Juneteenth: 12 things to do in Austin

Juneteenth: Celebrating the End of Slavery

June 19, 1865: US Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, declaring freedom for enslaved people and enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation. Texas was the last Confederate state to abolish slavery, over two years after Lincoln's Proclamation.

Juneteenth became federally recognized in 2021, but Texas had already been celebrating for years. Now, Austin joins the festivities with a range of events:

• Juneteenth Festival Barbecue Taste-Off: https://puzzles.usatoday.com/

• Jun. 14, 7-11 p.m.

• Old Settlers Park, Round Rock

• BBQ competition & live music

• Juneteenth Festival Round Rock:

• Jun. 15, 5 p.m.-midnight

• Old Settlers Park

• Concert: Lloyd, Paul Wall, 1K Spin, etc.

• Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival:

• Jun. 15, 10 a.m.-noon (parade), noon-9 p.m. (festival)

• Begins at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. & Leona St.; festival at Rosewood & Boggy Creek Park

• Parade, food, music, children's activities, vendors, etc.

• A Juneteenth House Party:

• Jun. 15, 1-3 p.m.

• 1501 E. 12th St.

• Celebrating the reopening of the historic Southgate-Lewis House, originally built for Dr. Thomas H. Davis, one of the first Black physicians in Austin.

• Leander Juneteenth Block Party:

• Jun. 15, 5-9 p.m.

• Robin Bledsoe Park, Leander

• Live music, food trucks, vendors, bounce houses, swimming, basketball.

• Freedom Fest:

• Jun. 15, noon-4 p.m.

• Turner Roberts Recreation Center

• Slingshot showcase, kids' activities, comedy, music, free food.

• Black Makers Market:

• Jun. 15, noon-6 p.m.

• African American Cultural and Heritage Facility

• 40+ vendors, food trucks, DJs, giveaways, etc.

• Community Juneteenth:

• Jun. 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Carver Branch of Austin Public Library

• African dancers & drummers, puppet show, fashion show, vendors, art, DJ, speakership by Prof. Roland Hayes.

• Buda Juneteenth Jubilee:

• Jun. 15, 1-5 p.m.

• Buda Amphitheater & City Park

• Music, dance, food, shopping, etc.

• Juneteenth Community Celebration:

• Jun. 15, 1-4 p.m.

• Willie Mae Kirk Branch of Austin Public Library

• Food, games, live music, face painting, crafts.

• Juneteenth Festival with Scarface & Free Your Mind Symposium:

• Jun. 15-19, detailed schedule at juneteenthatx.com/festival

• George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural & Genealogy Center‎

• Cookout, concert with Scarface & Tank and the Bangas, readings, screenings, poetry slam, drag ball, etc.

• The Neill-Cochran House Museum Juneteenth Celebration:

• Jun. 22, noon-5 p.m.

• The Neill-Cochran House Museum

• New exhibit: "A Juneteenth Rodeo," tours of enslaved people's dwelling, gospel choir performance.