Celebrate Juneteenth in Connecticut with a parade, history, music and culture

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were told that they were free, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The day is now ensconced as an official state holiday, giving even more reason to celebrate Black history, arts and culture.

Many Juneteenth events are planned in the Hartford area, from June 10 to 19. Here is a list. It is not all-inclusive.

Juneteenth will be celebrated June 9 and 10 at Hempsted Houses, 11 Hempstead St. in New London. On June 9 from 6 to 8 p.m., gather around a campfire to hear about the Slave Dwelling Project. On June 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a celebration will include music, dance, performances, Witness Stone installation, kids’ activities and tellings of the African-American history of the houses. Speakers include Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project, Tammy Denease of the Connecticut Freedom Trail and artist Jazzmen Lee-Johnson. Both events are free. Register at  ctlandmarks.org.

Juneteenth Family Day, an outdoor celebration at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St. in Hartford, is June 10 from noon to 4 p.m. Hartford’s Proud Drill, Drum, and Dance Corp, live music from Nekita Waller, crafting with Jacqueline Bright, African drumming and storytelling by Our Culture is Beautiful. Admission is free. amistadcenter.org/events.

Jubilee 2023, with live music and gourmet cuisine, is June 10 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. at The Russell, 187 Allyn St. in Hartford. Music from DJ Santos, Rhashim Campbell and The Unit, DJ Monsta P & Bob Steel: The Reggae Zone. Attire is vibrant colors and African-influenced wear. Proceeds will benefit The Terrell Campbell Memorial Scholarship and other community programs. Admission is $20 to $90. eventbrite.com.

A Vendor Pop-Up to support minority-owned businesses will be June 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Warehouse 635, 635 New Park Ave. in West Hartford. Food trucks, music, door prizes. Admission is free. eventbrite.com.

Mystic Seaport Museum, 75 Greenmanville Ave., will present a Juneteenth event on June 11 starting at 3 p.m. Admission to the museum is free that day after 2:30 p.m. Keynote lecture, live music, artisan vendors, and tours of the 128-foot flagship of Connecticut, the replica of the Amistad. mysticseaport.org.

“The Nation That Never Was: Reconstructing America’s Story,” a book talk with Kermit Roosevelt, is June 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Connecticut Historical Society, 1 Elizabeth St. in Hartford. Roosevelt’s book rethinks American history with an eye toward racial justice. Admission is $10, $8 seniors, $5 members. Copies of the book will be for sale. chs.org/event/roosevelt.

Juneteenth Celebration ’23: Freedom through Community is June 16 at 5 p.m. at Jilson Square Park in Willimantic. Bring instruments to help the celebration. Free. facebook.com/wethepeoplewillimantic.

Juneteenth Freedom Day Commemoration is June 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Leisure Labs at Mahoney Center, 110 Cedar St. in Manchester. Performances by Mixed Company and Hartford Proud, Black-owned food vendors, vendor market, family activities. Free. facebook.com/neighborhoodsandfamilies.

A Juneteenth Celebration sponsored by B.E.A.T. (Berlin Equity Action Team) is June 17 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Berlin Peck Memorial Library, 234 Kensington Road. Food, live music, speakers, presentations, book displays, lantern making. Keynote speaker is Jeffrey Fletcher. A Berlin Civil War Heroes documentary will be shown. Nzinga’s Daughters will perform. Admission is free. berlinpeck.org/events.

The Town of East Hartford and East Hartford Black Caucus will hold the town’s first Juneteenth Celebration on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Town Green Alumni Park. Family activities, vendors, food, entertainment, a bounce house, face painting, storytelling. Free. facebook.com/townofeasthartford.

The 3rd annual West Hartford Community Juneteenth Celebration is June 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Blue Back Square. Family activities, art experiences, speakers, local vendors, swag bags. Master of ceremonies is Symphonie Privett of Fox 61. Music by Nekita Waller, FriendzWorldMusic, The Lisa Clayton Choir, Beats by DJ B-EZ. Keynote speaker is Lakisha Hyatt of Connecticut Valley Hospital. Free. whjuneteenth.com.

The 22nd annual Free Community Day | Juneteenth is June 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St. ShopBlackCT vendors market, singing of Black National Anthem, entertainment by Nzinga’s Daughters, Ysanne, Dance Legacy, Simone & The Score, Ben Righter, Yellie B and Tang Sauce. Free. nbmaa.org.

The Ujima African American Alliance’s 2nd annual Juneteenth Celebration is on the Enfield Town Green on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities, games, entertainment, food vendors, performances by Iyaba Ibo Mandingo and NBS Malay. DJ Tavon will provide music, and Rosalind Swift will emcee. Admission is free. facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069900571090.

“Slavery and the Myth of Benevolence,” a gallery talk based on items in the current exhibit “Object Lessons,” is June 17 from noon to 1 p.m. at Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme St. in Old Lyme. The talk examines how artist Titus Kaphar addresses the colonial attachments to slavery and the myth of benevolent slave masters. Free with museum admission, which is $12, $11 seniors, $10 students, free 12 and younger. flogris.org.

