Juneteenth — a holiday commemorating the freedom of enslaved people in the United States and celebrating Black history, culture and community — will be marked across Sonoma County this month with festivals, performances, educational events and gatherings.
Observed annually on June 19, the holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the enslaved people there were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
From long-running community festivals to theatrical performances and jazz celebrations, Sonoma County residents will find numerous ways to observe the holiday. Those who prefer to celebrate at home can also host their own Juneteenth gathering, drawing inspiration from local organizers who have been commemorating the day for years.
Santa Rosa
Sonoma County Juneteenth
The Sonoma County Juneteenth celebration returns for its 56th year with the annual MLK/Juneteenth Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 13, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Santa Rosa.
The free event will feature live performances by Audio Angel and The Konsept Party Band, a children’s activity zone, arts and crafts, games, cultural exhibits, community resources, and food and merchandise vendors. Free shuttle service will run from the downtown Plaza Mall.
A Juneteenth march will precede the festival, beginning at 9 a.m. at Juilliard Park, 227 Santa Rosa Ave., and ending at Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Participants are encouraged to bring instruments.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1671 Hendley St., Santa Rosa. sonomacountyjuneteenth.com
Juneteenth Staged Play Reading at New Vintage Church
The Enid Pickett Players will present a staged reading of poet Enid Pickett’s play “Juneteenth” June 18-20 at New Vintage Church in Santa Rosa.
The three-act drama follows an enslaved Black family across generations, exploring survival, resilience and the transmission of Juneteenth traditions. Each performance will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $20; students and seniors pay $10.
New Vintage Church, 3300 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. enidpickett.com/juneteenth
Juneteenth Community, Culture and Music Festival
DKD Media Productions, in partnership with Dimensions Collective, The Studio on Fourth and the Arlene Francis Center, will host its inaugural Juneteenth festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., June 19, at Santa Rosa’s Old Courthouse Square.
The free, all-ages event will feature live music, performances, educational activities and a marketplace showcasing Black-owned businesses and vendors. Contact Juneteenth@dkdproduction.com for more information.
Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
Rohnert Park
Sonoma State University Juneteenth Celebration
Sonoma State University will mark Juneteenth with a series of public events.
The observance begins June 11 with a watch party for the California State University Juneteenth Symposium from 10 a.m. to noon in the HUB Living Room. Refreshments will be provided.
A Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony will follow at noon June 18 near the university’s main entrance (1801 E. Cotati Ave.), featuring remarks from campus and community leaders.
In partnership with the city of Rohnert Park, the university will also host its fourth annual Juneteenth Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 19, at the Rohnert Park Community Center (5401 Snyder Lane). The event will include live performances and recognition of Black leaders in Sonoma County.
Additional information is available at sonoma.edu and rpcity.org.
Sebastopol
Inside/Out Juneteenth Celebration
Musician Audio Angel will host “Inside/Out: Sonoma Black Artistry in Progress” from 6-10:30 p.m., June 19, at Laguna Lab in Sebastopol.
The evening will feature music and storytelling from local artists, including rapper Damion Square, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Eki Shola, singer-songwriter Erica Ambrin and DJ-producer Sicksentz.
General admission is $25. Reduced-price community tickets (for students, artists and community members for whom standard pricing would present a hardship) are $13. Purchase tickets online.
Laguna Lab, 117 Morris St., Sebastopol. audioangelworld.com/insideout
Healdsburg
Juneteenth Celebration in the Plaza
As part of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, the Juneteenth celebration will take over the Healdsburg Plaza from 2-8 p.m., June 13.
The free event will include a libation ceremony by the Nubian Cafe Collective, readings by Sonoma County Poet Laureate Enid Pickett, a drum workshop, educational exhibits, a pop-up Black Art Museum curated by Rena Charles Art Gallery and a lineup of jazz performances. Vendors will be on-site throughout the day.
Healdsburg Plaza, Healdsburg. healdsburgjazz.org
