GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Each year on June 19, Americans celebrate the anniversary of the day that enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, received the news that they had been freed — June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
Since then, Black Americans celebrated the day with picnics, concerts and other events. Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021.
Many events are scheduled to celebrate Juneteenth in West Michigan:
Battle Creek
- “Last Seen” with author and researcher Judith Giesberg | June 15 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth Lunch ‘n Learn | June 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth at Claude Evans Park | June 19-20 | Event details
Grand Haven
- Grand Haven Musical Fountain Juneteenth Celebration Show! | June 19 from 10 p.m. to 10:40 p.m. | Event details
Grand Rapids
- Grand Rapids Community Juneteenth 2026 Solidarity Parade & Celebration at Dickinson Park | June 19 from noon to 7 p.m. | Event details
- Justice 4 All Juneteenth Jam Vol. 6 | June 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Event details
- Watercolors 9: On Cloud 9 | June 19 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. | Tickets $75 | Event details
- Celebrating Juneteenth at Chicago Beef Joint | June 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth 5th Annual Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams Celebration at the Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives | June 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | $44.52 for tickets (including fees) | Event details
Holland
- Juneteenth 5K and MAMFest | June 13 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. | $40 to register | Event details
- Juneteenth Freedom Festival + Market | June 20 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Event details
Kalamazoo
- Juneteenth Commemoration at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts | June 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Event details
- A Movie and Some Music: The Juneteenth Edition at Kalamazoo Valley Museum | June 18 at 6 p.m. | Event details
- 3rd Annual Burrell Juneteenth Celebration | June 19 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth Celebration at Bronson Park | June 20 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Event details
Muskegon
- Juneteenth Dining Room: A Week Celebrating Food | June 15-19 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth Flag Craft at Muskegon Area District Library | June 15-20 | Event details
- Juneteenth Parade | June 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Event details
- Black Business Expo at Muskegon Farmers Market | June 21 at 2 p.m. | Event details
If you don’t see your event on the list, send us an email at [email protected] with the details. Be sure to include a link.…