Juneteenth — the celebration to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States — is this Sunday.
June 19 used to just be a date on the calendar that came and went like any other for most in Middle Tennessee. But the date falling in the midst of the racial justice protests in 2020 made many people — especially white people — aware of the holiday for the first time.
As a largely white crowd took to War Memorial Plaza on June 19, 2020, Gov. Bill Lee signed a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth for the first time. Lee said at the time that it was a good time for progress and education about race in Tennessee, but since, the governor signed legislation banning public schools from teaching about privilege and racial inequality in 2021 and a 2022 soon-to-be-law will allow parents to review and vet school curriculum materials and suggest changes, a response to conservative criticism of how race and history are taught in schools.
Still, popularity of the new federal holiday has only continued to grow. Last year, WPLN News compiled more than 40 Juneteenth events in the region. This year, there are 50 and counting. Many are being organized by Black-led organizations.
Below, find a list of the upcoming celebrations (ordered by date and time) plus an interactive map to see which event is closest to you.
Many of the events are outside, so be prepared for afternoon temperatures in the upper 90s Friday and, thankfully, dropping a bit to the upper 80s on Saturday and Sunday.
Did we miss a Juneteenth celebration in the area? Email us.
Thursday, June 16
Black Mosaic: Reclaiming Clarksville Stories Screening — 6 p.m.
Austin Peay State University student Angela Peterson created this documentary for her master’s thesis. The film explores the untold stories of Black voices in the history of Clarksville, where it will be shown at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center. The screening will be followed by a Q&A conversation. Admission is $5 but free for those 16 and under.
Authors’ Night — 5:30 p.m.
This year, Murfreesboro will kick off its Juneteenth celebrations by supporting aspiring Black authors. The free event will have meet and greets with Diane Brown, Carmen Maples, Margaret McKinley, Mary Watkins, Darryl Webb, Jayda Freemen, Sonya McCllough Lockridge and Tanika Robinson. There will also be refreshments and giveaways for attendants.
Friday, June 17
State of Black Music Summit — 10 a.m.
As part of its second annual Black Music Month Celebration, the National Museum of African American Music located in Fifth and Broadway in Downtown Nashville will host a one-day — and invite-only — summit that will explore the intersection of Black music and culture with industry leaders, top artists and media personalities.
Kaleidoscope — 4 p.m.
Murfreesboro’s second Juneteenth event is all about self-care. The Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center will showcase diverse resources for the mind, body and soul. Admission to this event is free.
Create The Culture Events Juneteenth Pop Up Event — 6 p.m.
This pop-up in Goodlettsville offers an evening that celebrates Black family and entrepreneurs. The free event hosted by Create The Culture Events and The Closet Experience Boutique will have face painting, a live DJ, a bar, a selfie station and 360 photo booth, as well as opportunities to support Black-owned businesses.
Black Nashville Connect — 6 p.m.
Want to get your LinkedIn connections up? This rooftop experience at W Nashville sponsored by the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce wants to link up Black professionals and entrepreneurs and, hopefully, boost a few businesses in the process. Tickets to the event are $25.
Culture Ball: Artistic Expression of Black Culture — 6 p.m.
Located at William O. Beach Civic Hall in Clarksville, this cocktail party promises to be filled with art, spoken word by Clarksville’s Power of Words, fashion, live music from Brassville and dance — as well as food, drinks and networking. Open to the public, tickets are $45 each.
Marion James Benefit Concert — 6 p.m.
Presented by the Jefferson Street Sound Museum, this event seeks to honor “Nashville’s Queen of Blues.” Held at the museum, this event will have live music and a barbecue. Tickets will be $15 at the door, or they can be purchased ahead of time for $10.
The Second Annual Juneteenth Formal Gala — 6 p.m.
The gala at Liberty Hall in the Franklin Factory is being hosted by the Franklin Justice and Equity Coalition and sponsored by 27 different businesses. The black & white attire gala sold out prior to the event, but tickets were $100 per person.
Jam on Jefferson Juneteenth Celebration — 7 p.m.
Join Solberg Studios, one of Nashville’s collaborative audio and video space, in Jefferson for an evening with local vendors, games and live music. Admission is $10.
A Crown Royalty Affair: Celebrating Our Kings & Queens — 7 p.m.
