A crowd gathers as Black skateboarders perform tricks on a ramp during a Juneteenth celebration in Los Angeles.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
There are several events today — and beyond — around Los Angeles to celebrate Juneteenth.
Why it matters: June 19 marks the day federal troops showed up in Galveston, Texas, back in 1865 — two and a half YEARS after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed — to tell enslaved Black people that slavery was over.
The first Juneteenth celebration was held in Texas the following year, and then the celebrations spread. Families who were part of the second great migration, when Black southerners moved north and west after World War Two, brought their Texas holiday to L-A in the late 1940s.
Why now: Now that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, more celebrations are held throughout the month of June. Here's our list.
Missed your chance to buy a seat to scream “Not Like Us” at the Kendrick Lamar concert at the Kia Forum tonight (although you might be able to snag really expensive resell tickets here)? Upset the large-scale Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival has been postponed to 2025? Well, fear not, there’s still music to be heard and the Leimert Park Village vendors are still holding a Black Family Reunion Juneteenth Celebration in the neighborhood starting today at 11 a.m.
Here are many more events, starting today, for you to righteously celebrate Juneteenth in L.A.:
Events
June 19, 2024, 12 p.m. Jonathan Leonard’s 75th Annual Juneteenth Emancipation Day Leimert Park COST: FREE, MORE INFO
Jonathan Leonard started a Juneteenth celebration in Leimert Park once he moved from Texas to Los Angeles in 1949.
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Ariyana Leonard and AyEsha Leonard McLaughlin
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Courtesy
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For decades, Juneteenth was celebrated in Leimert Park with a family picnic that many say was started by Jonathan Leonard, a Texas transplant, back in 1949. He’d serve up barbecue, watermelon and traditional Big Red soda, and revel in community. His family has continued the tradition even after his death in 2017 so come on out to enjoy some good food and good company.
June 19, 2024, 2 p.m. to sunset Ebony Beach Club Juneteenth Community Beach Day Dockweiler State Beach, Tower 51 COST: FREE
The Ebony Beach Club in L.A. County after a year! Surf, barbecue, make friends and more at this beach community gathering on Juneteenth.
June 19, 2024, 8 p.m. Juneteenth Celebration T-Pain + Special Guests The Hollywood Bowl 2301 Highland Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90068 COST: Varies, MORE INFO
Singer and rapper T-Pain is co-curating a Juneteenth celebration at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, June 19.
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LA Phil/Hollywood Bowl
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Are you sprung on T-Pain? Croon along with the singer/rapper, the Color of Noize Orchestra (orchestrated by Derrick Hodge) and special guests like D Smoke at this special celebration of Black music at the Bowl.
June 19, 2024, 7:30 p.m. Bless Their Little Hearts in 35 mm Ted Mann Theater at The Academy Museum COST: Student tickets: $5, Senior: $7, Adult: $10, MORE INFO
LA Rebellion film director Billy Woodberry's only fiction feature Bless Their Little Hearts (1983) is showing on June 19 at the Academy Museum.
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Academy Museum
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Watch Billy Woodberry’s only fiction feature Bless Their Little Hearts(1983). It’s a moving drama about a married couple in Watts who are struggling to support their family through unemployment. Woodberry was one of the founders of the L.A. Rebellion film movement and this movie was named to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.
Wednesday, June 19, 8 a.m. Juneteenth Hike & Breakfast Eaton Canyon Falls Trail Altadena COST: $5 DONATION, MORE INFO
This week's outdoor pick is an easy-to-moderate hike near Pasadena.
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JingKe888, licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Start your Juneteenth holiday off right with a hike in Eaton Canyon Falls with the Black Living Single Group. The nature hike will be followed by a hearty breakfast!
Wednesday June 19, 7 p.m. Juneteenth Trivia Night Highly Likely 4310 West Jefferson Blvd. West Adams COST: $20, MORE INFO
Test your Juneteenth knowledge, plus meet like-minded new friends at this trivia night hosted at Highly Likely in West Adams. There will not only be trivia, but also art and other games throughout the evening.
In partnership with Black in Mayberry, the City of Manhattan Beach will honor African American history with speakers, special guests and a gospel choir. The Juneteenth Ceremony will take place on Wednesday at 10 - 11 a.m. at Bruce’s Beach Park. And live music, food and vendors will follow at the Juneteenth Celebration & Concert from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Polliwog Park on Saturday, June 22.
Juneteenth Ceremony at Bruce's Beach Park on June 19.
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mbcommunications
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The Juneteenth Celebration & Concert at Manhattan Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2024.
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mbcommunications
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Through June 23 Freedom: Juneteenth Art Exhibit 910 Abbot Kinney Venice COST: $15, MORE INFO
A collaboration between nonprofit arts group Black in Mayberry and the Experimentally Structured Museum of Art (ESMoA) in Lawndale, the Freedom exhibit brings together a group of 12 Black artists reflecting on the African-American journey, exploring the questions “What is freedom?” and “Are we truly free?"
Saturday, June 21, 2024, 4 p.m. Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair Victoria Community Regional Park 419 MLK Jr. St, Carson CA, 90746 COST: Free, register here
Come out and enjoy this free event that will include community resources, discussions, performances and activities for all ages. There will be tenant protections, immigration rights and mental health support services for attendees.
