Juneteenth | Celebrations across central Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — With Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, coming up on Thursday, June 19, here is a look at some of the celebrations you can attend to honor the legacy of the holiday, learn more about Black history, and spend time with the community.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday to commemorate the official ending of slavery in the United States, on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas.

Despite only becoming a federal holiday in 2021, the day has a deep 160-year history and has been celebrated by generations of Black Americans through parades, musical performances, cookouts/barbeques and more.

Many celebrations will be taking place across the region in June including week-long celebrations in the capital city of Harrisburg. Learn more about some of the local festivities below:

June 19: Lincoln Cemetery will commemorate Juneteenth in 2025 by hosting a series of tours of Gettysburg’s only surviving Black cemetery, the final resting place of more than 450 citizens of Gettysburg and Adams County.

Along with the tours, the Lincoln Cemetery event also includes a short public/media event to announce enhancements to the Gettysburg Adams County Black History Trail in which the cemetery is featured.

“The purpose of these Lincoln Cemetery activities is to spotlight Juneteenth during its national holiday, bring attention to Gettysburg’s Black history and honor veterans buried there,” the event website states.

The tours will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will end with a live performance of the famous 24-note call, Taps, by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pa.

June 21: At the Seminary Ridge Museum, expert-led educational programs will explore Gettysburg’s significant role in the broader struggle for liberty and the lasting impact of these stories on contemporary society.

These expert-led sessions will try to offer a deeper understanding of how the legacies of Black Americans have shaped, and continue to shape, the fight for justice and equality across generations.

Following the programs will be a walking tour of the historic era, exploring how Gettysburg’s legacy is intertwined with freedom and ongoing justice movements.

This event will be held from 11: 45 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will be followed by a special program at the Christ Lutheran Church beginning at 7 p.m.

June 22: On Sunday, the spotlight will shift to Black entrepreneurship, culture and community with performances and soulful music at the Majestic Theatre.

Businesses and food trucks will be at the event, which will begin with opening words and performances by local artists Monisola Paige and Sydney Moon.

Performances will be continued into the night with jazz and blues artist, Antoinette Montague in New York’s music scene, and protege of legends like Carrie Smith and Etta Jones.

The celebration will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

June 14: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 149 Penn Street in Carlisle, stop by the Juneteenth Freedom Block Party, which will be free admission and include a ton of activities perfect for the whole family.

The event will include food, a live DJ, entertainment, ice cream trucks, about 40 vendors, a dunk tank, bouncy house and face painting.

June 19: 95th edition of the largest, longest running, one-day street fair on the east coast, and possibly even the country, the Mechanicsburg Jubilee Day celebration returns. Last year’s event featured more than 325 vendors from near and far, offering food, games, arts & crafts, business information, retail products, carnival rides and more.

The festival takes place on Main Street from York Street to Walnut Street, and on Market Street from Simpson Street to Strawberry Avenue.

June 14: Join the Mt. Tabor Preservation Project and the Cumberland County Historical Society for a Juneteenth celebration. The Juneteenth Proclamation and the bios of the seen USCT veterans buried at the cemetery will be read, and the even will be held in the nearby cemetery. Parking will be available at the church and is a short walk to the cemetery from Cedar Street.

This event will be held Saturday, June 14 at 1 p.m. at Mt. Tabor Cemetery.

JuneteenthHBG 2025 is here and will be a week-long event featuring their first-ever parade to a full-week events including performances, speakers, festivals, food and more.

