Juneteenth parade and festival in Austin among 5 family-friendly events in Central Texas

Austin's Juneteenth parade, hosted by the Greater East Austin Youth Association's Central Texas Juneteenth Committee, will take place Thursday, June 19.

The parade route will begin on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Leona St. at 10 a.m., head south down Chicon past 12th St. and end at Rosewood Neighborhood Park for the Juneteenth Festival.

Attendees can expect marching bands, parade floats and celebrations of African American cultural heritage.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of Black Americans from slavery, marking the day that Union Army soldiers announced the end of slavery to the last remaining enslaved people in Galveston on June 19, 1865, more than 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. On June 19, Americans mark the end of chattel slavery in the United States as our country's second independence day. Juneteenth was named a federal holiday in 2021.

June 19: Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival

2300 Rosewood Avenue, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Juneteenth Festival in Rosewood Park will commence at noon and carry on until 9 p.m. with a wide array of food vendors and performances by Young Guy, J Soulja, Jason Greensocks, Anastasia Hera and more. The event is supported by the City of Austin and the Austin Park and Recreation Department. For more information, visit austintexas.gov.

June 19: Juneteenth Remembrance Ceremony

1165 Angelina Street, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The George Washington Carver Museum will also host a Juneteenth Remembrance Ceremony on Thursday. Their goal is to gather in unity to mourn victims of violence in Texas and foster a safe space for communal grieving. The Carver Museum invites the public to gather in their lobby to elevate the spirit of fallen sisters, brothers and non-binary community members with song, prayer and meditation. Attendees are encouraged to wear white or bright, neutral colors. For more information on the remembrance ceremony, visit austintexas.gov.

June 19: Hella Free: The Juneteenth Function

606 E 7th Street, 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Cat Records and the Austin Justice Coalition are hosting Hella Free: The Juneteenth Function on Thursday at Empire Garage. The show features music by DJ P Funk, DJ DK, Big Champ the God, DJ Crash, Rikki the DJ and TV 2 Clean. Come out for a night of free music, culture and community, as concert-goers celebrate freedom and Black excellence in style. To grab your free ticket to the show, visit seetickets.us.

June 20: Travis County’s Juneteenth Celebration “Still We Rise”

800 Lavaca Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Friday, Travis County’s Juneteenth Celebration “Still We Rise” will bring food vendors, information booths, music and games to the parking garage at 800 Lavaca St. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Still We Rise: Celebrating the Journey with Power and Purpose.” For more information and highlights from last year’s event, visit traviscountytx.gov.

June 22: Neill-Cochran House Museum Juneteenth Celebration

2310 San Gabriel Street, Noon to 4 p.m.

The Neill-Cochran House Museum's Juneteenth celebration on June 22 will feature guided tours of the slave quarters, a barbecue lunch and a gospel music performance by Christopher D. Spivey & Co. Lunch is provided free of charge from noon until they run out. For more information on the event, visit nchmuseum.org.

June 28: Austin African American Book Festival

1165 Angelina Street, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Get ready for the 19th annual Austin African American Book Festival coming to the Carver Museum and Carver Library. The special celebration of Black literature and culture is themed “Our Stories, Our Voices” and will feature acclaimed author Walter Mosley. The festival is introducing a new element this year, a writer’s workshop called “Write On!” where attendees can participate in interactive sessions on Black literature and history. There will also be activities for children, an author showcase and a vendor marketplace. For more information visit aaabookfest.org.