Happy Juneteenth from Detroit, the Blackest city in America. Being a holiday that represents the freedom of Black Americans, you already know Juneteenth in Detroit is going to be a hit! Dive into these 12 events to celebrate this year's Juneteenth festivities.
Read All About It
First and Foremost, Juneteenth is a holiday with deep cultural and historic roots. June 19th 1865, the last Africans were freed from the shackles of slavery in the United States following the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation which declared that slavery was not lawful under the Constitution. The circumstances surrounding this historic event give way to lots of nuance, and it’s important that when celebrating Juneteenth, we are educated on its cultural context.
Here are a few events where you can learn more about the history of the holiday while you celebrate.
- The Detroit Public Library’s Edison campus will be hosting their first annual Juneteenth Jamboree on June 18th from 5pm until 7pm where there will be food, games and shaved ice from Kona Ice Truck, as well as opportunities to learn more about the holiday through games and activities.
- Detroit Book City is Hosting the Juneteenth Books Music and Arts Fair 2025 at The Commons on Mack Ave in Detroit. The event will honor the traditions of art and storytelling in Black American culture through music, art, spoken word, and literature. This event is a great chance to see where culture and history meet.
- At their Parkman Campus, The Detroit Public Library will be hosting a Celebrate Juneteenth educational program focused on the origins and significance of Juneteenth, from 6pm until 7pm, also on June 18th.
Free to Dance, Run and Have Some Fun!
Juneteenth is a powerful reminder that freedom wasn’t always guaranteed. For generations, our enslaved ancestors were denied the simple act of moving freely. Today, every step we take is a celebration of their resilience and our liberation. As someone whose roots trace back to that history, I see movement as more than just motion, it’s freedom in action. These four events are perfect chances to show up, show out, and move however you please.
- On June 19th from 8:30am until 11:30am, The Detroit Free Press is hosting a Juneteenth Detroit 5K Run/Walk at Glory SuperMarket where you can participate in a spirited run celebrating freedom, unity and resilience. It’s also the perfect chance to lace up your trainers and bond with your loved ones over a purposeful walk. This event is family friendly, so you can even break out the strollers and get your mommy steps in.
- An organization called Juneteenth In Detroit is hosting a Juneteenth Parade at 11am on June 19th starting at 4100 Woodward Avenue, which will be followed by their festival starting at 3pm at the same location. Parades are another example of our freedom to move with a purpose, all while celebrating a cause that’s dear to us.
- At Robert C. Valade Park on June 21st from 10am until 4pm, you can check out Roots Rhythm and Flow. Thrown by Juneteenth Jubilee Detroit, this festival will offer a walk/run, zumba, and yoga as sessions for you to get rooted in your bodily sensations. There are field games, music and live storytelling to keep you entertained while you enjoy your freedom.
- On June 20th, The Great Skate in Roseville will host The Juneteenth Roll in Roseville, your perfect chance to celebrate freedom on wheels. In the 60’s, during the civil rights movement, Black Americans contributed to the popularization of roller skating in the U.S. As we contributed to skating culture, skating became a strong part of black culture for a time, as we created music and dance routines centered around the activity. Head to the Juneteenth Roll to move and groove in the spirit of Black culture and history, for just $18.
Freedom in the Village
An African proverb from the Igbo and Yoruba cultures states, “It takes a village…”. Those who understand Juneteenth and its significance understand this idea, that to accomplish any worthy feat, it takes a village or a community. Sewing fertile seeds into communities to ensure flowers of success bloom, is a key proponent in maintaining and expanding our freedoms; the following
events are doing just that.
- Buying from Black businesses is a simple way to sew into the black community. Juneteenth on Livernois makes it easy. Juneteenth on Livernois is a free event taking place on Livernois between 6 mile and 8 mile roads, from 12pm until 12am. This stretch of livernois is full of black businesses, from restaurants to salons and boutiques. The event will feature grand openings of several new businesses and exclusive deals and discounts at existing businesses. There will also be live music performances to keep you entertained while you shop.
- The We Gon Be ALRIGHT Juneteenth Celebration is returning to Detroit for its 4th year, bringing you live music and cultural dancers to keep you entertained, amazing local food vendors to keep you fed, and a kid’s book fair to promote education and literacy amongst Black youth. This celebration is located at Corrington Park and will run from 3pm until 7pm.
- Building community can be difficult when you’re hungry. Great Start Wayne understands this and is holding a Juneteenth Food Giveaway to take care of families in need this season. Each family who registers will receive a free food package including fresh fruit and produce along with a free blueprint for wellness health screening. This giveaway represents the power in using your freedom to give back to others. If you or someone you know will need a meal this Juneteenth, do your part for the community and spread the word.
Let Your Network Work For You
Networking can sound icky, and even daunting when referring to corporate spaces; but it’s networking that carried enslaved Africans to freedom under the American slave system. Finding people to connect with and confide in is essential for the survival of a culture that is under attack or endangered. Communities are networks of people who support and care for one another, which is what these events are all about.
- On June 20th and 21st, Party with Autty is hosting Juneteenth Weekend Vibes with a night party and a DJ on June 20th 8pm until 11pm, and an adult field day and a cookout on June 21st 3pm until 9pm. The festivities will take place at the Lux Loft in Ypsilanti, and tickets are $20 for one day or $40 for both days. While some of us are familiar with night parties in a city, when’s the last time you’ve been to an adult field day? Juneteenth Weekend Vibes is a great chance to connect with new people through physical activity, games and good food, making our community stronger with every conversation and laugh.
- The Liberation Link Up is a networking celebration designed to uplift black entrepreneurs. The event is located at St Regis Hotel on Friday June 20th from 7pm until 11pm. The link up will feature Live Music to accompany your conversations with other entrepreneurs, as well as an opportunity to win a grant of 5 thousand dollars to invest into your business. If you’re an entrepreneur, or are interested in what’s going on in the world of black business, you’ve got to check out the liberation link up.
Juneteenth is all about celebrating freedom, and reinforcing the traditions and ideas that preserve our freedoms. Here in Detroit, we’re doing that in strides. Whether you’re a Michigan native, or from elsewhere, come visit Detroit for this year’s Juneteenth!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Explore 8 of Detroit’s newest Black-owned restaurants serving up delicious flavors and unique dining experiences…
StudyBreaks.com says that Black-owned bookstores are “often essential community institutions” whose survival is more important…
Food is more than sustenance—it is an expression of culture, heritage, and creativity. In Detroit…
