Get Ready for Freedom Day! Here Are 30 Ways To Celebrate Juneteenth 2023
Juneteenth is officially here! Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, this holiday represents a turning point in American history that embraces a commitment to equality for all. It not only honors the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, but also as a powerful reminder of the continued struggle for racial equity and social justice.
It’s also not a holiday that only select cultures can celebrate. Anyone can participate in Juneteenth, but it’s essential to recognize its fundamental principles:
Democracy - the fundamental right of all individuals to be free.
Citizenship - the access to basic civil liberties, including the ability to participate in the democratic process.
Self-determination is a person’s ability to have agency over their own life.
So, are you wondering how to celebrate Juneteenth? This celebration of freedom and African-American heritage can be observed anywhere, from home to the workplace. Whether you’re looking for some last-minute ways to break away from your traditional plans or are starting to prepare for next year, our list of ways to commemorate Juneteenth will help you make your celebration one to remember.
When Is Juneteenth?
This year, Juneteenth is recognized on Monday, June 19, 2023.
Related: Juneteenth Is Coming Up, so Learn 4 Ways To Say ‘Happy Juneteenth'
What Is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the day that marks the emancipation of the final group of enslaved African-Americans. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger reached a community in Galveston, Texas. Almost 250,000 enslaved people were unaware of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln almost two years earlier in 1863.
The first celebration happened in 1872 when local businesspeople and church members created Emancipation Park. However, the U.S. government didn’t recognize Juneteenth until 2021, when acting President Biden signed legislation making it a federal holiday.
Related: Here Are 50 Quotes to Better Understand Juneteenth
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How To Celebrate Juneteenth
Let’s take a look at thirty ways to celebrate Juneteenth this year.
1. Organize a Cookout
This year, organize a Juneteenth cookout for your friends, family or neighborhood. No Juneteenth cookout would be complete without the traditional “red drink,” made from fresh berries, hibiscus or any other red-colored fruit or drink mix. Because red is a significant color to Juneteenth, other red foods like red velvet cake are often found at the menu’s center. Barbecue, collard greens, strawberry pie and sweet potato pie are also culinary staples for your cookout.
2. Hold a Neighborhood Block Party
A major principle of Juneteenth is celebrating community and helping the people in it grow and heal. Neighborhood block parties are an excellent way to bring everyone on your street (and those who want to visit) together for fellowship, fun and food. If you can’t host a block party in your neighborhood, try to attend a nearby one!
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3. Support Black-Owned Businesses
Buying in goods and services from Black-owned businesses is a fantastic way to celebrate Juneteenth, but that isn’t the only way to show support. You can write a review, recommend companies to others, help promote it on social media, donate to crowdfunding campaigns or simply take the time to understand the business and its impact on the community.
Related: 30 Black-Owned Clothing Businesses to Shop
4. Participate in a Book Club
Are you a part of a book club? If so, pick a book for June that explores themes of emancipation, racial equality, and Black history and culture. Meet up at your favorite coffee shop, sit back and discuss the book of choice.
5. Volunteer at a Social Justice Organization
Contact your local community centers, advocacy groups or historical societies to see if they need volunteers. By doing this, you’re helping to boost the voices of nonprofit organizations that strive toward racial and social justice. Volunteer tasks may include helping serve free meals, fundraising or other community activities. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are also a great place to start if you’re having trouble finding somewhere to donate your time.
Related: Why Is the Juneteenth Flag Blue and Red? A Guide to Understanding the Juneteenth Flag
6. Attend a Film Screening
Although watching TV might not seem like a typical way to celebrate Juneteenth, Juneteenth: A Galveston Story, Two Dollars and a Dream and Metcalfe Park: Black Vote Rising are all examples of documentaries that teach you about Black history and pressing racial justice issues today. Local movie theaters, universities or clubs often host film screenings or movie nights around Juneteenth.
7. Visit a Museum
You can’t celebrate Juneteenth without acknowledging history. Educating yourself about Black history and culture is the first step towards becoming an advocate for racial justice. Visit one of these museums to start learning:
National Museum of African American History & Culture - Washington, D.C.
California African American Museum - Los Angeles, CA
Charles Wright Museum of African-American History - Detroit, MI
Opening 2024 - Juneteenth Museum - Forth Worth, TX
8. Read Literature from Black Writers
Pick up a book by a Black author this Juneteenth to learn more about African-American history and culture. Here are some of our favorites:
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates
9. Speak to Your Local Officials About Racial Justice
While federal legislature recognizes Juneteenth as a holiday, some states still don’t offer it as a paid holiday for government employees. If you’re in one of these states, call or email your local elected officials to advocate for policies promoting equality and raising awareness about inclusivity’s importance.
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10. Eat at Black-Owned Restaurants
Spend your mealtimes and money supporting Black-owned businesses in your community this Juneteenth. Apps like EatOkra or directory sites like The Internationalist and EatBlackOwned.com are trusted sources for finding Black-owned restaurants, bakeries, and other eateries across the county.
