Juneteenth is more than just a date, it’s a powerful reminder of freedom, resilience, and joy. Here are eight ways that you can celebrate the holiday this year!

Before we get to the family fun, let’s take a minute to remember just why Juneteenth is so important and why we need to make it a celebration.

Juneteenth, also known as Black Independence Day, Freedom Day, Cel-Liberation Day, and Jubilee Day, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Texas, in 1980, was the first state to officially celebrate Juneteenth. And in 2021, President Joe Biden made it an American Federal Holiday for everyone, cementing Juneteenth as a cornerstone of Black American history. 

Now, on to the fun!

Create a Freedom Feast Food

Cooking together as a family is always a love language and for Juneteenth, it’s a symbol of freedom and cultural pride. Cook traditional soul food dishes together like fried chicken, collard greens, red beans and rice, cornbread, etc. Make sure for dessert to throw in something red like red velvet cake. Why red? The color symbolizes resilience and the bloodshed of ancestors. Let the kids help with prep and set the table with red, green, black, and yellow. Teach them that this meal, colors have meaning. 

Story Time with Purpose

Choose children’s books that center on Black history, heroes, and joy. Titles like “Juneteenth for Mazie” by Floyd Cooper or “The Undefeated” by Kwame Alexander spark powerful conversations. Take turns reading aloud and ask questions like “What does freedom mean to you?”

DIY Juneteenth Flag or Art Project

You can’t have a holiday without a DIY project on deck! Get creative and break out the construction paper, markers, and paint to design Juneteenth flags, kente cloth patterns, or posters celebrating freedom and culture. Not only is it fun, but it also opens the door for meaningful dialogue through art.

Host a Backyard Celebration

Keep it simple with games, bubbles, chalk art, and music or go all out. It is up to you. Make sure to include a playlist featuring Black artists from across all generations, think Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, the list is endless. Celebrate with dancing, family-friendly competitions, and of course BBQ! 

Watch a Family-Friendly Documentary or Film

There are plenty of age-appropriate documentaries and short films that introduce Black history in engaging ways. Watch together, then talk about what you learned. Or if you are in the mood for taking a virtual trip to the museum, The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture offers a digital tool kit to help you celebrate the holiday.

Visit a Local Juneteenth Event

Check out your local listings for Juneteenth parades, festivals, or cultural expos. Many cities host family-centered events with live music, food vendors, performances, and educational booths. It’s a great way to feel connected to the larger community.

Give Back Together Honor the spirit of Juneteenth 

Volunteering as a family at a local food pantry, donate to Black-led organizations, or make care packages for neighbors in need is a great way to celebrate the holiday. This will teach kids that giving is a gift that keeps giving for generations.

Create a Juneteenth Time Capsule

Have each family member write a note about what freedom means to them, along with drawings or photos from the day. Seal it up and plan to open it next Juneteenth. It’s a beautiful tradition in the making. 

Juneteenth is a celebration of where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and the joy of being together. Whether you’re learning, honoring, or just having fun, do it with love, pride, and purpose.