This Hendersonville benefit showcase promises a night to uplift kings and queens with spoken word poetry, dance, live music from Smooth Jazz guitarist North “2unes” Woodall, food, drinks and a surprise gift. A portion of the profits will go toward the B Love Foundation Inc. — a faith-based, community-oriented organization that offers environmental, health and safety program development; career coaching and counseling; academic and athletic enrichment for youth and occupational empowerment training for veterans and under-represented citizens. For the full royal experience, single tickets are $65, and couples can get theirs for $120. General Admission tickets that don’t include food or drinks cost $30.
PROLIFIC: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Excellence — 8 p.m.
This celebration near Music Row at Analog, an intimate music venue at the Hutton Hotel, aims to highlight the success of Black professionals in Nashville. Join DJ Crisis in your most fashionable and sophisticated attire to dance the night away. General admission tickets cost $20. The VIP tickets, which cost $40, include hors d’oeuvres, access to a VIP area and two private bars.
Saturday, June 18
Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride — 7 a.m.
Ride the 25-mile self-guided tour or the 10-mile group and family course led by the cycle squad Music City Dope Pedalers. The ride will start at Watkins Park in Nashville. Bike For Equality, Black Girls Do Bike, Oasis Bike Workshop and Walk Bike Nashville are also involved in this year’s event. Registration for the event is free and comes with a T-shirt and a ride pin and number. Raffles and giveaways also await those who attend. Snacks and water will be available to stay hydrated throughout the ride.
Bedford County Juneteenth Celebration — 9 a.m.
Held in Historic Uptown Shelbyville, the celebration kicks off with a parade and opening ceremonies before offering arts, crafts, food vendors and community health booths an hour later. The event is free and open to the public.
Juneteenth Landscape of Enslavement Guided Grounds Tours — 10 a.m.
Travellers Rest in Nashville will offer a demonstration of its newest research tool, the Enslaved Persons Documentation Project until 2 p.m. The interactive database contains transcriptions of primary source documents that shine a light on the lives of those who were enslaved. In addition to the database, there will be 45-minute guided grounds tours focusing on the lives of those who were enslaved at Travellers Rest and those who lived and worked there after emancipation. A complimentary house tour will be offered to guests with the purchase of the $15 Juneteenth event ticket, but they must be scheduled before the grounds tour by contacting Andy Blair via email at [email protected].
Murfreesboro, TN Juneteenth Independence Day — 10 a.m.
To close off its festivities previously mentioned in this guide, Murfreesboro will be hosting a free festival with food vendors, artists, live music, dancing and a kids’ zone to entertain the youngest family members.
2022 Juneteenth Festival — 10 a.m.
The Franklin Justice and Equity Coalition and its community partners will host its second annual Juneteenth Celebration in downtown Franklin from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pet-friendly event is sponsored by Mars Petcare and will feature music, food trucks and a kids zone.
Columbia, TN Juneteenth Festival — 10 a.m.
Located in the first city in the state of Tennessee to declare Juneteenth a city holiday, Columbia continues to host its annual celebration. The event is complete with musical performances, food vendors, a basketball competition and spades tournament. Located at 102 Riverside Drive in Columbia, organizers describe the event as “free…ish.”
Gardens of Babylon Landscapes Juneteenth Day Market — 10 a.m.
The Gardens of Babylon Landscapes, a landscape design and garden center, will be hosting this Juneteenth Day market at their location on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard in Downtown Nashville. Local vendors, Planted Self Care, Preston Mitchell, Netta’s Market, Potted Peace and Barden Box will be showcasing their products until 3 p.m.
Cookeville, TN Juneteenth Celebration — 10:30 a.m.
Hosted by the Impact Organization, this Juneteenth celebration will be held at West End Park in Cookeville. Organizers say the event will be educational, teaching about the origins of the holiday — and will include “delicious” food!
Juneteenth Street Festival — 11 a.m.
Presented by the Wilson County Black History Committee and the Wilson County Civic League, the Juneteenth Street Festival will be held on Market Street in Lebanon. The free six-hour event will include live music, vendors and a kid’s zone.
Clarksville Juneteenth Block Party — 12 p.m.
The Clarksville Juneteenth Block Party is the first event of Clarksville’s Juneteenth Weekend. Located in the downtown area, the free, family-friendly block party will feature over 60 Black-owned businesses and organizations, live performances, food trucks, a kid zone and more.
Music City Freedom Festival: Nashville’s Juneteenth Celebration — 12 p.m.
