For Immediate Release: June 3, 2024 

The City of Alexandria invites residents to join in the celebration of Juneteenth with special events and activities throughout the month. Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on June 19. This holiday observes the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, officially proclaiming freedom for the remaining enslaved individuals in the state. As the significance of Juneteenth continues to grow across the nation, the City is eager to honor this historic occasion with a series of exciting events.  

Throughout the month of June:  

• Explore Alexandria’s African American history on your own!  
  Follow Historic Alexandria’s Self-Guided Walking Tour of the African American Heritage Trails. Visit Juneteenth: A Time of Reflection and Rejoicing  for more historic Juneteenth information.  

Friday, June 14

• 10:30 a.m.  Culture Queen: Juneteenth Jubilee. Free
  Beatley Central Library 5005 Duke Street -Free 
  Join Grammy nominated performer Culture Queen for an interactive musical storytelling show and honor the meaning of the Juneteenth holiday. All ages.
  Beatley Central Library Reading Garden.

Saturday, June 15 

• 11-12:30 a.m. Douglass Memorial Cemetery Remembrance. Free
  Join supporters and volunteers at the historic Black cemetery to place purple ribbons of remembrance on the gravestones and attend a short ceremony following in honor of those buried in Douglass Cemetery and the Juneteenth holiday. Sponsored by the Social Responsibility Group (SRG) and the Friends of Douglass Cemetery. This annual event honors those buried at Alexandria’s historic African American Cemetery.  Learn about plans for the preservation of this Alexandria landmark. All are welcome.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  
  Program includes speakers and tours of the Cemetery.
  Parking. Limited seating. Please wear appropriate shoes for uneven terrain.

Wednesday, June 19 

• 1:30 p.m. Programming starts with storytelling / Concert at 2 p.m. Juneteenth Holiday at Market Square (300 King St.). Free
  Join the Office of Historic Alexandria’s Division of African American History for storytelling (with Oumie and Vann Di Galloway) and music that celebrate Juneteenth and African American heritage. The Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will present a lively, interactive concert featuring traditional music, dance, and spoken word that celebrates Juneteenth, local stories, history, and the enduring legacy of the African American quest for freedom and equality. The event is weather dependent. This presentation is co-sponsored by Washington Revels and the Office of Historic Alexandria. 

• All Day: Alexandria residents can tour any City-owned Museum for free!  African American sites open for Juneteenth in Alexandria
  *Freedom House Museum - 1315 Duke Street open from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm – 703.746.4702
  *Alexandria Black History Museum - 902 Wythe Street open from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm – 703.746.4356  
  
  Regular Hours for African American Sites in Alexandria
  Alexandria Black History Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
  Freedom House Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays and Mondays, 1-5 p.m.
  *Admission Charged / Free to Alexandria Residents
  Visit alexandriava.gov/Museums for a list of City-owned museums and hours of operation. 

Saturday, June 22 

• 11 a.m. Bench Dedication /Juneteenth Activities begin at Noon. Free
  Charles Houston Recreation Center (CHR) 901 Wythe St.
  11:00 a.m. – Noon –   A Civil Rights Appreciation: Saying Their Names.  This event includes the dedication of a Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial bench sponsored by McArthur Myers at the Charles Houston Recreation Center. Please gather at 10:30 a.m. for refreshments and remarks.
  (no parking in the CHR parking lot that day due to Juneteenth activities that begin at Noon)
  Noon – 6:00 p.m. -Juneteenth Activities at the Charles Houston Recreation Center parking lot. Enjoy food and retail vendors, a moon bounce, information tables, music, and performances.
  
  For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.
  
  If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-3960.
  
  Alexandria at 275: Connecting to our past to define a brighter future.
  
  Since its 1749 founding, the historic city of Alexandria has played a major role in our nation’s story and reflected its progress toward inclusivity. Join us at events from April through September as we mark Alexandria’s 275th anniversary and embark on the next chapter in our city’s vibrant history at alexandriava.gov/ALX275.