Seasonal & Holidays
Juneteenth 2021: How Atlanta Marks The End Of Slavery
People in Atlanta are planning Juneteenth events as June 19 becomes a national holiday.
ATLANTA — As Juneteenth has become a national holiday, celebrations already planned in and around Atlanta have taken on a more significant meaning. Juneteenth, held annually on June 19, celebrates the end of slavery in the United States and the date many slaves in Texas finally found out they were free.
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, according to Juneteenth.com. It is “a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings.” In recent years, Juneteenth “commemorates African-American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement.”
In Atlanta, there are dozens of events planned for this weekend. Here is a list:
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June 18
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Atlanta History Center
130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta
- Friday, 9 a.m. - Sunday, 4 p.m.
Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Avenue W. NW, Atlanta
- Friday, June 18, 2-10 p.m.
- Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
- Sunday, June 20, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
249 Peters Street, SW
- 4-10 p.m.
Summer Movie Kickoff: Juneteenth Celebration
The Home Depot Backyard
1 Backyard Way, Atlanta
- 6-11 p.m.
918 Dill Avenue SW, Atlanta
- 7-11 p.m.
“Today We Celebrate” Art Exhibit
Atlantucky Brewing
170 Northside Drive SW, Suite 96, Atlanta
- 7-11 p.m.
June 19
Black Label: Juneteenth Fashion Show
Atlanta 211
211 Walker Street, Atlanta
- 2-6 p.m.
Gala In The Garden for Neighbors in Need
50 2nd Street, Atlanta
- 7-11 p.m.
Chastain Park
140 Chastain Park Ave, NW, Atlanta
- 5 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Old Lady Gang Southern Cuisine
177 Peters Street, SW, Atlanta
- 1-9 p.m.
Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Avenue W. NW, Atlanta
- 12 p.m.-11 p.m.
Juneteenth Celebration & Concert
Axis Replay
112 Krog Street NE, #10, Atlanta
- 6-11 p.m.
Juneteenth Dashiki Block Party
Pyramid Grocery
825 McDaniel St. SW, Atlanta
- 4 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Sweet Auburn Juneteenth Celebration
340 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta
- 1-7 p.m.
Intown Apartments & Lofts
170 Northside Drive SW, Atlanta
- 1-5:30 p.m.
Juneteenth Celebration/Book Signing
Book Boutique
260 18th Street
- 2-7 p.m.
Midtown Collective Atlanta
2195 Defoor Hills Road NW, Atlanta
- 7 p.m. - Midnight
Juneteenth Celebration with Onyx Oasis
TBD Design
500 Bishop Street NW, #E4, Atlanta
- 2-6 p.m.
Inaugural Juneteenth Walk For Change
Druid Hills High School
1798 Haygood Drive NE, Atlanta
- 8-11 a.m.
Fireworks City Store #702
4505 Fulton Industrial Boulevard SW, Atlanta
- 1-7 p.m.
Votelanta’s Juneteenth Celebration
The Gulch Parking Lot
1 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta
- 5-8 p.m.
44th & 3rd Bookseller
451 Lee Street SW, Unit B, Atlanta
- 12-2:30 p.m.
90s’ Deja Vu - Juneteenth Celebration
3709 Baker’s Ferry Road SW, Atlanta
- 7 p.m.
Safehouse Outreach
89 Ellis Street NE, Atlanta
- 9:30 a.m.
DAYTOX ATL: JUNETEENTH EDITION
OAK Atlanta
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW, Atlanta
- 4-10 p.m.
OMED-BSO Juneteenth Celebration
Online
11 a.m. - Noon
- Sunday, June 20, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Apex Museum
135 Auburn Avenue
- 11 a.m.
Divergent Event Services, LLC
4505 Fulton Industrial Boulevard SW, Suite 4523, Atlanta
- 7 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Second Annual Juneteenth Takeover
Woodruff Park
91 Peachtree Street, Atlanta
- 3-6 p.m.
Treehouse Studio
642 North Avenue NW, Atlanta
- Saturday, 9 p.m. - Tuesday 1 a.m.
400 Northside
400 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta
- 3 p.m. - 3 a.m.
The Wren’s Nest House Museum
1050 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Atlanta
- 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
1038 Euclid Avenue NE, Atlanta
- 6-10 p.m.
The Big Black Kickback Juneteenth 2021Atlanta
Piedmont Park
1320 Monroe Drive NE, Atlanta
- 12-8 p.m.
JOIN US FOR MURAL PAINT DAY ON JUNETEENTH
780 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta
- 2-8 p.m.
Support Black Owned Business this Juneteenth Atlanta!
Kalua Studios
3400 Malone Drive, #2, Atlanta
- 12-6 p.m.
1000 White Street SW, Atlanta
- 6-10 p.m.
Juneteenth Father’s Day Pop-Up and Shop!
