Juneteenth 2022
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free (two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation). The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order; but with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
Juneteenth: Full Circle
FREE. Celebrate Liberation Day with the Festival in this concert highlighting jazz and the internationally recognized Jesse "Cheese" Hameen.
Juneteenth Village
FREE. The Juneteenth Village, represented by vendors in that section of the Green, symbolizes thriving towns like Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, often referred to as "Black Wall Street".
Gospel on the Green
FREE. Get in the spirit Sunday, June 19 at the second annual Gospel on the Green.
Juneteenth Ride
Presented by Black & Brown Soul Cyclists
FREE. Focusing on New Haven’s foundational history of Black creativity and innovation, this ride takes bikers through key historical landmarks.
SHOW OFF YOUR SPREAD: Banquet on a Blanket Contest
FREE. Show off your spread at the Banquet on a Blanket contest!
Black Food with Bryant Terry
FREE. Critically acclaimed author, chef, and food justice activist Bryant Terry discusses his 2022 James Beard nominated books Vegetable Kingdom and Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora with food justice activist Tagan Engel.
Elder Honoring Ceremony
FREE. The Elder Honoring is an annual tradition and trademark of the Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven.