Last updated on June 9, 2026 at 01:58 pm
Juneteenth (Officially Juneteenth National Independence Day) celebrates the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect Jan 1, 1863. However because there was no email and honestly certain folks weren’t in a rush to see it enforced, it didn’t reach Texas until 1865.
Juneteenth refers to June 19th when the final stronghold in Texas was informed that the enslaved were indeed “free” (we all know it’s more like ‘free-ish’). This led to celebrations around the country for many African/Black Americans.
To put this into context, Frederick Douglass’s speech “What to the slave is the 4th of July” in 1852, 13 years before June 19th. Juneteenth is the new 4th of July for African/Black Americans. So events and celebrations commemorate this starting from June 13th to the 20th and beyond. Here are some that are happening in Rochester, NY!
Spring is back so it's time to 'Ease on Down' and see what's going on in Thurston Village Small Business Shops Save these dates! See flyer below for more details […]
Join us for Juneteenth on Latta Road ❤️🖤💚 A powerful community celebration bringing together businesses, food, music, and culture in honor of Juneteenth. 🛍️ Shop a curated outdoor marketplace featuring […]
If our city supports artists, why are so many of us struggling? Let's talk about it after our community film screening of BEING BLACK IN AMERICA on the week of […]
Spring is back so it's time to 'Ease on Down' and see what's going on in Thurston Village Small Business Shops Save these dates! See flyer below for more details […]
Join the celebration! The Greater Rochester Martin Luther King Jr. Commission is excited to invite you to our 2026 Juneteenth Festival Join us June 19-20 at Martin Luther King, Jr. […]
Celebrate Juneteenth at the RMSC! Join us again to celebrate Juneteenth with local performances, music, and more. This event will take place at the Museum & Science Center and is […]
In honor of Juneteenth, donate to Black Owned in Rochester to help us keep the mission going!
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