ninth Ave. — will feature educational exhibits, games and entertainment, food trucks and a barbecue cook-off. Free. Visit boynton-beach.org.
Delray Beach
The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, 170 NW Fifth Ave., will recognize the holiday with three exhibits. The semipermanent “Juneteenth Outdoor Installation” opens on Thursday, June 19, featuring the work of participants in a five-day workshop about Adinkra. While outside, check out multimedia artist Sharon Koskoff and museum educator Fabiola Bernier’s “New Beginnings,” an upcycling project honoring Florida’s Emancipation by making orange blossoms from twigs, newspaper, and orange and green masking tape. Indoors, the “Water Works Distillation” exhibit takes a look at people’s connection to water. The museum will be open for self-guided tours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 19. Recommended donation is $20 per person; children younger than 3 and members enter free of charge. Visit spadymuseum.com.
Royal Palm Beach
N2NATION will headline Juneteenth Concert Night from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 20, at Royal Palm Beach Commons 11600 Poinciana Blvd. Food trucks will have soul food and Haitian cuisine available for purchase. Free admission. Visit royalpalmbeachfl.gov.
Wellington
The Juneteenth Redteenth Freedom Day Cultural Festival from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Wellington Amphitheater 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., will be hosted in partnership with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast and feature speakers and cultural performances. Free. RSVP at sicklecellpbc.org.
West Palm Beach
Spotlighting the Black experience, Juneteenth Community Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway. There will be musical performances, dance, gallery talks on art by Black artists, storytelling and art-making activities. Free. Visit norton.org.
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