10AM: ARTECHOUSE (Chelsea Market, 439 W. 15th Street, Manhattan), NYC’s home for experiential art celebrating the work of Black artists, offers a free art exhibition and art activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy onsite, including a special “Sorrel Punch” cocktail, made with hibiscus and chai from West Africa. FREE but must register. More info at https://www.artechouse.com/location/nyc/.
11AM: Cast members from 18 Broadway shows will perform at the fourth annual “Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth Concert” at Times Square. The concert includes presentation of the Juneteenth Legacy Award to Tony Award® winner Phylicia Rashad, with Michael James Scott as host. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. Flagstar Bank will be this year’s presenting sponsor. The event will feature cast members from shows such as “A Beautiful Noise”; “The Neil Diamond Musical”; “Aladdin”; & Juliet; “Back to the Future: The Musical”; “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club”; “Chicago”; “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”; “Hell’s Kitchen”; “Illinoise”; “The Lion King”; “MJ”; “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”; “The Notebook”; “Suffs”; “Water for Elephants”; “The Who’s Tommy”; “Wicked”; “The Wiz”; and the return of the kids of “Young, Gifted, and Broadway.” All performances will be accompanied by live music provided with help from the Music Performance Trust Fund and the Film Funds. FREE. More info at www.diversity.broadway
11AM: Friends of Brower Park, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn Public Library—Brower Park Library, the Crown Heights North Association, Campaign Against Hunger, More than a Meal, and Repair the World Brooklyn partner to celebrate Juneteenth (Shirley Chisholm Circle Brower Park, Kingston Avenue and Prospect Place, Brooklyn). The day will feature live music, dance, workshops, performances, and art projects. There will be a performance by the Brooklyn United Marching Band, presentation by author Alliah Agostini, story time led by Laleña Garcia, and musical performance by Tahira Clayton. Food from CG’s Fish and Chips will be available for purchase onsite. FREE. More info at www.brooklynkids.org/programs/juneteenth/
1PM: Juneteenth March, the 4th Annual Charity 5K to Celebrate the Liberation of Enslaved Peoples in the U.S., founded as a march to New York City Hall in 2020 to highlight multiple injustices and reforms at the center of the city’s power. All proceeds go toward the building fund for the Harlem Center, a 10-year effort started by a coalition of New York-centered, community-based organizations (CBOs). Harlem Center is a 20,000-square-foot community center offering services from 30+ CBOs in the five boroughs to provide community support services, from economic inclusion to the arts to health/wellness and uplifting citizens affected by issues ranging from recidivism to anti-LGBTQ sentiments, as well as increase capacity to address unmet needs and gaps. Central Park. FREE. More info at EMERGE125.org.
5PM: As part of the New York City (NYC) Parks “Art in the Parks” program, New Orleans artist Marcus Brown will unveil three augmented reality (AR) exhibits exploring the economics of slavery and amplifying lesser-known aspects of slavery in the U.S. The reveal at the existing Slave Market: Wall Street ((100 Wall Street, Manhattan) will include a 5 p.m. performance by the artist. Other exhibits simultaneously revealed will include American Gold I at North 5th Park and Pier in Brooklyn and American Gold II at Queensbridge Park in Queens—both are interactive musical AR slave ships. The exhibits are part of Brown’s “Slavery Trails” project, which aims to create decentralized memorials to enslaved people across the United States. FREE. More info at arslaverytrails.com.
6PM: Screening of TransLash’s upcoming PBS World documentary “American Problems, Trans Solutions” at WNYC’s Greene Space. “American Problems, Trans Solutions” follows the work of three Black trans social entrepreneurs who are tackling some of the nation’s most pressing problems. After the screening, there will be a talkback with the three featured leaders: Kayla Gore, Breonna McCree, and Oluchi Omega. A brief reception will follow. FREE. More info at www.thegreenespace.org.
6PM: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will present “Some Sing: A Juneteenth Celebration” by Carl Hancock Rux, which commemorates the history of Black American music. Visitors will hear performances fusing blues, jazz, rock, country, zydeco, and more by purveyors of Black sound, including free jazz experimentalist Cooper-Moore, Brooklyn singer-songwriter Tamar-kali, Bronx-born soul musician Stephanie McKay, and many more, culminating in a concert set with Toshi Reagon and her full band. Hearst Plaza. FREE. More info at www.lincolncenter.org.
6PM: The New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ) will host the third annual NYABJ Juneteenth Gala, which will celebrate members and the reporting they produced in the past year. Hosted by CBS New York anchor Maurice DuBois and CBS national correspondent Jericka Duncan, the black-tie event will gather New York media professionals to announce the Excellence in Media Awards; reflect on the current state of the journalism industry; and recognize NYABJ’s achievements in the past year, including being selected as a NABJ Chapter Finalist for the second consecutive year. Standard Hotel (848 Washington Street, Manhattan). Contact bonita@nyabj.org for more info.
6:30PM: Juneteenth LP and Olivia K & the Parkers will perform at Joe’s Pub in celebration of Junteenth. This exploration of music by Black composers is set against a backdrop of arrangements of Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and blues. More info at publictheater.org.
7PM: New Jersey Reparations Council presents a star-studded panel and report on its research into New Jersey’s history of slavery and systemic discrimination and its implications for reparations. Moderated by award-winning New Yorker journalist and Dean of Columbia Journalism School Jelani Cobb, who will provide a one-year update on the Council’s work. Takes place at NJ Performing Arts Center. FREE. More info at www.njpac.org.
Through 7/5: Lefferts Historic House presents a series of posters created by local artist Grey Jones commemorating Juneteenth and July 5, the day that many Black Americans historically celebrated American Independence. Location Lefferts Historic House Brooklyn. FREE. More info prospectpark.org/lefferts
Throughout the summer: The Tenement Museum presents the exhibit “A Union of Hope: 1869,” the only permanent exhibit in New York City focused on Black history during and after the Civil War. Created in large part by a team of Black researchers and historians, the exhibit explores a period in New York history when Soho was the center of Black life in the city. The museum will also be hosting the “Reclaiming Black Spaces” Walking Tour throughout the summer, which will explore the stories of Black New Yorkers and their resonant impact on local communities. Following Juneteenth, A Union of Hope: 1869 Lead Researcher Marquis Taylor will lead a free virtual talk, via Youtube Live, to discuss the primary sources and research on the lead-up and eventual passage of emancipation laws in New York State.