LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — We're just over one week away from the Juneteenth holiday.
On June 19, many Americans across the country, including here in Arkansas will celebrate the holiday which marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were finally free. The Civil War had ended and two years had passed since President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth has been a sacred holiday to many people in Black communities for well over one-and-a-half centuries and was designated as a federal holiday in 2021.
It is typically celebrated by people gathering to enjoy barbecues, cookouts, parades, church events, and so much more.
If you are looking for ways to celebrate the Junteneeth holiday in Central Arkansas, then check out our list below:
Little Rock:
- Juneteenth in Da Rock Street Festival | June 15, 2024 | 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Juneteenth Arkansas Festival '24 at First Security Amphitheater | June 15, 2024 | 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.
- Parade at Juneteenth Arkansas Festival '24 | June 15, 2024, | Begins at 1:00 p.m.
- Screening of Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom at Rooker Library | June 13, 2024 | 6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
- UA Little Rock Juneteenth Celebration| June 19, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- Juneteenth in Da Rock 5K Pre-race happy hour at Rocktown Distillery | June 13, 2024, | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- 3rd Annual Juneteenth in Da Rock 5K | June 15, 2024 | 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
- Education station at Juneteenth in Da Rock | June 15, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Rooftop screening of Love Jones | June 18, 2024 | Begins at 8:30 p.m.
- Juneteenth Gospel Celebration at Philander Smith | June 16, 2024 | Begins at 4:00 p.m.
- Little Rock Zoo hosts Juneteenth celebration | June 19, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Juneteenth Lunch & Listen at Hope for Hope | 1510 S. Martin Street | 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Kitchen Express Meal and Resource Sharing Tables | June 19, 2024 | 2801 S. University Avenue | noon - 2:00 p.m.
- Juneteenth Performance and Lecture | June 19, 2024 | Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall | Begins at 2:00 p.m.
- Juneteenth Blood Drive at 701 S. Gaines | June 19, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Juneteenth Interfaith service | June 19, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
Hot Springs:
- Juneteenth celebration | June 15, 2024 | 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Pine Bluff:
Jacksonville:
- NAACP hosts Juneteenth celebration at Boys & Girls Club | June 15, 2024 | 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Benton:
- Juneteenth celebration at Ralph Bunche Park | June 18, 2024 | 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Downtown Farmers Market Juneteenth | June 18, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Russellville:
- Juneteenth celebration at Depot Park | June 15, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
- River Valley Collective Voices celebrate Juneteenth | June 14, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
Wilmar:
Annual 2024 June Dinner | June 13 - 16, 2024 | Various times
If you're looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat after enjoying the festivities, you can click here for a list of Black-owned restaurants in Little Rock.