OxWork Business Club
1342 Glenwood Avenue SE, Atlanta
- 1-6 p.m.
Puppet Playdate: Juneteenth Stories of Color
Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street NW, Atlanta
- 1 p.m.
UrbanFronts: Juneteenth + Reynoldstown Celebration
Modera Reynoldstown
780 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta
- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Juneteenth + Pride Celebration!
Third Eye Collective
675 Metropolitan Parkway SW, Unit 3094, Atlanta
- 2-7 p.m.
Smugs Fitness
1971 College Avenue NE, Atlanta
- 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Nourish Botanica
3301 Collier Drive NW, Atlanta
- 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Juneteenth Community Block Party
Presented by the Lady Stallions Kickball Team
Sandtown Center Park
Sand Bay Drive SW, Atlanta
- 4-8 p.m.
Kali’s Coats Presents: Back to the 90’s Juneteenth Cookout
Washington Park
102 Ollie Street NW, Atlanta
- 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Juneteenth Battle of the Beats - Charity Event
Rehearse Live, LLC
2365 Pleasantdale Road, Atlanta
- 7-9:30 p.m.
Park Avenue Baptist Church
486 Park Avenue SE, Atlanta
- 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bright Screen Studio
554 North Avenue NW, Atlanta
- 3-6 p.m.
Free African American Burial Grounds Tour
Oakland Cemetery
243 Oakland Avenue SE, Atlanta
- 10-10:20 a.m.
Juneteenth Screen on the Green
3699 Bakers Ferry Road SW, Atlanta
- 12 p.m. - 3 a.m.
A Seat at the Table: Together We Will Rise
Flat Rock United Methodist Church
4542 Evans Mill Road, Atlanta
- 1-4 p.m.
Kempton Overland Hotel - Atlanta Airport
2 Porsche Drive, Atlanta
- 10:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
For Keeps Bookstore
171 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta
- 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Views Bar and Grill Atlanta
200 Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta
12 p.m.
Piedmont Park
1320 Monroe Drive NE, Atlanta
- 1-4 p.m.
Mambo Mayhem: Celebrating Juneteenth
Atlanta Dance & Music Academy
524 Plaster Avenue NE, Atlanta
- 9:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
Howell Park
935 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW, Atlanta
- 10-11:15 a.m.
DA City Hookah Cafe
809 Hollywood Road NW, Unit A, Atlanta
- 10 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
June 20
Juneteenth with Harold Michael Harvey
451 Lee Street SW, Atlanta
- 7-10 p.m.
Juneteenth Summer Fashion Show (@BONFIREATL)
Best End Brewing Company
1036 White Street SW, Atlanta
- 8:30 p.m.
June 23
Oakland Cemetery
243 Oakland Avenue SE, Atlanta
- 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Juneteenth is held on June 19 because that was the date in 1865 when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and all slaves were free. Many of the slaves in Texas had not known of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had actually given them freedom more than two years earlier.
Granger read “General Order No. 3,” which stated, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves,” according to the city of Galveston, which has an historical marker for its connection to the holiday.
Henry Louis Gates Jr., a Harvard University professor and African American historian, wrote in The Root magazine that Juneteenth is “an occasion for gathering lost family members, measuring progress against freedom and inculcating rising generations with the values of self-importance and racial uplift.”
Most states have Juneteenth listed as an official holiday, although it only became a National holiday Thursday when President Joe Biden signed a new law. “I hope this is the beginning of a change in the way we deal with one another,” Biden said as he signed the law.
New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney noted the significance of the new holiday.
"Our federal holidays are purposely few in number and recognize the most important milestones," Maloney said at Biden’s signing ceremony. "I cannot think of a more important milestone to commemorate than the end of slavery in the United States."
In 1980, Texas became the first state to designate Juneteenth as a holiday. In the time since, 45 other states have decided to officially recognize the day, according to The New York Times.
Juneteenth celebrations have occurred in most states, according to Juneteenth.com. A number of cities and towns held events and parades for the 150th anniversary in 2015.
Also On Patch:
- Biden Signs Bill Making Juneteenth A National Holiday: Replay
- What Is Juneteenth? 5 Things To Know About The Holiday That Marks The End Of Slavery
More and more places, such as Anne Arundel County, Maryland, are recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday. County offices will be closed on Friday, June 18, in observance of the Saturday holiday this year, and Annapolis will host Maryland’s first Juneteenth festival with a parade through the state capital.
"Celebrating Juneteenth as an official county holiday demonstrates our county's true commitment to freedom and equality — for all," Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a statement. "The growing national push for observance of Juneteenth is an important step as we move forward toward justice for this community, in light of centuries of racism, discrimination, and inequity."
Some major American brands — Twitter, Nike and the National Football League, included — have made Juneteenth a paid company holiday.
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