Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, is the oldest national and international commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19. Here are five opportunities to meaningfully spend your day off plus one Saturday celebration, from Takoma Park to Rockville.
Juneteenth Opening
June 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Josiah Henson Museum and Park
11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Visit the museum dedicated to the man who freed 118 formerly enslaved Black Americans along the Underground Railroad, Rev. Josiah Henson. Self-guided tours and hands-on activities will be available at the museum. $4-$5 | visitmontgomery.com
Juneteenth Opening at Woodlawn Museum
June 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
16501 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
Learn about the Underground Railroad experience and Montgomery County’s enslaved and free Black communities at the Woodlawn Museum, open with special hours. Then, take a self-guided hike on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail. $4-$5 | visitmontgomery.com
Unity Through Community
June 19, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church
10902 Seven Locks Road, Rockville, MD 20854
Journey through history with the Kinship Communities of Montgomery County Exhibition at the newly renovated, historically Black Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church. Explore the stories of some of the county’s oldest Black communities and their rich legacies; no tickets or registration required. Free | visitmontgomery.com
NEA Big Read: The Real Juneteenth
June 19, 1-3 p.m. | Olive Branch Community Church
416 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
Hear historian and board member of the Sandy Spring Slave Museum Reynauld Smith give a presentation on the history of Juneteenth, including his family’s connection to the original historic events of the holiday. Free | visitmontgomery.com
I Rise: A Juneteenth Craft Event
June 19, 1-3 p.m., 4-6 p.m. | The Green Room
7000 Carroll Ave., Suite 200D, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Spend Juneteenth in celebration and creation at this workshop crafting mosaic frames from glass tiles. Each frame will hold a small clay planter or propagation tube, symbolizing growth and change. Make something meaningful with your community; all materials will be provided. $30 | visitmontgomery.com
Juneteenth Celebration
June 21, noon to 10 p.m. | BlackRock Center for the Arts
12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874
Join BlackRock for a joyful community celebration by Montgomery County and the Office of Human Rights. Enjoy live concerts, an artisans’ market with handmade goods and food from local vendors. Learn about the rich history of Juneteenth through performances and talks. Free | visitmontgomery.com
