Enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas learned on June 19, 1865, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, that slavery was officially over in America. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated across the country with pageants, African-inspired programming, music and dance performances, and more. Philly offers many ways to celebrate Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the end of slavery in America in 1865. For the third year in a row, the city of Philadelphia’s official 4th of July celebration – known as Wawa Welcome America – includes Juneteenth events in partnership with the African American Museum in Philadelphia, kicking off an Independence season in Philadelphia beginning June 19 and running through July 4. The Gardens, Betsy Ross House and more also offer strong programming to commemorate the anniversary. Read on to find out how to celebrate Juneteenth in Greater Philadelphia in 2023. Lighted Fountain Performances: Freedom Three nights a week, from late May through October, Longwood Gardens lights up its spectacular fountains for special themed nighttime shows. Returning for 2023, Freedom programming – featuring music from Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Beyoncé, Curtis Mayfield and more – pays homage to Juneteenth and highlights themes of freedom, hope and strength. Juneteenth Festival at historic Johnson House When: Saturday, Jun 17, 2023 | 12:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Historic Germantown celebrates Juneteenth at its 17th annual Juneteenth Festival. Hosted by historic Johnson House, the annual (and free!) festival celebrates the 158th anniversary of black emancipation from slavery with joyful musical performances, pageants, community conversations, food trucks, a cultural market and much more. Philly’s First Juneteenth Mural: Unveiling and Dedication When: Saturday June 17, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. The Germantown ArtHaus hosts the unveiling of Philadelphia’s first-ever official Juneteenth mural, Absolute Equality – Juneteenth. Designed by Keisha Whatley, founder of ArtHaus and creative director of Custom Arts Studio (and painted by volunteers, including nearly 400 high school students), the 1,100-square-foot mural faces the historic site of Johnson House, a major stop on the Underground Railroad. Story Time with Harriet Tubman at Christ Church Historic Christ Church in Philadelphia by Dan Mall – Unsplash When: Saturday Jun 17, 2023 | 2-3pm Bring the little ones to this special June 19 storytime outside of historic Christ Church – performed by none other than Harriet Tubman herself. The event is free and tickets are required. Juneteenth at Washington Crossing Historical Park When: Saturday June 17, 2023 | 3:30-6:30 p.m. Washington Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County hosts a series of Freedom Day events with Juneteenth at Washington Crossing Historic Park, highlighting the contributions of black soldiers during the American Revolution. The day begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Visitor Center with a talk on the Black Soldier Experience given by historian Noah Lewis and Bucks County African American Museum President Linda Salley. The day ends at 5 p.m. with a shoreside jazz concert by Joyce Simpson & The Quake Band, during which the re-enactors share short presentations. Both events are free, but conferences require registration. Food vendors are available during the concert. Freedom Market at NextFab When: Sunday, Jun 18, 2023 | Noon to 5 p.m. Celebrate a day of culture and community at this indoor-outdoor shopping festival. Family-friendly event features handmade goods from local vendors, pay-to-play food trucks, live music, raffles supporting Philly youth organizations, and plenty of kid-friendly events – games, hands-on art activities, face painting and more. General admission is free. Concert at the Betsy Ross House When: Sunday 18 Jun 2023 | 3 p.m. Celebrate freedom at the Betsy Ross House with a powerful concert by the Philadelphia Heritage Chorale. Guest Composer Ruth Naomi Floyd takes you through important moments in Black history with poetry and expression, while the music of the choir ranges from the solemn refrains of historic slave songs to the uplifting joy of gospel. The ROOTS art exhibition at Pentridge Station Pop Up When: Sunday Jun 18, 2023 | 6:00-11:00 p.m. Get a taste of black art on this special June 19 art walk in West Philly. Look for black and African art showcases, outdoor vendors, live entertainment, food and drink (available for purchase at the Penridge Station beer garden), and other upcoming experiences. RSVP for free tickets, and all donations will go to support future art exhibits. Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival Downtown Philadelphia by Nick Fewings – Unsplash When: Sunday, June 18, 2023 Commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, the Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival & Parade is one of the nation’s largest Juneteenth celebrations. The day-long event kicks off in West Philadelphia with a parade, performances and floats from noon to 2 p.m. After the parade, kids can have fun with a carnival, games, arts and crafts, and more at the Children’s Village. A music festival swells the crowd with lineup featuring Fatman Scoop, Lil Mo, and DJ Cupid from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. And throughout the day, a marketplace of over 250 businesses, vendors, nonprofits and black- and brown-owned Philadelphia entrepreneurs Malcolm X Park with treats, artwork, free food, yoga classes and more. Voices Underground Where: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square; The Creamery, 401 Birch Street, Kennett Square; Lincoln University, 1570 Baltimore Pike Chester County’s Voices Underground returns with a new slate of Juneteenth events this year. This year’s lineup: Fashioning Freedom at Longwood Gardens: This celebration of black fashion and its role in American freedom includes talks from The Invisible Seam podcast host Kimberly Jenkins, Grant BLVD founder Dr. Kimberly McGlonn and others, followed by a presentation hosted by Les Noirs fashion show and a musical performance by Madelyn Brené (June 16, 2023).Juneteenth at The Creamery: honor Juneteenth with an evening of food and wine, including a talk on barbecue cooking and human connection by pitmaster Russ Whitfield, a wine tasting with a curated selection of black-owned wines, and a live musical performance by the local group Group Therapy (June 17, 2023). Freedom’s Table at Lincoln University: This barbecue feast – hosted by a prominent black chef – celebrates freedom and reconciliation (June 18, 2023). Liberation Rising: Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia When: Monday, Jun 19, 2023 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This all-day block party outside the African American Museum of Philadelphia features performances by legendary DJ Spinderella (of Salt-N-Pepa fame), a market featuring black-owned businesses, food trucks, hands-on activities and free activities. admission to the museum with online registration. Wine and Arts Festival at Cherry Street Pier When: Saturday 17 Jun 2023 | 1:00-6:00 p.m. The Women’s Empowerment Coalition partners with the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation to host Philadelphia’s first-ever Juneteenth Wine & Arts Festival. Expect art exhibits, live musical performances, craft vendors, and wine tastings by black-owned wineries. General admission is free to the public, but you will need to purchase tickets to try the wine. In addition to the events and celebrations planned during the annual holidays, Philadelphia is also home to important monuments and museums devoted to African-American history in the United States. Some of them include Philadelphia African American Museum, Belmont Mansion Underground Railroad Museum, Historic Fair Hill, Johnson House Historic Site, Lest We Forget Slavery Museum and President’s House . Philadelphia has a long list of museums, historic landmarks, churches, art galleries, and public spaces exploring black history and culture. Many historic houses and museums also have special programming during the month. The historic Hatfield House in East Fairmount Park hosts an annual outdoor June 19 party with live jazz music, a DJ, games, gifts and many activities for children. Stop in for popsicles and pretzels or step inside the impressive house to see the new photo exhibit, Healing Through the Land: Black Faces in Green Spaces. Explore the lesser-known black history of South Coventry – on the Chester County and Montgomery County border – with two historical presentations examining the community roots of Coventry’s black ironworkers and the preservation efforts of the Friends of the Coventry congregation. African Union Church. The event is free, but donations are welcome. Visit the National Constitution Center (free admission) on June 19 and enjoy special tours of the Civil War and Reconstruction exhibit: the battle for freedom and equality, plus additional programming featuring Reconstruction-era freedom fighters like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and more. The free Juneteenth tickets also include access to the rest of the centre’s permanent offers. Additionally, at the Philadelphia Historical Society, visitors this year can take a crash course in June 19 and why we celebrate it with a community event and documentary film screening. Juneteenth: Exploring Freedom’s Stories examines America’s connection between freedom and citizenship and, after the film, historians share stories about the recognition of Juneteenth in Philly and discuss how local groups expanded the black freedom narrative. Also on display are historical documents and prints from Philadelphia’s pre-Civil War black community.