The third iteration of this festival will be held at the historic Hadley Park in Nashville and will feature local food trucks, vendors and even inflatables for the little ones. The day-long celebration will also bring live music and a DJ to satisfy different musical tastes. Admission to the festival is free
Black on Buchanan Juneteenth Festival — 12 p.m.
Back for another festival this year, the Equity Alliance’s block party spans Buchanan Street in North Nashville. Organizers describe the event, held in the historically Black neighborhood, as a “celebration of Black joy, excellence, freedom and our fight for Black liberation.” The block party is free and nearly nine hours long, filled with live music performances, small business and food vendors and a kid’s corner.
Juneteenth in the Community: Create a Freedom Flag — 12 p.m.
As a part of the Black on Buchanan Juneteenth Festival with the Equity Alliance, the Frist Art Museum is creating a space to make a freedom flag and explore what freedom means. The event will be located within the Nashville Jazz Workshop‘s interactive art zone, which will also feature live music. The event is free and open to people of all ages.
This celebration, hosted by Manifest Magic Black Girl Cooperative, will be held at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville. The festival will include a range of activities, some of which include a voter registration station, kid’s zone (with inflatables), general health screenings, cigar lounge, spoken word, R&B and open mic performances and art installations. Admission is free and open to the public. The event is set to continue until 9 p.m.
Juneteenth Freedom Day Party — 3 p.m.
Hosted by the Nirvana Bar & Lounge, a “black-owned business dedicated to empowering the community,” this Murfreesboro event will be filled with music, food and drinks. Tickets for this 21+ event are $10.
10th Annual Praise and Laughs Comedy Show — 5 p.m.
Hosted by comedian and social media presence Karlton Humes, this outdoor event will feature a number of comedians and artists in honor of Juneteenth. Held at Cumberland Park in Nashville along the river, tickets are $10 or $5 for children or groups of 10 people
Trailblazer Banquet — 6 p.m.
The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum is partnering with the Dickson County Chapter of the NAACP to offer the Trail Blazer Banquet and Award Presentation in honor of Juneteenth. The banquet “celebrates and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the expansion of rights and progression of our community, state, and nation.” The event will have Candace Lafayette as the keynote speaker. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased by calling the museum at (615) 446-0500.
Art Friend$ — 8 p.m.
This pop-up from V$NR Lab at CE Gallery in Nashville is a space for V$NR and friends to showcase various art and projects across multiple mediums. It is the second of three events happening in June, with the other two installations of Art Friend$ taking place in Memphis and Atlanta. The event will include a live DJ, full bar, photography gallery exhibition and mixer. Tickets are $25 per person.
Father’s Day Juneteenth Eve Bash — 9 p.m.
Held at Ponobe’s Party Bar & Grill in Goodlettsville, this event promises a celebration of “fatherhood and freedom.” Available to those 21+ and up, the bash is set to last until 2:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 19
Juneteenth Block Party — 11 a.m.
The National Museum of African American Music’s five-hour block party will take place on Food Assembly’s Skydeck at Fifth and Broadway in Downtown Nashville. The free event is open to those 21+ and up and will include live music performances to “celebrate the freedom that comes through musical expression.”
All People Coffee Juneteenth Block Party — 11 a.m.
Held at All People Coffee & Beverage Hall in East Nashville, this five-hour block party will include live music, Black-owned vendors, food, drink and more. The event is free and open to the public.
Its Just BLK Juneteenth Festival — 12 p.m.
The free, family-friendly carnival at the Hartman Public Community Center in Nashville will be filled with food, bounce houses, water slides, face painting, basketball tournaments, live music and a DJ, spoken word performances, dancing, vendors and more.
Music of Bob Marley for Kids + More — 12 p.m.
Hosted by the Rock & Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, this Father’s Day and Juneteenth event is a part of a family concert series allowing kids to dance, play and sing along to Rock and Roll music. Bring your children to enjoy the music of Bob Marley and more. Tickets are $15, although kids under the age of one are free.
BLK Xcellence Brunch — 1 p.m.
The BLK Xcellence Brunch, an annual fundraising event in Clarksville, will be held at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. In addition to food and drink, the brunch will include art displays, award presentations, live performances, networking opportunities and more. Although online sales have ended, ticket prices ranged from $75 to $550, with a portion of the prices going toward the BLK Clarksville Scholarship Fund.
Juneteenth Cardio Class — 1 p.m.
