Juneteenth, Pride, and Martini Day Events in Austin

Happy Juneteenth! Here are ways to celebrate freedom for all in the Austin area, along with a list of what's open and closed today.

With highs in the low-to-mid 90s and some clouds through the weekend, be sure to stay hydrated. The summer solstice is tomorrow, marking the longest day of the year.

Pride month continues, and it's also National Martini Day! Here’s a roundup of events and deals.

Happy Juneteenth, Austin: Celebrate and remember

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger and Union Army troops arrived in Galveston to inform enslaved African Americans of their freedom—two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Roughly 250,000 African Americans were still enslaved in Texas at the time, according to the National Museum of African American History. In 2021, President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Celebrate Juneteenth in Austin today: The Juneteenth Parade began at 10 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Leona St., heading south down Chicon past 12th St. and ending at Rosewood Neighborhood Park for the Juneteenth Festival, running until 9 p.m. Other events include a remembrance ceremony at the George Washington Carver Museum (2-4 p.m.) and a party at Empire Garage. Events continue this weekend.

Black Austin history stories from Michael Barnes:

• A couple preserves a 1968 house where a Black family successfully desegregated a northwest Austin neighborhood.
• The stories of four presidents of Huston-Tillotson, Austin's oldest university.

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Month Continues

Midway through Pride month, events include the Majestic Ball at Austin's Paramount Theatre on Saturday night, featuring a drag variety show and ballroom competition hosted by Austin's House of Lepore.

🌈 More Pride:

• Queer Austin artists discuss expressing themselves through sound.
• Rand Egbert from Emmer & Rye talks world building.

🎤 Mama Duke Shines on 'America's Got Talent'

Austin rapper Mama Duke, a longtime advocate for the queer community, made her national TV debut on "America's Got Talent" this week, impressing all four judges.

📺 Stay tuned: Updates on Mama Duke's "AGT" journey.

More entertainment:

• Addison Rae kicks off her North American tour in Austin.
• Texas Performing Arts 2025/2026 lineup includes Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Lang Lang.
• Matthew McConaughey may play Detective Mike Hammer in a new film.

🍸 National Martini Day Deals

Bars across Austin are offering creative martini variations and happy hour specials, including 75-cent martinis.

More food & drink news:

• Arjav Ezekiel of Birdie's wins Austin's first James Beard Foundation award for beverage service.
• 13 places to eat sushi in Austin, plus a new late-night spot from Tare's owner.
• La Barbecue expands to Portland.