• June 14 (Juneteenth Parade): The first-ever Juneteenth parade will take place at 12 p.m. around the Capital Complex. The event is hosted by the City of Harrisburg, Mayor Wanda Williams and will include marching bands, dance teams, local organizations and appearances by community leaders.
• June 16 (Juneteenth HBG x Real 99.3 iHeart Tailgate for Kendrick Lamar and SZA concert): Get ready to party before the Kendrick Lamar and SZA concert at Hersheypark Stadium with live music food, games, giveaways and more! Hosted by DJ Boc and Amberella, the tailgate will take place from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (start of the concert).
• June 18 (Juneteenth Summit): Featuring local speakers and renowned speakers Michael Eric Dyson, Corey Minor Smith and Congressman Al Green, it is a must-attend event for anyone who is committed to creating change. It will be located at Harrisburg University (222 Chestnut Street) and will start at 9 a.m., followed by a Keynote at 6 p.m.
• June 19 (Juneteenth Jubilee): Located at Soldiers Grove, celebrate a Juneteenth festival perfect for all ages from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• June 20 (Taste of Black Harrisburg at SOMA): SOMA (3rd Street between Market and Chestnut Streets) is bringing together local food vendors, black-owned businesses and live entertainment to create a celebration of everything that makes Harrisburg unique. Indulge in dishes from local Black chefs and restaurants, sample unique culinary experiences and support Harrisburg’s rich cultural scene from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• June 21 (Hip-Hop and Harmony featuring Jadakiss): Ending the week-long celebration will be legendary hip-hop artist Jadakiss headlining a night at HMAC, performing alongside local talent. Tickets are available now for a $10 early bird special, or for $20 at the door. Attendees must be 21+ and have a valid ID.

June 19: From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., stop by the Lancaster City Official Juneteenth Block Party, including a flag raising at 11 a.m. at Lancaster City Hall at 120 N. Duke Street.

The block party will be located on the 400 block of Rockland Street and will include an afternoon full of food, performances, vendors and more! the event is free.

June 19: The Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum will host Lancaster’s annual Juneteenth celebration from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at their location at 2451 Kissel Hill Road in Neffsville.

The historic event, organized in partnership with the Lancaster Chapter of the National Action Network (NAN), will mark the first time the holiday is celebrated at Landis Valley as part of its 100th anniversary year. 

The Juneteenth celebration has a long and rich history in Lancaster, originating as the Strawberry Street festival, the earliest known African American celebration in the county, which may date back to 1905, continuing to around 1965 and was revived in 1997.

This year’s event will feature live historical reenactments and performances by the Pa. Past Players, gospel choirs, vendors, food trucks and educational programming.

June 19: The Spice of Life Foundation and the African American Cultural Alliance will be hosting their Juneteenth National Independence Celebration from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., including amazing food, music and entertainment for everyone. The event will be located at Sixth Ward Park at 680 E. Ross Street.

June 21: Lancaster will be hosting their first Freedom Jazz Festival in Binns Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., as the park will come alive with local artists and Lancaster’s favorite food trucks. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and kick back in the heart of downtown Lancaster.

June 22: The Crispus Attucks Community Center will be hosting a Juneteenth Cultural Mixer from 3 p.m. to 7p.m. at 407 Howard Avenue.

ClubKng will be spinning tunes, Blind Date Band will be performing live and A&K Creations and Atayah Woods will be serving up food and desserts. Spring House Brewing Company will also be joining with their “Fence Bustin’ pilsner,” brewed in partnership with CAP to celebrate the Negro League Lancaster Centennial.

June 19: The York Revolution will host the Hagerstown Flying Cars in a Juneteenth Celebration game! First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.

June 20: Hosted by Friends of Lebanon Cemetery as park of a weekend of events, stop by a free screening of a new documentary by filmmaker Bryan Wade, “A History of the Underground Railroad and Abolitionists Throughout South Central Pennsylvania.”

The film will be shown at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts and explores the movement that flourished in south central Pa., featuring the contributions of Quakers, Black and white conductors and other activists.

Tickets are free and the screening will be at 6 p.m.

June 21: All York families are invited to come to Campus Park, next to the Voni Grimes gym on 125 E. College Avenue, to participate in the “Lift Every Voice” Celebration.

There will be historical information shared, food vendors, merchandise and more! The event is free to attend and will take place from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.