Juneteenth 2024 Bay Area events
Juneteenth celebrates June 19 as the anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth, or Freedom Day as the June 19 holiday is also known, marks the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the United States.
On the morning of June 19, 1865, the enslaved population of Galveston, Texas woke up in bondage for the last time.
It was that day, nearly 2 months after Gen. Robert E. Lee formally surrendered the Confederate forces, that Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with more than 2,000 Union troops and recited General Order No. 3.
"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free," the order read.
From art exhibitions to educational spaces to street parties, here are some of the Bay Area’s biggest events celebrating the holiday.
Juneteenth events in the Bay Area
- Sunday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Adeline Street and Alcatraz Avenue
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose’s Juneteenth Community Celebration
- Wednesday, June 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose (180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA)
Golden Gate Park Band Juneteenth & Father's Day Concert
- Sunday, June 16 at 1 p.m.
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Hayward’s Juneteenth Street Party
- Saturday, June 22
- Hayward Heritage Plaza (835 C Street, Hayward CA)
- Saturday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA
Livermore Valley Arts Juneteenth Celebration
- Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Bankhead Plaza (2400 First St, Livermore, CA)
Marin City Juneteenth Festival
- Saturday, June 22
- Rocky Graham Park (800 Drake Avenue, Marin City, CA)
Millbrae Juneteenth Celebration
- Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Millbrae Recreation Center (477 Millbrae Avenue, Millbrae, CA)
Mill Valley Recreation Juneteenth Freedom Festival
- Saturday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Tamalpais High School (700 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA)
Milpitas Juneteenth Celebration
- Saturday, June 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Sunnyhills Albert Augustine Jr. Memorial Park (Cortez St. and Coelho St., Milpitas, CA)
Monterey Juneteenth Film Festival
- Sunday, June 16 at 2 p.m.
- Monterey History and Art at Stanton Center (5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA)
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Juneteenth Concert Series
- Saturday, June 15 (Berkeley)
- Friday, June 21 (Livermore)
Oakland Museum of California Juneteenth ‘The Cookout’
- Wednesday, June 19 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- OMCA Garden (1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA)
Oakland Roots SC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC - Juneteenth Celebration
- Wednesday, June 19 at 7 p.m.
- CSUEB Pioneer Stadium (25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA)
San Francisco Black Film Festival
- Thursday, June 13 — Sunday, June 16
- Buriel Clay Theater (762 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA)
San Francisco Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
- Saturday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- 1330 Fillmore Street San Francisco, CA
San Jose African American Community Service Agency Juneteenth Battle of the Bands
- Saturday, June 15 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Downtown San Jose SoFA District (South 1st Street, San Jose, CA)
Sonoma County Juneteenth Celebration
- Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- 1671 Hendley St., Santa Rosa, CA