A guide to Juneteenth celebrations in Tampa Bay

The 2025 celebration of the Juneteenth holiday begins Saturday with the annual event at the Tampa Museum of Art, featuring live jazz and blues music, all-ages art making activities, a drum circle and gallery tours.

A highlight of the 11 a.m.-4 p.m. event: A reading of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth is officially commemorated annually on June 19, as the anniversary of official end of slavery in the United States, in 1865. President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in 2021.

(Lincoln’s proclamation was issued in 1863; however, Texas was the last state to recognize it, on June 19, 1865.)

All listed events are free.

At Deuces Corner Park (22nd Street and  9th Avenue S., St. Petersburg), look for a high-energy breakdance show 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

In the City of Dunedin,  from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, there will be live music and other entertainment, food and craft vendors and more, at John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park.

Sunday’s Jazzy Jubilee, sponsored by the Woodson African American Museum at the St. Pete Coliseum, is sold out.

Thursday, June 19

St. Petersburg’s James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art is offering free admission in honor of Juneteenth. Timed-entry tickets need to be reserved at this link.

The Gulfport celebration (5-9 p.m.) traditionally takes place inside the Gulfport Casino. As it’s still undergoing repairs from last fall’s hurricanes, the venue is off-limits. So the Juneteenth event, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, will at Pavilion 6 on Gulfport Beach.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Woodson Museum has several Juneteenth activities planned.

Writer, actor and filmmaker Cranstan Cumberbatch hosts Film Tampa Bay’s annual Juneteenth Film Celebration at 6 p.m., at the Tampa Theatre. There will be screenings of locally-made short films, as well as Elvis Mitchell’s documentary Is That Black Enough For You?!? Find details at this link.

Saturday, June 21

At Raymond James Stadium the annual R.O.C. the Block’s Juneteenth celebration – with live music, vendors, family activities (including a KidZone) and informational booths. Free, but pre-registration (here) is required.