Held at FITNESS:1440 in Nashville, this cardio class honoring Juneteenth will lead participants in cardio routines to Afrobeats, Trap, Hip Hop and Soca music. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Juneteenth Day Party and Vendor Expo — 1 p.m.
Hosted by Honest T’s in Nashville and held in honor of Juneteenth and Father’s Day, this expo will include a range of vendors and food trucks. The expo will be located at Flash Me Xperience, a self-portrait gallery, and will allow for many photo opportunities. The event is free.
Juneteenth Free Yoga Flow — 1 p.m.
Nurture Nashville Yoga will be hosting a flow yoga class in honor of Juneteenth. The class is free for BIPOC participants and donation-based for others, although everyone is welcome to contribute on the website link.
Juneteenth CommUNITY Celebration — 2 p.m.
Held at what was once known as the Sumner County Colored Agricultural Fairground in Gallatin, organizers say this event is celebrating “the freedom that Juneteenth represents.” The free celebration will offer live music, a natural beauty pageant, food and craft vendors, activities for kids and more.
A Celebration of Freedom! — 3 p.m.
The inaugural performance of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony will celebrate Juneteenth by highlighting African American composers. The concert will start at 4 p.m. but the doors open at 3 p.m. Tickets are $18, but kids five and under can attend for free.
Afrikjam Nashville Freedom Fest — 3 p.m.
This nearly seven-hour event hosted at 2622 Jefferson Street in Nashville will include Jamaican and Caribbean food vendors, as well as arts, crafts and games. There will also be performances from DJ Prince, DJ Cash, DJ Genna and DJ Tobee. According to the organizers, “ladies are free with entry” until 5pm. Other ticket prices range from $25 to $300.
Juneteenth Gospel Brunch — 3 p.m.
Anzie Blue in Hillsboro Village in Nashville is hosting a gospel brunch featuring Gospel Collective in honor of Juneteenth. Tickets are $25 and include a free cocktail.
Peace Love Juneteenth — 5 p.m.
Held at Painting with a Twist in Murfreesboro, this painting event is open to people ages seven and up and costs $39 per person.
Nashville SC and NMAAM Special Juneteenth Bundle Offer — 5 p.m.
This Sunday, Nashville SC will take on Sporting Kansas City wearing limited edition jerseys featuring Juneteenth-inspired numbers designed by Tiffany Judah Middleton, a Black LGBTQ artist. Fans will be able to bid on the game-worn jerseys from June 20 to July 5, and the proceeds of the auction will go toward organizations serving Black communities. Tickets to the game are $30 and they include admission to the National Museum of African American Music at a later date. This bundle has a value of $48.
Juneteenth Fatherhood Celebration & Comedy Show — 5:30 p.m.
Comedian DJ Pryor & Friends, along with host Damon King and special guest Michael Diallo McLendon, will perform at Manna from Heaven in Nashville in celebration of fatherhood. In addition to comedy, there will be music and storytelling. General admission tickets are $15, although group pricing at $12 a ticket is available for groups of five or more.
Juneteenth615 Celebration — 6 p.m.
The annual event sponsored by FELLAVISION and the African American Cultural Alliance will be held at Fort Negley Park in Nashville. The free, family-friendly event will have live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, a proclamation ceremony and fireworks.
#KUUMBAonTheBuc — 7 p.m.
One of the many Buchanan Street Juneteenth events will be hosted at Willie B’s Kitchen & Lounge in Nashville. With four DJ’s set to appear, the festivities will last until 2 a.m. The line-up includes DJ Mouse, DJ Walt, DJ KVO and DJ Chill and will play music spanning AfroBeat, Caribbean, R&B, Old School, Hip Hop and Trap.
Monday, June 20
Juneteenth Block Party — 12 p.m.
The Local Distro Market, located in Salemtown in Nashville, is hosting its inaugural Juneteenth Block Party. Filled with games, black-owned vendors, music, a cigar lounge and more, the event is free and open to the public. There are remaining spaces for vendors, with fees ranging from $100 to $250.
Saturday, June 25
Black Bar Crawl — 11 a.m.
Sponsored by Bacardi, the Black Bar Crawl will weave through North and East Nashville to visit a variety of black-owned cocktail bars. Some of the venues include Yay Yay’s on Jefferson St, Escape the Trap, EG & MC, Suite Twelve 25 and Minerva Avenue. There are two ticket options: the self-guided bar crawl tickets offered at $50, and the VIP tickets (which include an entry on the party bus) available for $75.
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