The city has announced various events planned for Juneteenth, a federally observed holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.
On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free — two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American history and freedom.
Alexandria, which has its own storied African American history, will observe Juneteenth with events on Friday, June 19. First up is the Memorial at Douglass Cemetery (1421 Wilkes Street) from 10-11:15 a.m. The keynote speaker — Elgin Klugh — is a professor and chair of the Department of Applied Social and Political Sciences at Coppin State University and has researched heritage, cultural landscapes, community revitalization and genealogy.
From 1-3 p.m., visitors can enjoy traditional African American storytelling and song at the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices Juneteenth Concert at Shiloh Baptist Church (1401 Jamieson Avenue). During the performance, the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will highlight each of the four Alexandria churches established during the Civil War — Shiloh Baptist Church, Beulah Baptist Church, Zion Baptist Church and Third Baptist Church.
Residents can also join the Juneteenth Festival starting at 3 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street). The free event will feature live music, food vendors, cultural exhibits and activities for all ages.
Here’s the schedule for the Juneteenth Festival:
Indoor Activities
- 3 – 4 p.m.: Pioneer Senior Awards
- 4 – 8 p.m.: Shiloh Baptist Church Health Fair
- 4:30 – 6 p.m.: Line Dancing
- 4:30 – 6 p.m.: Office of Alexandria Independent Policing Auditor (Listening Session)
- 4:30 – 7 p.m.: Tours of the African American Hall of Fame
- 5 – 7 p.m.: Teen Activities
- 3v3 Tournament
- TikTok Dance Competition
- Art Competition
Outdoor Activities
- 3 – 7 p.m.: Inova Blood Drive (Book Your Appointment Now)
- 4 p.m.: Event Kick Off with Mayor Alyia Gaskins, opening remarks and Lift Every Voice and Sing
- 4:30 – 4:45 p.m.: Performance by Momentum Collective
- 4:45 p.m.: ShaSha tha Mouthpiece (MC) hosts w/ DJ Supa Dan + Line Check
- 5 – 6 p.m.: EU featuring Sugar Bear (Go-Go Band 1)
- 6 – 6:10 p.m.: Carey Nelson (Vocalist)
- 6:10 – 6:15 p.m: Deveneir (Spoken Word)
- 6:15 – 6:25 p.m: CH Bulldogs Junior Cheer Squad
- 6:25 – 7 p.m: ShaSha/DJ Supa Dan + Line Check
- 7 – 8 p.m: Mature Clientele Band (Go-Go Band)
Other special programming for Juneteenth nearby:
- Ride through 90 minutes of stories on Alexandria’s Black history on the Old Town Roots: 250 Years of Resilience Bus Tour from Councilman John Taylor Chapman’s Manumission Tour Company on Saturday, June 20.
- Reserve your spot for Specialty Tours: Tell Me Your Name at Carlyle House on Friday, June 19, which focuses on the experiences of the enslaved community at Carlyle House and its plantations.
- Head to Mount Vernon June 19-20 to take part in Freedom Before Emancipation: Family Day for Juneteenth. There will be musical performances, special character performances from reenactors of William Lee, Tobias Lear and Martha Washington, tours of the estate, spinning, cooking and blacksmith demonstrations, as well as a commemoration ceremony honoring enslaved people.
- Join the Juneteenth Celebration at Historic Huntley on Saturday, June 20 with tours interpreting slave life at Historic Huntley, guest speakers, poetry reading by African American poet Karl Carter, musical interlude by the Woodlawn-Faith UMC Choir and document exhibits in the slave quarters.
