2023 Juneteenth Celebrations in Westchester

Juneteenth Celebrations in Westchester

Juneteenth, also referred to as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Black Independence Day, is an annual holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. While it has been around for over 150 years, Juneteenth was only made an official holiday in New York State in 2021 that’s commonly celebrated with community festivals, parades, live music, food, and more. In Westchester, there are several ways to celebrate and teach your kids about this important holiday and its meaning of freedom, culture, and heritage.

Read on to check out a list of Juneteenth Celebrations Westchester to experience with your kids:

Thursday, June 1st from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Juneteenth Kick-Off

Attend the kick-off to Juneteenth at the Bedford Hills Community House. The event includes a keynote lecture by Professor James Small, presentations by Black Westchester, workshops for kids, food, music and dance performances by regional artists, and more. 74 Main St, Bedford Hills, NY 10507.

Thursday, June 1st-Friday, June 30th, various times
History Out Loud

Enjoy month of events at various venues throughout New Rochelle.

Thursday, June 1st from 7:00pm-8:00pm
How to Talk About Our Hard History

Join this community discussion at the Irvington Library to explore the history of slavery in Irvington, the content and context of Vinnie Bagwell’s “Yesterday”, and frameworks for talking about race and history with children. Irvington Library, 12 S Astor St, Irvington, NY 10533.

Friday, June 3rd from 6:00pm-7:00pm
3rd Annual Ossining Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony

Ossining, Main Street and, Spring St, Ossining, NY 10562

Saturday, June 4th at 5:00pm
Jazz Vespers Juneteenth Celebration

Enjoy a free Juneteenth Celebration with a Jazz Vespers ceremony, along with master bassist Richie Goods and his band. Food trucks will be avaiable. Antioch Baptist Church, 3 Church Street, Bedford, NY.

Friday, June 2nd-Friday, June 23rd, various times
Art Exhibit: Celebrating Juneteenth

Enjoy a celebration of Juneteenth with an art exhibit at the New Rochelle Public Library. 1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle, NY 10801

Saturday, June 10th at 12:00pm
White Plains Juneteenth Heritage Committee’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration

The event kicks off with a parade at 12:00pm, followed by a festival with live entertainment, music, and more. White Plains City Hall 255 Main St, White Plains, NY

Saturday, June 10th from 12:00pm-5:00pm
Mount Kisco’s 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration

Monday, June 12th-Wednesday, June 28th
Juneteenth Activities at the White Plains Library

The White Plains Library is offering a variety of activities and events for families.

This includes the following:

• Juneteenth Grab & Go Kits for grades K-3 – Available starting June 12
• Dance and Drumming Performance with Amanda Armenteros and the Mfoumbila Dance Company – Sunday, June 25th, 2:00 p.m.
• Afrobeats Dance Workshop – Wednesday, June 28th, at 6:30 p.m. For: Adults and teens

Saturday, June 13th from 4:00pm-5:00pm
Juneteenth with Carla & Keyes

Enjoy an interactive performance with Carla & Keye sfeaturing roots of African-American music! This will include the old history of African-American music, including work songs, spirituals, blues, ragtime, jazz, R&B, rap, and hip hop. They’ll also talk about music related to Juneteenth. Free and open to all. No tickets required. Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Dr, Croton-On-Hudson, NY.

Friday, June 16th at 7:00pm
Juneteenth Access for All Celebration

Saturday, June 17th
Juneteenth in the Village of Pelham

Participate in the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration in Wolfs Lane Park! This includes an outdoor art gallery, live paintings, community art activity, film programming from The Picture House, live performances, food vendors, and a DJ. Wolfs Lane Park, Pelham, NY 10803.

Saturday, June 17th from 10:00am-7:00pm
Tuckahoe Juneteenth Celebration

Saturday, June 17th from 12:00pm-7:00pm
Peekskill Juneteenth

The event kicks off with a parade at 12:00pm, followed by music, dancing, and food. A.M.E. Zion Church, 1220 Park Street, Peekskill, NY

Saturday, June 17th from 12:00pm-5:00pm
Lewisboro Juneteenth Celebration

Families are invited to celebrate Juneteenth at the The Lewisboro Town Park. The day includes live music, activities and crafts from the Katonah Museum of Art, a West African drum and dance workshop, games, an 80-foot timeline from 1619 to the present, Dance party with a DJ, Black-owned businesses, and more. Rain or Shine. The Lewisboro Town Park, 1079 Route 35, South Salem, NY.

Saturday, June 17th from 12:00pm-6:00pm
Juneteenth Ancestral Spiritual Awakening

Join leaders of Mamaroneck’s Black community for an afternoon of food, music, basketball, African drummers, games, and more. Columbus Park, Mamaroneck, NY.

Saturday, June 17th from 2:00pm-5:00pm
MDI Presents-Juneteenth Celebration

Held at Pascone Park, the event includes musical performances, R&B line dancing, a look back at history, Caribbean food truck, and more. Pascone Park, 638 Ashford Ave, Ardsley, NY.

Sunday, June 18th from 12:00pm-5:00pm
4th Annual Ossining Juneteenth Festival

Ossining, 25 Westerly Rd, Ossining, NY 10562.

Monday, June 19th at 5:30pm
Juneteenth Celebration

Attend this Juneteenth Celebration, in partnership with the Port Chester Historical Society. Here, you’ll experience live music, kids’ activities, food, and more. Lyon Park, 479 King Street, Port Chester, NY.

Monday, June 19th at 7:00pm
James Baldwin Abroad: A Program of 3 Films

In honor of Juneteenth, the Jacob Burns Film Center is celebrating with a screening of James Baldwin Abroad, a program of three short documentaries—all recently restored—centered on the iconic writer, thinker, and activist. Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Rd, Pleasantville, NY 10570.

Thursday, June 22nd at 7:30pm
The Harlem Gospel Travelers

Enjoy live music with The Harlem Gospel Travelers at Caramoor. The band draws on the gospel quartet tradition of the ‘50s and ‘60s as the sing about hope and resiliency. Caramoor, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd, Katonah, NY 10536