(WHNT) — After a historic signing last year by President Joe Biden, Juneteenth is now recognized as the 12th federal holiday in the United States.
Juneteenth, or June 19, commemorates the last day enslaved African Americans learned they were free – two months after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Learn the story of America’s newest federal holiday here.
News 19 compiled a list of Juneteenth celebrations across the Tennessee Valley recognizing the new holiday. Those events are listed below by county.
Colbert County
- Juneteenth After Dark: June 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. at 1300 West 8th Street in Sheffield. Celebrate Juneteenth with live music, a free happy hour, and specialty drinks at this event! See more here.
Lauderdale County
- Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration: June 17 to June 19 at McFarland Park Road. Jammin4Justice will host the three-day celebration featuring live music, spoken word, vendors, an African drumming circle, games, horse rides, and more! See the event’s page on Facebook here.
- Juneteenth Voter Drive: June 18 at 1 p.m. at Lewis Field. The Lauderdale County Democrats will host a voter registration drive in Florence at Lewis Field.
- Project Say Something Juneteenth Block Party: June 18 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Court Street in downtown Florence. The block party begins at 7 p.m. in front of the Lauderdale County Courthouse! This year’s event will feature live music, a live DJ, performance art, history lessons, a dance-off for kids, poetry, and Black-owned food vendors! See more details here.
- UNA Juneteenth Celebration: June 19 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at W.C. Handy School’s Lewis Field. The University of North Alabama’s (UNA) Office of Diversity and Institutional Equality, along with the City of Florence, will host a celebration at Lewis Field on Sunday, June 19. Learn more here.
Madison County
- All Black Party: Juneteenth Edition: June 17 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Omega Center in Huntsville. This 4th annual event featuring food, drinks, and live music, is ticketed and you must be over 21 to attend. General admission is $40 and a table for eight is $370.
- Black Huntsville Restaurant Week: Support locally-owned Black businesses during Black Huntsville Restaurant Week and Juneteenth! This year’s event runs from June 9 to June 20.
- FUS-22 Juneteenth Event: June 18 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Palace HSV in Huntsville. This free festival features local musicians, activities, vendors, food trucks, retailers, advocates, and more! This is an outdoor event.
- Juneteenth Adult Skate: June 19 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Roller Time in Huntsville. Head to Roller Time Skating Rink to celebrate Juneteenth from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday, June 19! It’s $10 for admission a
- Juneteenth Block Party Celebration: June 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mount Calvary Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Huntsville. This family-friendly event will have free hotdogs, drinks, vendors, food trucks, a health clinic, a blood drive, and a Father’s Day tribute!
- Juneteenth at The Camp: June 18 starting at 12 p.m. at The Camp in Huntsville. This free event begins at 12 p.m. and lasts until the evening! Join The Camp for entertainment, spoken word, an educational art walk, a car show, vendors, and food and drink specials!
- Juneteenth Celebration: Two Worlds: June 14 at 6 p.m. at Robyn’s Garden Winery in Huntsville. Opera Huntsville will host a live performance featuring classical and jazz pieces. Tickets are $10 and more information is available here.
- Juneteenth Freedom Festival: June 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lakeside Methodist Church in Huntsville. This is a free family-oriented event featuring food, gift bags, entertainment, children’s activities, voter registration, bikers, college representatives, an essay contest, and a re-enactment of San Juan Hill presented by the Buffalo Soldiers of Huntsville! For more, contact 256-390-1834 or 256-536-9400.
- Miss Black Rocket City Pageant: June 18 at 6 p.m. at 5810 Wall Triana Highway in Madison. The next Miss Black Rocket City will be crowned on Juneteenth weekend, alongside other festivities! The pageant provides scholarships to young, Black, educated women. Learn more about the event here.
- Rocket City Juneteenth Music Fest: June 18 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Lowe Mill. This ticketed outdoor event will be held at Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment! It includes music, food trucks, vendors, kid-friendly activities, and VIP sections.
Marshall County
- Juneteenth Block Party: June 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Errol Allen Park in Guntersville. Reclaiming Our Time will host a Juneteenth block party on Sunday in Guntersville! The event will feature a DJ, free food, Black business owners, games, and more! See more details here.
- Juneteenth Litter Clean-Up: June 18 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The Marshall County Democrats will host a litter cleanup for Juneteenth along their sponsored Adopt-A-Mile. The stretch of road is located on U.S. Highway 431 north of downtown Guntersville and the Tennessee River Bridge. Grabbers, bags, and safety vests will be provided. Learn more here.
If there are any more Juneteenth celebrations or events in North Alabama that we missed, send your event to news@whnt.com!