A Juneteenth Celebration hosted by the towns of Avon, Canton, Farmington and Simsbury is June 17 from noon to 4 p.m. at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center, 22 Iron Horse Boulevard in Simsbury. Performances by Nekita Waller, Damian Curtis Afro Cuban Jazz Project, Magic Soul Academy and FriendZWorldMusic. Guests may bring picnics. Food concessions will also be available. Admission is free. simsburymeadows.org.

An MLK39 Racial Equity Mural painted by Emida Roller will be unveiled at Miller Memorial Library, 2901 Dixwell Ave., to kick off the Town of Hamden’s Juneteenth Celebration on June 17. After the mural reveal at noon, the event will move to Town Center Park. Events, held until 4 p.m., include remarks, musical performances, a “Black Girl Magic” segment and a “Black Male Excellence” segment. Vendors, crafters, exhibitors, food trucks. Admission is free. facebook.com/townofhamden.

Side Door Jazz Club at Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme St. in Old Lyme, will host “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Jazz and Poetry” on June 17 from 2 to 4 p.m., on the lawn. Readings from Connecticut poets Marilyn Nelson, Kate Rushin, Rhonda Ward, Antoinette Brim-Bell and live jazz from the Jesse Hameen II Quartet featuring Rodney Jones, Zwelakhe Bell Le Pere and Xavier McGeorge. Admission is free. facebook.com/oldlymeinn

Granby Celebrates Juneteenth is June 17 from 3 to 9:30 p.m. at Salmon Brook Park, 215 Salmon Brook St. Three-on-three basketball tournament, double dutch exhibition, music by the Alvin Carter Project featuring Kenny Hamber and Friends, Sazzy Brass, The SKJ Experiment, DJ DPHR, Jocelyn Pleasant & Medusa, Liberty Christian Center Praise Team, African drummer Leonard Epps, Greater Hartford Academy of Art Jazz Ensemble. Artwork by David Jackson. Presentation by Deacon Arthur Miller. Free. granbyracialreconciliation.com.

Juneteenth Performing Art and Spoken Word Poetry Event is June 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Windsor Art Center, 40 Mechanic St. Keynote speaker is Rev. Monique Sanders. MC is Versatile Poetiq. Admission is free. windsorartcenter.org.

The Amistad Center for Art & Culture’s 32nd annual Juneteenth celebration, themed “HARTford & Soul,” is June 17 starting at 7 p.m. at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St. in Hartford. Local artists, music, dancing, food. Walk-through of the exhibit of art by Merick Goma. Presentations by artist Sanford Biggers, activist Nelba Marquez-Greene, saxophonist Jimmy Greene, former state treasurer Shawn T. Wooden and NBC Connecticut anchor Leslie Mayes. Admission is $250. amistadcenter.org/events.

Blue Hills Fire Department and The Town of Bloomfield present a Juneteenth 5K and parade on June 17. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and the parade at 11 a.m. starting at First Cathedral, 1151 Blue Hills Ave. Also, a Community Cookout is June 18 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Blue Hills Fire Department, 1021 Blue Hills Ave. Parade entertainment includes Alika Hope and the Ray of Hope Project Band, De 4 Ahwee & Company Steel Band and Laree Live & Nu Direction Band. Cookout entertainment includes Caribbean American Dance Company, David Davis, 4-of-Kind Band and Studio 860 Dance Group. Free. bluehillsfire.org.

Juneteenth is commemorated at the Pardee-Morris House, 325 Lighthouse Road in New Haven, on June 18 from noon to 3:30 p.m. Tours of the historic house to discuss Pink and Stepna, two enslaved people who lived on the property and who are memorialized with Witness Stones at the site. Admission is free. newhavenmuseum.org/visit/events-calendar.

“Celebration of Culture: The Ultimate Juneteenth Experience” is June 18 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the carousel at Lighthouse Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road in New Haven. DJ Herman Ham will present 50 years of hip-hop music. Comedy show by Marlon Randolph, Kenny Williams and Phillips Anthony. Food trucks. Admission starts at $50. facebook.com/nhacdst.

Juneteenth Thinking and Doing Day is June 19 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Kamora’s Cultural Corner, 75 Sterling St. in Hartford. Building garden beds, lunch, open mic, video project, labyrinth and a conversation about leadership in Hartford. Free. facebook.com/kamorasculturalcorner.

The Middletown Ujima Alliance presents the 3rd annual Liberation Day Festival and Juneteenth Parade on June 19 at 11 a.m. in Middletown. The parade begins on North Main Street and ends on the South Green. Festival follows in Harbor Park. Food, music, vendors. Admission is free. culture21.net.

“Harriet Tubman: Woman with a Railroad,” a one-woman show starring Adwoa Bandele-Asante, will be performed June 19 at 2 p.m. at Mystic Seaport Museum, 75 Greenmanville Ave. Free with museum admission, which is $28, $26 seniors, $24 teenagers, $19 children. mysticseaport.org.

Juneteenth Freedom Day will be celebrated June 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Ave. in Bristol. Food, dancing, performances, singing, vendors, crafts, Hosted by Courtney Watson with D.J. Eric Sapp. Admission is free. The first 100 registrants will get a free t-shirt. thecarouselmuseum.org.

Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.