JUNETEENTH EVENTS ACROSS VIRGINIA
Virginia marks Juneteenth alongside hundreds of other states with celebrations rooted in local Black history and shaped by the people, churches, and community organizations that have sustained the day for generations. Whether you’re attending your first Juneteenth or your fortieth, the goal is the same: gather, remember, and celebrate freedom together. (scroll to bottom of the page for historical information)
Virginia Tourism EVENTS list: events around the Commonwealth
America 250 EVENTS list: Juneteenth events across Virginia
RICHMOND AREA link to events
Historical information:
National Museum of African American History & Culture
SCROLL BELOW TO FIND EVENTS BY AREA: Charlottesville, Richmond, Northern Virginia, Williamsburg/Hampton
CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA
Juneteenth at Red Hill June 27, Charlotte County – Celebrate freedom, history, and community at Red Hill on Saturday, June 27, at 11:00 am! As we honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans
Juneteenth Jubilee Albemarle County – June 19 – Join us as we team up with Black Women Who Wine to celebrate with traditional Juneteenth desert, music, and the chance to learn more about the Souther…Read More
Juneteenth Creative Celebration From Sole to Soul – June 19, Charlottesville – A Juneteenth Sneaker, Art & Culture Experience From Sole to Soul is more than a sneaker showcase – it’s a celebration of identity, creativity, and …Read More
ADDITIONAL RICHMOND EVENTS
Elegba Folklore Society Juneteenth – Richmond – June 13–14 – A “Freedom Celebration” featuring a tribute to ancestors, culture, and community, with events on and around the Manchester Dock. (details TBA). The public is invited to Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration to for the annual Torch Lit Night Walk Along the Trail of Enslaved Africans as it immerses attendees in narratives, the historical record and music. It is a sacred, poignant pilgrimage of recognition and acknowledgement.
Juneteenth at Hardywood – Richmond – June 18 – The Art Seen and Unlocking RVA host a kickoff event at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring live music, a curated art market, and local vendors.
Concerts at Dogwood Dell – Richmond – June 19 – free – outdoor amphitheater opens its summer season with a Juneteenth Celebration – concerts span gospel, jazz, R&B, soul, hip-hop, and Afrobeats — sometimes all in one lineup. Outdoor stages are common, so bring layers and a low chair if seating isn’t provided. Also, a special performance from the Elegba Folklore Society, acknowledging the history of Juneteenth, African American heritage, and Virginia’s newest state holiday.
Songs of Truth: The Awakening, Richmond, June 19 – A concert featuring original music from the Broadway-bound musical “Truth” at the Hippodrome Theater, starting at 7 p.m.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens – Richmond – June 19 – free admission on Juneteenth with performances by Lady Hymningbird, live painting by Ron Stokes, local food, and an evening concert by Ban Caribe. 1800 Lakeside Ave, Richmond, VA
MOJO World Frequency at Basic City – Richmond – June 19 – A Juneteenth live music event at Basic City RVA, featuring artists in a curated, high-energy environment at 8 p.m.
After 5 Fridays at VMFA – Richmond – June 19 – A Black Music Month and Juneteenth celebration at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts with live DJ sets, dancing, and art, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Diversity Richmond hosts JOY ON JUNETEENTH, June 19 – a full-day event packed with wellness activities, line dancing, live music, poetry, and 25+ Black-owned vendors celebrating Black joy, creativity, and resilience, 1407 Sherwood Ave, Richmond, VA 23220
Jubilation in June – Richmond – June 20 – A celebration at Midtown Green with live music and community, co-presented by Radio One Richmond and local partners.
Juneteenth Celebration – June 20 – HENRICO County – This year’s Juneteenth honors the evolution of Black culture since emancipation through an immersive experience of music, art, and community music, art at Dorey Park and Recreation Center, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Read More
NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA
Freedom Before Emancipation: Family Day for Juneteenth – Fairfax County –June 19 – join Mount Vernon as we celebrate Juneteenth by remembering how enslaved people resisted enslavement and sought freedom before the Emancipation Procla…Read More
WILLIAMSBURG/HAMPTON AREAS
Celebrate Juneteenth & Hampton VA250 Sail – City of Hampton – June 19 – Hampton will offer outstanding ship-watching opportunities from 9:00am to noon as tall ships, many in full sail, make their way to the harbors of Norf…Read More
Staged Reading: A Gathering of Hair – June 19, Williamsburg – Meet Elizabeth, a free black woman, and her enslaved friends, Agnes and Lydia, as they prepare for a gathering. Discover how these women manage love, …Read More
Freedom Song Sing-along June 19, Williamsburg – Join Dr. Kathy Bullock, renowned educator and performer, for an interactive sing-along program exploring songs of slavery and emancipation. Dr. Bulloc…Read More
5th Annual Journey to Racial Healing Ceremony – June 20, Williamsburg – The 5th annual Journey to Racial Healing Ceremony begins with a luncheon and opportunity to view the Juneteenth Commemorative Art Exhibit on display…Read More
Juneteenth Sunrise Service – June 21, Williamsburg – To commemorate the triumphant spirit of the African American journey, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will host its fourth annual Juneteenth Sunr…Read More
WINCHESTER AREA
Middletown, Saturday, June 13, Descendants’ Day in Honor of Juneteenth, 9-11 a.m. (Walnut Springs Church, Oranda and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown)
Sunday, June 14, Juneteenth Winchester (Museum of the Shenandoah Valley), 12-6 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, June 19 & 20– 6th annual Fauquier Juneteenth|
Juneteenth At Sharswood – Pittsylvania County – June 14, 2026 – Live Music, Food Trucks, Vendors, Tours, Car Show, Face Painting, and Much More…Read More
HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH
On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, TX to deliver the news of the 1863 executive decree that ended slavery to the last remaining enslaved Black people in the country, more than 250,000 in the island city. A year later, the freedmen gathered to celebrate at Reedy Chapel AME Church, marking the first observance of Juneteenth. In 2020, Juneteenth became a paid state holiday in Virginia, and in 2021, it became recognized as a national holiday by the US Congress. It is a time to celebrate African American culture and independence, reflect on the past, and look to the future.
The Meaning of the Juneteenth Flag
In 1997, activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation, worked with other collaborators, including illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf, to create the flag design. The design was revised in 2000, and the date “June 19, 1865” was added in 2007. The flag features a star, a burst, an arc, and the colors red, white, and blue.
The star represents Texas, the Lone Star State, but also represents the freedom of African Americans in all 50 states. The burst outlining the star is inspired by a nova, or new star. It represents a new beginning for African Americans across America. The arc across the width of the flag represents a new horizon full of promise and new opportunities. The colors red, white, and blue represent the colors of the flag of the United States of America and are a reminder that those who were enslaved and their descendants were and are Americans. Juneteenth celebrations also often feature the colors red, green and black and the Pan-African flag that was created in 1920 when Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey called for a Black liberation flag.
SOURCE: National Museum of African American History & Culture Juneteenth Celebration of Resilience