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Updated: Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 9:20pm.
Discover everything you need to know about the Houston and Galveston celebrations of the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth and the 157th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation with our handy guide to 2020 Juneteenth celebrations in Houston.
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the date that the news of the Emancipation Proclamation first reached Texas and was read aloud in Galveston, two years after it had become U.S. law.
We pulled together some key virtual and in-person events this weekend in both Houston and Galveston.
Juneteenth Celebrations in Houston & Galveston
Juneteenth, Friday, June 19, 2020
- Pacifica COVID Task Force presents Juneteenth: Enslavement and Abolition, Then and Now | FREE – The Pacifica COVID Task Force hosts a live stream sharing content regarding the history of Juneteenth called Juneteenth: Enslavement and Abolition, Then and Now. The online live stream will be about the Black freedom struggle, working peoples’ struggles today against the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and institutionalized racial disparities, and Juneteenth celebrations and protests going around the country. You must register for this event. 9am.
- Galveston Historical Foundation presents 41st Annual Al Edwards’ Juneteenth Celebration Livestream on Facebook Live | FREE – In conjunction with the University of Texas Medical Branch’s annual Juneteenth celebration, Galveston Historical Foundation will be live streaming the 41st Annual Al Edwards’ Juneteenth Celebration from the 1859 Ashton Villa. This event will be held online on Galveston Historical Foundation’s Facebook page. 10am to noon.
- Juneteenth Weekend Re-opening Celebration at Buffalo Soldiers National Museum | FREE with RSVP – Celebrate Juneteenth at a celebration featuring soldier reenactments, special arts lessons, and yoga when the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum reopens. Masks required. Tickets are free with an advance RSVP. 10am to 4pm.
- Galveston Historical Foundation presents Darkness to Light, Education, Notables and Sacred Places Lecture on Facebook Live | FREE – Join authors Tommie Boudreaux and Alice Gatson for a look through the history of African-American Galveston held in conjunction with Juneteenth 2020. From the first high school for black students in the State to the first Heavyweight Champion of the World, African American Galvestonians and those with Galveston ties are well known in Texas and worldwide in the fields of entertainment, sports, fraternal and social organizations, politics and more. This event will be held online on Galveston Historical Foundation’s Facebook page. 2pm to 3pm.
- BLM Juneteenth Bike Ride at Guadalupe Plaza in EaDo | FREE – Take a bike ride of solidarity to show your support for the Black Lives Matter movement and to protest against police brutality for Juneteenth at Guadalupe Plaza in the East End. This ride will begin at Guadalupe Park Plaza and will continue on an undisclosed route for 6 to 8 miles. There will be a midpoint stop to listen to speakers and then the ride will continue back to the Plaza. Masks are encouraged. 7pm to 10pm.
- Juneteenth Night Light Bike Ride – Letsdothishouston and 3rd Ward Tours host a Night Light Bike Ride to commemorate Juneteenth, featuring music that expresses the concept of black liberation, history, and the future in America. Tickets are $9.36 if you bring your own bike; $20.19 for a bike rental. All bikes will be sanitized before and after each ride use. 7:30pm to 9:30pm.
- Juneteenth Music Soul Live Show on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook Live | FREE – Glen Bevért Group presents a live stream of their Juneteenth Music Soul Live Show from R&R Studios featuring artists like Greathouse, Dana Monique, Eydn, Benji Muziq, Sheleah Monèa and more. This event will be held online on R&R Studios’ Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube page. 9pm.
Saturday, June 20, 2020
- Juneteenth Weekend Re-opening Celebration at Buffalo Soldiers National Museum | FREE with RSVP – Celebrate Juneteenth at a celebration featuring soldier reenactments, special arts lessons, and yoga when the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum reopens. Masks required. Tickets are free with an advance RSVP. 10am to 4pm.
- Juneteenth Black History in the Making Bike Tour in Third Ward – 3rd Ward Tours teams up with Black History in the Making for Juneteenth weekend to commemorate Freedom Day, the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy. Explore the Third Ward Community on a guided bike tour featuring some Historic and Iconic landmarks in the area. Tickets start at $12.99; bike rentals are available. 11am to 1pm.
Find More Things to Do in Houston All Year Long
You can find more fun in our interactive event calendar and 365 Weekend Guides.
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