Ceremonies across Cape Cod and the Islands will celebrate Juneteenth, the June 19 national holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth, originally recognized by Texas as a state holiday in 1980, is now acknowledged by all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Juneteenth became a state holiday in Massachusetts in 2020 when then-Gov. Charlie Baker signed it into law.
This year in Barnstable, there will be a flag-raising from noon to 1:30 p.m. on June 19 in the outdoor courtyard at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, 397 Main St., Hyannis.
“This special event will commemorate Juneteenth … with a reenactment of June 19, 1865, in Texas, a presentation on the history of the Emancipation Proclamation, and readings from the Proclamation and General Order No. 3,” according to publicity for the event.
After the ceremony, attendees are invited inside the JFK Hyannis Museum for a presentation by Cape Cod artist Robin Joyce Miller on her “A Sankofa Journey: the African in America – Part One” from her three-part series. The art exhibit is on display at the museum through the end of June.
Organizers include the Town of Barnstable, Amplify POC, the JFK Hyannis Museum, the Cape Cod Branch of the NAACP, and People of Action.
Community leaders ― including Tara Vargas-Wallace and event narrator Jeanne Morrison ― will honor contributions of Black Civil War heroes and heroines with ties to Massachusetts and Cape Cod.
Flag bearers will be Barnstable Police Officer Brian Morrison, retired Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Principal Tony Morrison, and veterans’ counselor Mike McGee.
The ceremony “aims to educate, inspire, and bring our community together in celebration of freedom and the ongoing pursuit of equality,” according to a written notice.
If it rains, activities will take place inside the JFK Hyannis Museum.
Falmouth celebration features food, live music
Falmouth’s Juneteenth Community Celebration Committee, along with Highfield Hall & Gardens, is hosting a free event from 1 to 5 p.m. June 19 at Saint Barnabas Church, 91 Main St., Falmouth.
“All are welcome to join us for music, food, and live entertainment to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to announce the emancipation of all enslaved people,” organizers wrote.
The event includes soul food samples, music and dancing, kids activities and food trucks selling local treats.
Also in Falmouth, to honor the Juneteenth holiday on June 19, Highfield Hall & Gardens will be open to the public from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. free of charge. The Storywalk on the historic Beech tree path will feature the picture book: “Juneteenth is” for two weeks.
An evening with Wampanoag musicians in solidarity with Juneteenth
Nutahkeemun Artist Collective will perform an evening of Indigenous music featuring Wampanoag musicians in solidarity with Juneteenth.
The 7 p.m. performance at Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Route 28, will feature EJ Mills Brennan, Kitty Hendricks-Miller, Zyg 808 and Asa Peters along with some surprise guests.
Tickets, at $18-$53, are available through cotuit.org/.
Brewster marks Juneteenth at Drummer Boy Park
The 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. observance features several events in the gazebo, beginning with drumming at 10:15 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., there will be a proclamation ceremony with performance artist Tamora Israel and Brewster Police Chief Heath J. Eldredge.
There is a storytime with Brewster Bookstore, live music and food, as well as educational sessions.
If it rains, the event will be held at Brewster Ladies Library.
Provincetown celebrates 5th annual Juneteenth Celebration
Provincetown’s weeklong Juneteenth Celebration begins with an art show opening party at 5 p.m. Friday, June 13, at The Commons for “Power, Joy & Resilience,” featuring six queer BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color) artists. A second event, also at 5 p.m., will be held June 20 at The Commons with a reception for the artists.
From 2 to 5 p.m. June 19, the annual Juneteenth Celebration & Cookout will be held on the lawn of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House. The event will include speeches from local community members and performances by local artists of color.
The week concludes with 6:30 p.m. cabaret performances by James Jackson, Jr., on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22 sponsored by The Gifford House. An Obie Award winner for his work in the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical “A Strange Loop,” Jackson is also an arts educator and cabaret artist. His performances will draw upon his research into the history of performers of color in Provincetown. Tickets, at $40 plus fee, are available through Eventbrite.
Oak Bluffs hosts Juneteenth Jubilee Festival 2025
The 5th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee Festival is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. June 20-21 at Union Chapel, 55 Narragansett Ave., in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. The festival is free but registration is required through Eventbrite.
The festival begins with an open house Thursday, June 19, at Jubilee MV, 42 Circuit Ave.
“Powerful conversations, music, art, and more … a weekend filled with celebration as we commemorate this day of freedom in the United States,” organizers wrote.
From noon to 3 p.m. Friday, there are panel discussions on building a Blueprint for Black Economic Equity and Opportunity. It includes discussions of “America’s Black Wall Street” with author Egunwale Amusan; a reparations debate on restorative economic justice with Rev. Michael Eric Dyson; and “Black Power Score Card: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It” with author Andre Perry.
From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday is the Jubilee Culture Festival, which includes a talk with astronaut Joan Higginbotham; a monologue performance by Roger G. Smith; a photographer’s panel exploring intergenerational Black photography and musical performances.
From 10 to 11 a.m. Sunday, June 22, Rev. Michael Eric Dyson will conduct the Union Chapel Sunday Service. Town elder Jessica Harris will conduct the 11:30 a.m. closing ceremony at Inkwell Beach.
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