11. Attend a Storytelling Event
Storytelling is central to African-American culture and has been for hundreds of years. During slavery, enslaved people weren’t permitted to read or write, so they relied on telling stories to pass down intergenerational wisdom and preserve cultural heritage. Attending one of these events today is a wonderful way to acknowledge traditions for Juneteenth.
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12. Host a Party
Can’t find a Juneteenth event in your area? Host a party at your home to celebrate the holiday, embracing the principles of community and fellowship—two things central to the meaning of Juneteenth. Grill out, play games and have fun with your family and friends.
13. Participate in a Community Cleanup
Many towns host city-wide cleanups throughout the year to preserve and beautify community spaces. You’ll work with other citizens to remove the trash, replant gardens, repair broken fixtures and more—creating a cleaner and more vibrant community to honor Juneteenth.
14. Support Local Black Artists
Branch out from your typical artistic tastes to support local Black artists in your community. Whether you attend an in-person gallery or purchase a print from a website, you invest your time and money into a good cause. Many artists will release Juneteenth collections or ones that revolve around Black history or culture.
15. Listen to a Juneteenth Playlist
While participating in other Juneteenth festivities, you’ll need music in the background. Check out this NPR playlist on Spotify, titled “Songs for Freedom: A Juneteenth Playlist,” for ideas.
16. Eat a Juneteenth-Inspired Meal
Plan your Juneteenth meal, or many throughout this month, by researching culturally significant recipes for foods often eaten to celebrate. Throughout history, red has been a central color to Juneteenth meals because it symbolizes the blood shed by enslaved people and is significant in West African culture.
Related: 65 of the Best Juneteenth Recipes for Traditional Celebrations
17. Make a Juneteenth Craft
Making Juneteenth crafts is a celebratory activity that the whole family can enjoy. Create your own Juneteenth flag or a painting using Juneteenth colors.
How To Celebrate Juneteenth at Work
18. Decorate the Conference Room
Start your office Juneteenth celebration by decorating the conference room or another common area. Display the Juneteenth flag, use traditional colors (red, white and blue), and hang posters and art that reflect the spirit of liberation and equality.
19. Have a Guest Speaker
Contact your local NAACP, university, or social justice organizations to recruit a guest speaker for your Juneteenth celebration. They can speak on Black history, culture and the importance of Juneteenth and racial justice.
20. Encourage Employers to Review DEI Policies
All workplaces should have some form of diversity, equity and inclusion policy, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t always room for improvement. Work with other employees to create DEI committees or focus groups on implementing programs, training or new policies and speak with your company’s leadership about your findings.
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21. Host a Lunch and Learn
Want to celebrate Juneteenth but don’t have a lot of time during the work day? Host a lunch and learn where you and your coworkers listen to a guest speaker, watch a documentary or have an educational discussion about racial equality and DEI.
22. Mark Juneteenth as a Paid Day Off
Juneteenth is a federally recognized holiday, but not all employers offer it as a paid day off. Add this Juneteenth to your holiday calendar so your employees can celebrate accordingly.
23. Create a Social Media Campaign
Instead of making a one-off “Happy Juneteenth” post on your social media platforms, create a week or month-long campaign filled with educational content. Have employees speak about what Juneteenth means to them, post fun Juneteenth facts and talk about how your company is celebrating.
24. Stock the Waiting Room or Break Room with Juneteenth-Themed Snacks and Drinks
Keep the break room stocked with traditional Juneteenth snacks and drinks like red velvet cake and strawberry soda. Let your clients, customers or patients join in on the fun by putting refreshments in your front lobby or waiting room.
25. Host a Donation Campaign
Support your community by hosting a donation drive for a nonprofit organization focusing on racial equality and social justice. Always contact the organization before collecting monetary donations or supplies to ensure you get them what they need.
26. Start an Office-Wide Book Club
Not only do book clubs give you a better chance to mingle with corners, but they’re also a fantastic way to learn about Black history. Have an office-wide vote on a book, hosting a meeting around Juneteenth to discuss.
27. Organize Virtual Juneteenth Activities
Do you work on a remote team? No problem! Organize virtual activities like a trivia night for your team to enjoy. Team building activities or training centered on DEI principles and cultural competence are also excellent options.
28. Cater Lunch from a Black-Owned Local Restaurant
Support local Black-owned restaurants by catering lunch from them throughout the month. Even better, have a Juneteenth party where everyone brings a dish from their favorite local Black-owned business.
29. Distribute Educational Materials
If hosting a book club or Lunch and Learn isn’t on your schedule, provide employees with educational information on Juneteenth. Feature facts in your company newsletter, have printed-out materials in the break room or purchase a book for all the staff to read!
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30. Make DEI a Year-Round Commitment
Even though celebrating Juneteenth is an opportunity to learn and reflect on your business’s current DEI efforts, it shouldn’t end on June 30. Make DEI a constant commitment, incorporating policy change and programming into your calendar all year long.
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