Here’s How You Can Celebrate Juneteenth on and off Campus This Year
From trivia to concerts to free museum entry, there’s a lot to do this Juneteenth
Justin Durik (from left), Caleb Simmons, Detris Adelabu, a clinical professor at Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, and Amiya Jenkins, a BU summer intern, dance the “Cha-Cha Slide,” during Boston University’s 2023 Juneteenth BBQ.
Here’s How You Can Celebrate Juneteenth on and off Campus This Year
From trivia to concerts to free museum entry, there’s a lot to do this holiday
Editor’s Note: The Juneteenth celebration for BU students on Wednesday, June 19 has been moved to the Metcalf Ballroom at the GSU due to expected high heat.
Juneteenth is a nationwide holiday that commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved people in the United States. The holiday marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Tex., two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and freed 250,000 enslaved Black people.
In 2021, President Joe Biden enacted a federal holiday commemorating the occasion on June 19.
This year, Boston celebrates Juneteenth with a bunch of fun and informative events, and we’re here to help you make the most of it with this list of on- and off-campus happenings.
On Campus
BU Faculty & Staff of Color Network, in partnership with the Women’s Guild Women of Color Circle and the Office of the Senior Diversity Officer, has organized a Juneteenth celebration event for University faculty and staff. There will be live music, food, drinks, and plenty of opportunities to connect. Tickets are free and can be reserved here.
Historically Black Phrases Live! is a national touring game show cohosted by Jarrett Hill and Tre’vell Anderson, authors of the book Historically Black Phrases and hosts of the award-winning podcast FANTI. At this live show, three preselected contestants will take part in a three-round trivia on Black culture—and audience members can play and win prizes too. Signed copies of Hill’s and Anderson’s book will be available for purchase. This event is presented by The Emancipator. General admission is $25 and student admission is $10 with valid ID. Purchase tickets here.
Come celebrate Juneteenth in the Metcalf Ballroom at the GSU with food, music, lawn games, art, and a T-shirt giveaway. Members of Artists for Humanity, a Boston-based art company that provides entrepreneurial opportunities to young artists, will also be in attendance to facilitate an interactive painting activity. This event is open to all students.
Off Campus
Boston Landmarks Orchestra helps organize musical experiences that showcase the work of musicians from communities of color. This year they are organizing a Juneteenth musical celebration. The group is collaborating with Castle of Our Skins, an organization that celebrates Black artistry through music. The performance will feature beloved favorites like “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” as well as the music of Miles Davis. The concert is free, but registration is required.
This trivia night, hosted by the Boston Public Library’s Grove Hall branch, is open to all students, young adults, and even teens. Created in 2015, Hella Black Trivia was a response to the lack of diversity in local trivia events. Join in for the fun experience of a trivia game created with the African diaspora in mind.
If you’re feeling a little more casual this year, consider attending a free picnic in Franklin Park’s Shattuck Picnic Grove. This neighborhood celebration comes complete with a range of fun activities, including barbecues, music, dancing, and more. RSVP here to attend the event.
Free Museum Entry
Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for free on Juneteenth for a day of performances, conversations, and fun activities. A special screening of the documentary film A Reckoning in Boston, about racial and economic inequalities in the city, a poetry performance by local award-winning spoken word artist Amanda Shea, and conversations with local arts and culture leaders are just a few things to look forward to. Don’t miss jams by DJ KNSZWRTH in the courtyard.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in collaboration with Citizens Bank, is providing free admission for all Massachusetts residents in honor of Juneteenth. Meet with local artists, make your own art collage, attend a drag story hour with Arabella LaDesse, take a free guided tour, catch a performance by the Boston Latin School Step Squad—the fun list goes on. Tickets are available in person on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early and don’t miss out.
The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston is offering free museum admission for all on Juneteenth, and is also collaborating with Jazz Urbane Cafe, a Boston-based arts and restaurant venue, to feature live performances by musicians Anabel Gil Diaz and Samuel Batista. Gallery visits require advance timed tickets, which can be reserved starting June 18 at 10 am. Admission to Hew Locke: The Procession at the ICA Watershed in East Boston is free. Get your tickets here.
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