Communities across Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties are ready to celebrate freedom for all this June with dozens of events in time for Juneteenth.
Juneteenth National Independence Day, which falls on Wednesday, June 19, is the anniversary of the day when enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were freed from slavery by the Emancipation Proclamation. Although it has “long been celebrated in the African American community,” reads the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s website, it was first declared a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.
There are so many celebrations happening all month long in the lower Hudson Valley in honor of the day. Read on for a few events happening this weekend you won’t want to miss, and stay tuned for more to come.
Of interest:Rockland honors Arlene Clinkscale, NY’s 1st Black woman schools superintendent
Juneteenth events in Lower Hudson Valley this weekend
Haverstraw African American Connection’s Juneteenth Kickoff
When: 5:30 p.m., Friday.
Where: Village hall, 40 New Main Street, and Haverstraw African American Memorial Park, 41 Clinton Street, Haverstraw.
For more information: Visit the Haverstraw African American Connection’s website at thehaac.com.
Greenburgh’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration
When: 5:30 to 8 p.m., Friday.
Where: Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh.
For more information: Visit the town of Greenburgh’s website at greenburghny.com.
The Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Live Concert Series featuring Leon & The Peoples
When: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Friday.
Where: 71 Water Grant Street, Yonkers.
For more information: Visit yonkersdowntown.com to learn more.
Building Resilience free youth workshops in New Rochelle
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday.
Where: Remington Clubhouse, 1 Remington Place, New Rochelle.
For more information: Visit the event’s registration page at bit.ly/3VFmrxn.
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4th annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest NYC: Black to the Future in Harlem
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday.
Where: Adam Clayton Powell, Jr state office building, 163 West 125th Street, Harlem.
For more information: Visit the event page at bit.ly/3KHXkE8.
The Haverstraw African American Connection’s 9th annual Juneteenth Celebration, Beacon of Hope statue unveiling and Freedom mural reveal
When: 3 p.m., Saturday.
Where: Haverstraw African American Memorial Park, 41 Clinton Street, Haverstraw.
For more information: Visit the Haverstraw African American Connection’s at thehaac.com/juneteenth.
Juneteenth Freedom Forever party in Mount Vernon
When: 6 p.m., Saturday.
Where: 119 South 13th Avenue, Mount Vernon.
For more information: Visit the event page at bit.ly/45qwWrL.
Gospel in the Park in Haverstraw
When: 1 p.m., Sunday.
Where: Haverstraw African American Memorial Park, 41 Clinton Street, Haverstraw.
For more information: Visit the Haverstraw African American Connection’s at thehaac.com/juneteenth.
The Multicultural Diversity and Inclusion Juneteenth Celebration in Ardsley
When: 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday.
Where: Louis Pascone Memorial Park, 638 Ashford Avenue, Ardsley.
For more information: Visit Ardsley’s website at ardsleyvillage.com.
The Back to my Roots Juneteenth Celebration in Yonkers
When: 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday.
Where: Riverfront Auditorium and Atrium, Riverfront Library, One Larkin Center, Yonkers.
For more information: Visit the event page at bit.ly/3yX5Hcm.
Village of Pelham’s 4th annual Juneteenth Celebration
When: 3 to 7 p.m., Sunday.
Where: Wolfs Lane Park, Pelham.
For more information: Visit the Facebook page for the village of Pelham Council on the Arts.
Samantha Antrum is the community news and outreach reporter for The Journal News/lohud. She reports on cultural and social justice issues and events. You can reach her at santrum@lohud.com.
