How do you celebrate Juneteenth in South Florida? Here’s what to know about events
Juneteenth, which marks the emancipation of enslaved Americans during the U.S. Civil War, is about history and connection.
For Ashlee Thomas, who co-founded Miami Urban Contemporary Experience (MUCE,) a cultural center in Little Haiti, it’s a chance to celebrate and honor those who came before.
“Juneteenth represents that symbolic base of ‘We’re starting with our feet on the ground toward liberation, and we’re gaining and we’re pushing,’” Thomas said.
READ MORE: MUCE’s Ashlee Thomas wants Little Haiti campus to be beacon of Black excellence
MUCE’s celebration, which will have a free art show and live performances from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday along with a dinner under the stars for $40, is one of many around South Florida planned for the weekend. In June 2021, Congress designated Juneteenth a federal holiday, which President Joe Biden signed into law.
The holiday gets its name from June 19, 1865, when Texas became the last state to proclaim that slaves were free, in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Since 1983, celebrating Juneteenth in Miami- Dade County has been a tradition, said Miami historian Dorothy Jenkins Fields, founder of the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida. Jenkins Fields credits Marshall Davis, the managing director of the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City.
Davis, a native Miamian and graduate of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Miami Dade College and Florida Atlantic University “incorporates black culture and tradition into his multi-arts program,” she said.
“From hip-hop, drama in the black box theater, visual art in the gallery and lectures by scholars the community depends on Davis presenting black culture and tradition to each generation,” she added.
Here are some of the events in South Florida where you can celebrate the holiday:
Miami-Dade County
FRIDAY
▪ Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival in partnership with the MDC North Campus, will hold a special Juneteenth Drive-In Screening of Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) at 8:30 p.m. The screening is free and open to the public at MDC North Campus, 11380 NW 27th Ave., Lot 7 (on 32nd Ave, behind Building 9000).
▪ The Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora and Hampton Art Lovers will co-host Juneteenth #CreativeConversation and Celebration at 6 p.m. in the Ward Rooming House, 249 NW Ninth St. There will be a tour of “Veo Veo, I See I See, Mwen wè Mwen wè,” an interactive public art project.
▪ A Juneteenth Family Fun Day will be from 3 to 7 p.m. at Gwen Cherry Park, 7090 NW 22nd Ave. Hosted by radio personality Papa Keith of 103.5 The Beat, the event will feature rides, food, a basketball tournament and special performances. A 24-hour cease fire to end gun violence in Miami-Dade County will coincide with the event.
▪ Artwalk will hold its Richmond Heights Juneteenth Celebration from 5-9 p.m. at 14700 Lincoln Blvd. The event is free and includes Black art, intergeneration activities, vendors, food and live music.
▪ Miami Coalition of the Christians and Jews will host Bulldozing Barriers: Reflections of Juneteenth and Diversity in Miami from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Green Space Miami, 7200 Biscayne Boulevard. The free event will include a panel and breakout discussion about Juneteenth and inclusivity.
SATURDAY
▪ Florida International University will hold its second annual Freedom Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dotson Family Pavilion on the Modesto Maidique Campus in West Miami-Dade, 11200 SW Eighth St. The event is free and will feature musical performances, vendors, food trucks and activities.
▪ The Experience Tour/African Cultural Arts Center/SoMa Gallery Workshop will be from noon to 9 p.m. at Sandrell Rivers Theater, 6103 NW Seventh Ave. in Miami.
▪ City of North Miami Beach will host the Juneteenth Kids Zone at 3 p.m. at the Ronald A. Silver Youth Enrichment Services Center, 17052 NE 19th Ave. The kids-focused experience will feature art, giveaways and coding and gaming-related activities.
▪ Miami Lakes will hold its Juneteenth Celebration at 4 p.m. at the Town Hall Council Chambers, 6601 Main St. The free event will have live jazz music and a speech from a member of the Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board.
▪ Juneteenth Food & Wine Festival Beachside Village Cookout and Concert will be from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Lummus Park between 11th and 12th Street, 1130 Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach. The event will feature African American food vendors from across the U.S. Admission is free, but there are sampling tickets ranging from $40 to $120 available.
▪ City of North Miami Beach will host its inaugural Juneteenth Step and Show Drumline Competition at 6 p.m. at North Miami Beach City Hall, 17011 NE 19th Ave. For free, attendees can watch performances by fraternity, high school and university drumline teams.
▪ Honoring Our Ancestors Juneteenth Commemoration, hosted by Miami Urban Contemporary Experience, will be at 7 p.m. at 246 NW 54th St. The free event will an art show and live performances. Dinner is available for $40 per person.
▪ A Visual Lecture on the History of Africa: From Freedom to Freedom will be at 7 p.m. at African Heritage Cultural Arts Center Wendell Narcisse Performing Arts Theater, 6161 NW 22nd Ave., in Miami. The discussion centers on Black history in America from slavery to Juneteenth.
SUNDAY
▪ Roots Collective will host The Poetry Potluck at 6 p.m. at 5525 NW Seventh Ave. The event will include music and live poetry.
▪ Miami Music Festival will present Lift Up Your Voice and Sing! from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lummus Park, 1130 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. The event will feature an evening of poetry, music and dance.
▪ The Rhythm Foundation will host its Juneteenth Experience at 8 p.m. at the North Beach Band Shell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Performances will range from spoken word to dance..
▪ Miami Gardens will host Juneteenth Park-In & Party: We Are One! at 11 pm. at Calder Casino, 21001 NW 27th Ave. The celebration will be free and feature local musicians. For $50, attendees can purchase the Sweet Butter Experience, which includes dinner, a drink and VIP seating.
Broward
▪ The 21st Annual Blues & Sweet Potato Pie Festival will be from 11 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Apollo Park, 1580 NW Third Ave in Pompano Beach, adjacent to Northwest Branch Library. The event includes BBQ, Civil War historical re-enactors, blues/jazz music, historical displays, professional storytelling, children’s games and vintage exhibits.
▪ The Freedom Fest in Deerfield Beach “Jazz & Soul in the Field” will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at 445 SW Second St. The free event will feature films, art exhibits, music and food.
▪ Juneteenth South Broward will hold its Sixth Annual Juneteenth Celebration from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday at 1 Young Circle in Hollywood. The event will include a Junkaroo band, stilt walkers, food, black history and a kids corner.
What’s open and closed?
While most malls, retail and grocery stores will stick to their normal hours Monday, government offices and some services will be put on pause.
There will be no regular mail Monday, because the U.S. Postal Service will close post offices in observance of the holiday.
▪ Miami-Dade County offices, courts, schools and libraries will be closed Monday. Trash pickup and transit will remain on their normal schedules.
▪ Miami Beach government offices will be closed.
▪ City of Miami administrative offices will be closed Monday. Both the Miami Riverside Center (MRC) and City Hall will be closed. Trash pickup will be on normal schedule. Most recreation facilities will remain open, but the Grapeland Water Park will be closed.
▪ The Sunny Isles Beach Government Center, Pelican Community Park and Gateway Center will be closed.
▪ Coral Gables government office will be closed on Monday. Garbage, trash, and recycling services will operate on a regular schedule. Community recreation facilities, including tennis and golf facilities, the Venetian Pool and summer camps, will operate regularly.
Broward County offices will be open and operating on their normal schedules.
This story was originally published June 16, 2022 at 6:59 PM.
