Celebrate Juneteenth With Your Children & Find Area Celebrations HERE!

Juneteenth is known as America's second Independence Day & we have ALL the area fun in this guide!

Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States and JUST became a Louisiana state & federal holiday officially (quite literally at that!)

It commemorates June 19, 1865 and celebrates the emancipation of the last enslaved Black people in Texas

It is known as our country’s second Independence Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day.

Juneteenth has always been a day of celebration in the African American community, with family and friends gathering to offer comfort, prayers, and a celebration of freedom.

Today many pieces of the celebration focus on activities like fishing, rodeos, and barbecuing, but the main focus of the day is self-reflection and improvement.

A good way to explain the meaning of Juneteenth to children is to talk about the importance of human beings having a level of freedom in their day to day lives.

Below are several ways to celebrate and bring awareness of Juneteenth into your home:

Prepare a special meal

Coming together as a family for a special meal and discussion is a good way to celebrate Juneteenth, especially if young kids are involved.

This is a great way to explain the importance and meaning of the holiday while encouraging healthy self-reflection techniques. (Need some ideas on traditional Juneteenth foods? Check out this video from Thrillist.)

Learn

As you explore different ways to bring awareness about Juneteenth, be sure to watch or read material before you introduce it to your child to make sure it makes sense on their level.

For older children, the African American History Museum’s website offers good information about Juneteenth.

For younger kids, try books like "Juneteenth for Mazie", about a little girl who is upset about restrictions like bedtime; and "All Different Now," the story of the day freedom arrived in Texas from a little girl's perspective.

Draw

Have children create a drawing of what freedom and kindness looks like for them.

Similar to other holidays like July 4th and Memorial Day, Juneteenth is an important day in American history. Freedom is an important part of our history.

Celebrate With Area Juneteenth Events

6/17

Juneteenth Celebration - Marshall, TX

Shreveport Juneteenth Glo - Bakowski Bridge of Lights/Texas Street Bridge

North Louisiana Juneteenth Parade - Shreveport

Tim Bae - Juneteenth Celebration Weekend

Let The Good Times Roll Festival - Festival Plaza

6/18

Let the Good Times Roll 5k - Juneteenth Celebration Festival Plaza

Juneteenth Celebration - Marshall, TX

Georgia Lees Juneteenth Competition Cookoff

Shreveport Farmers Market & Juneteenth Healthfair