12 Juneteenth Celebration Ideas For The Entire Family 
This post is all about Juneteenth celebration ideas.
Holidays are great for family bonding and creating new traditions. The Juneteenth celebration is no exception. This is a great idea for a family reunion or a get-together. The celebrations go beyond just one day.
Juneteenth is an important day in the United States to celebrate and honor black history by planning activities throughout the year and remembering the past through history and literature. If you are planning a celebration for the entire family, these Juneteenth celebration ideas can help you make it a memorable one.
What is Juneteenth?
The celebration of Juneteenth is a commemoration of the abolition of enslaved people. When President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it made its way to Galveston, Texas once the civil war ended in 1865 to declare the end of slavery and the emancipation of African-Americans. The last slaves in America were freed that day and since then, June 19th was called “Emancipation Day” in Texas and “Freedom Day,” “Jubilee Day” and “Liberation Day” in other states. Actually Texas was the first state to declare it a holiday in 1980. It was declared a federal holiday in 2021.
The celebrations are also known as Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” was first used by a group of African-American union soldiers in Galveston, Texas in 1865. The name “Juneteenth” is a combination of the words June and nineteenth.
How Do You Celebrate Juneteenth As An Ally?
Every year, African American people are discriminated against because of their skin color and ethnicity. Understanding your history is important to maintaining a healthy identity. As an ally to African-Americans and other minorities, you can help by learning about the history of Juneteenth and participating in the different ways we celebrate the holiday.
Juneteenth Celebration Ideas
Whether you are throwing a bbq party in your backyard or attending Juneteenth events, here are the different ways to celebrate Juneteenth this year! Keep scrolling to find several Juneteenth activities for adults and children.
1. Juneteenth In The Kitchen/Baking
If you want to make your celebration even more special, bake something with Juneteenth in mind. Many different recipes contain red foods on their menu like red velvet cake, strawberry soda, hibiscus tea, and watermelons. You can get creative and use a different theme for each recipe such as “Ally’s Favorite Chocolate Cake” or “Ally’s Sugar Cookie”. Not only will your family enjoy these treats, but so will everyone else at the party.
2. Theme Activities For The House/Yard/Garage
Celebration is not only about food and entertainment. You can make the celebration more memorable by decorating your house, yard, or garage with Juneteenth in mind. Theme decorations such as Juneteenth flag, signs, or banners are a great way to show your appreciation for African-Americans and other minorities. If you have a big party, you can decorate the entire yard with an African-American theme.
READ: 16 Cool Juneteenth Decorations To Celebrate At Home
3. Juneteenth At The Park/Playground
A park or playground is a great place to celebrate Juneteenth because everyone can play together and enjoy the day outdoors. For an extra special touch, you can have Juneteenth booths set up where people can participate in games and activities that relate to black Americans history/culture. The games can include things like hula hoops and hopscotch while reading stories from famous authors such as Langston Hughes or Maya Angelou can be used for literacy activities.
4. Take A Trip To Your Local Library Or Museum
It is important to learn more about the history of the day and the events that led up to it. The library is the perfect place to start. Here you can find books and other materials on American history, as well as African-American history, slavery, and more.
The museum is another great option. If you get the chance, visit the National Museum of African American History. This is one of the common Juneteenth activities for students too. Here you can learn more about the history of the day and the events that led up to it. Some libraries also have special exhibits, such as African-American history, art, current events, or local history. You can check the database of local libraries to see if there is a special exhibit at the library that you may be able to visit with your family.
5. Celebrate At Home With Family And Friends
If you are celebrating Juneteenth at home, you can save the picnic for later in the day. Instead of planning a large event, you can host a smaller social gathering at your home. Invite your family and friends to celebrate Juneteenth together. You can serve light meals that you have made, or have snacks and drinks available for your guests to take. This is one of my favorite Juneteenth celebration ideas!
If you are celebrating Juneteenth with friends, you can host an informal get-together in your home. You can invite your friends to share a meal or have a snack, and then watch a movie or play games. If you are celebrating Juneteenth with your partner, you can cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie, or share a meal. If you are celebrating Juneteenth with your kids, you can serve ice cream and cake, or have crafts and games for them to enjoy.
6. Reading Up On Current Events
If you are celebrating Juneteenth it is important to learn more about current events and history of African Americans. This can be done by reading up on current events happening in your area on Juneteenth. The best way to start is with local news, as well as the entertainment section of the newspaper.
READ: 10 Fantastic Juneteenth Books To Add To Your Reading List
Videos can be a great way to learn about current events, but they are often not accurate in telling the whole story. To get the full picture, read up on current topics in history, government, and politics. Then watch as many news reports as possible and blog or write about your experiences in a journal or on social media.
7. Plan A Picnic and/or Barbecue
If you’re celebrating Juneteenth on a warm day, a picnic is a fun, cheap way to bring the community together. You can pick a restaurant with picnic tables, or bring your picnic supplies. Get the main dishes like ribs and chicken and side dishes. Don’t forget the drinks, snacks, and plenty of toys for the kids too. Make sure you get your family and friends involved in planning the event. The more people who are involved, the better. If you are having a picnic at home, invite your family and friends over for a meal.
READ: 24 Amazing Juneteenth Recipes From Black Food Bloggers
8. Donate To Black Causes & Charities
Use this day to donate to organizations and charities that have a positive affect on black people. There are tons of organizations out there committed to fighting injustice towards the black community everyday. Below are non-profits that you can donate to and give whatever you can. You can also find a bunch of petitions that also need special attention to help make a difference.
9. Take a walk
If you’re going to go out for dinner, you might as well walk there and back. Make sure you get some exercise while celebrating Juneteenth. You can find a nice park or the beach to take a walk with a friend or pet, or even take a workout class at the local gym. If you’re taking your kids with you, make sure they have comfortable shoes and bring some snacks for them – if they’re old enough to enjoy them, that is. The environment is always better when you and your family are together, so make sure you have a good time.
10. Attend Juneteenth Events
Juneteenth is a big day for African Americans so I’m sure you’ll be able to find events in your local area. Events such as street fairs, rodeos and parades are going to be filled with people and you can expect music, food, shopping and performances. Even though we are still in a pandemic, many states have laxed rules and have opened up and have allowed big events again. Just check your local city to find information on them so you and your family can attend these festivities. One of my favorite Juneteenth celebration ideas!
11. Go on A Treasure Hunt
If you’re looking for something fun and different, why not plan a Juneteenth-inspired treasure hunt the whole family can enjoy? You can buy some gold leaves and use them as clues to find hidden treasures around your home or yard. Write down some clues for your family – for example, “You will find a broken lamp on the ground outside your bedroom window” – then send them out into your backyard and let them have fun looking for it.
Once they’ve found the treasure, give them a reward of some kind: maybe they get to keep all the gold leaves; maybe they get to keep the treasure itself. Holidays are a great time to get creative with your children and celebrate Juneteenth in a fun and exciting way.
12. Support Black Owned Businesses
Support businesses that are black-owned whether that’s in your local area, outside it or online. New York Magazine has a huge list of black-owned businesses that you can support. Even big retailer stores like Target and Walmart carry black-owned brands and they usually highlight black-owned businesses leading up to Juneteeth by having a special section near the front of the store. If you’re looking for new home decor, handbags, clothing or a little self care, show your support to these brands on Juneteeth and beyond.
Juneteenth is a very special holiday for the African American community. It serves as a reminder of the hard work and sacrifice that was done to achieve freedom in America. It’s also a day that encourages people to be mindful of their history and how it informs their present lives, and it’s one of the best ways to celebrate this momentous day. There are many different Juneteenth celebration ideas to make this day special for your family, so get creative and make the most out of it.
I hope you love these Juneteenth celebration ideas!
