Here are 12+ festivals celebrating Juneteenth 2022 in North Jersey

Rebecca King, NorthJersey.com
·7 min read
2

Within the past few years, Juneteenth has finally become a widely-known holiday.

Though the Black community has always celebrated with at-home barbecues and parties, now towns and museums that hadn't acknowledged the celebration before are throwing all-out festivals.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when news that slavery had been abolished reached Galveston, Texas, two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The freed people of Galveston erupted into celebrations that day. In 2020, Gov. Phil Murphy officially made Juneteenth a state holiday.

From art galleries to concerts to sip and paint nights, here are local Juneteenth events you should know about.

Social justice groups, politicians, dignitaries and supporters took part in a prayer march for social justice to commemorate Juneteenth that made it's way up Broadway in Paterson to Eastside Park on June 19, 2021.
Social justice groups, politicians, dignitaries and supporters took part in a prayer march for social justice to commemorate Juneteenth that made it's way up Broadway in Paterson to Eastside Park on June 19, 2021.

Bloomfield

Black-owned businesses will be celebrated at Bloomfield’s 2nd annual Juneteenth celebration, running from noon to 6 p.m. on June 18. Throughout the day, visitors will participate in live inspiration services, dance classes and musical performances. Hair stylists from the area will pay homage to Madam CJ Walker in The Giveback Hair Show. You can find this festival between Bloomfield and Glenwood Avenues and Lackawanna. Go to the Conger St. parking lot or the lot above Food Town for free parking.

More info: bloomfieldtwpnj.com.

East Rutherford

A massive Juneteenth party is coming to American Dream Mall (1 American Dream Way). Founded by Jersey natives Isaiah Thomas, Stevens Germain and Jola Babalola, the festival is expected to draw thousands with musical performances, games, Black-owned vendors and more. You must be 21 or over to attend. It will take place outside of American Dream and runs from noon to 9 p.m. on June 19. General admission is $25.

More info: juneteenth-nj.com.

Jersey City

Juneteenth Jersey City
Juneteenth Jersey City

The African Cultural Arts Family Festival will run from 1 to 7 p.m. on June 18 in Berry Lane Park in Jersey City (1000 Garfield Ave.). Fill your day browsing the wares from vendors or munching on delicacies from the food court. Expect live music and activities for kids.

More info: jerseycityculture.org/african-cultural-arts-family-festival-saturday-june-18th.

Check out artwork by Black artists and photographers at URE Media’s Juneteenth gallery from 6 to 10 p.m. on June 18 (140 Sip Ave.). Vendors will have their work displayed and available for purchase. The event is BYOB and includes live music. Attendees must be 21 or older and wear either black, red or green. Tickets are $5.

More info: eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-gallery-party-tickets.

South Orange

A Paint and Sip will be hosted in Spiotta Park (20-32 Village Plaza) from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 17. What you create during the guided outdoor painting event will be used in the Juneteenth Community Art Project. Every participant will get a 12x12-inch board to be used as a single pixel in a larger image. All art supplies will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own refreshments. Register to participate at southorange.org; space is limited to 25 people. However, you can bring your own supplies to the park to paint along.

Another celebration, Downtown After Sundown, will come to Spiotta Park from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on June 18.

The unveiling of the Juneteenth Community Art Project will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 19 at the South Orange Performing Art Center’s lobby (1 SOPAC Way). The Dre Barnes trio will perform, and light refreshments will be served.

More info: southorange.org/833/Juneteenth-Celebrations.

Maplewood

Juneteenth Justice Rally outside the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack on Friday, June 19, 2020.
Juneteenth Justice Rally outside the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack on Friday, June 19, 2020.

MAPSO will host a festival from 5 to 9 p.m. on June 18 in Memorial Park (580 Valley St.). Readings and performances by Ras Heru, Donyah Michelle, Rachelle Parker, SOMA Justice, Jané, Autumn Jones and more are scheduled. A fireworks show will finish out the night.

More info: https://maplewoodvillagenj.com/calendar/juneteenth-in-memorial-park.

Newark

Head to the Newark Museum of Art for an outdoor Juneteenth festival in honor of Harriet Tubman from noon to 5 p.m. on June 18. Guests will get the decorate ceramic tiles that will then be used to create the Harriet Tubman Monument in Washington Park.

Jacari Harris, executive director of the George Floyd Foundation, will speak, and performances by Black artists and dancers, plus crafts and activities, are scheduled throughout the day. Admission to the museum is free that day. The festivities will take place outdoors in Washington Park (which will soon be renamed Harriet Tubman Square), across the street from the NMOA (49 Washington St., Newark).

More info: newarkmuseumart.org.

A pre-Juneteenth R&B skate party will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on June 15 at the Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center (7th Avenue). Music will be provided by DJ Mustafah and DJ KHI. This event is open to ages over 18. An advanced ticket costs $30 and day-of admission is $35.

More info: eventbrite.com/e/pre-juneteenth-rb-skate-party-tickets.

Teaneck

The Teaneck Public Library (840 Teaneck Road) will host a free Juneteenth celebration for babies, toddlers and young elementary school kids from 4 to 4:45 p.m. on June 17. It will be held in the Children’s Reading Garden and will include a story, crafts and a snack with Seleene Lewis-Wong.

More info: teanecklibrary.org.

A silent walk from Larch and North Streets to Pomander Walk Burial Ground will begin at 8:45 a.m. on June 18. The area was used as a burial ground by Native Americans before European settlers arrived. African slaves that worked on New Jersey farms were later buried there.

At noon, a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony will take place at Milton A. Votee Park on Palisade Avenue.

More info: teanecknj.gov/events/69672.

Montclair

Jacquelyn Graham-Williams, a gospel, soul and jazz singer, will headline a Juneteenth concert at Tierney’s Tavern (138 Valley Road) on June 19. She will be joined by musicians Gail Campbell, Aaron Williams, Elder Linett Andrews & the SPBC Gospel Band and a jazz quartet. Tickets are $20, but free for fathers, as the event is held on Father’s Day. Doors open at 1 p.m., and the show begins at 2 p.m.

More info: eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-with-jaqueen-friends-on-fathers-day-tickets.

Paramus

Biagio’s Ristorante (299 Paramus Road) will present a pop-up brunch from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on June 19. Along with celebrating Juneteenth, the event is being thrown as a 40th birthday bash for locals Lenny the Barber and Ron Fasion. Event planner Blacktie Steph will also be there. Music will be provided by DJ Young Fresh and DJ Ray-Z. A full buffet brunch is included.

General admission is $40 and includes a buffet brunch. VIP Admission is $75 per person and includes a table that seats four with an additional two-bottle minimum per table.

More info: eventbrite.com/e/pop-up-brunch-series-fathers-dayjuneteenth-edition-tickets.

U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer, Deputy Mayor David Sims and Mayor John Labrosse raise the Juneteenth flag in Hackensack on June 19, 2021.
U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer, Deputy Mayor David Sims and Mayor John Labrosse raise the Juneteenth flag in Hackensack on June 19, 2021.

Bayonne

The NAACP Bayonne branch will host a festival from noon to 5 p.m. on June 18 in the G. Thomas DiDomenico Park (375-409 Avenue A). There will be live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, giveaways and a 50/50 raffle. A Juneteenth Classic Basketball game begins at 3 p.m. Head to Mr. Cee’s (17 East 21st St.) from 6 to 10 p.m. for the after-party.

More info: bayonnenj.org/News/View/10228/naacp-juneteenth-celebration-event.

Hackensack

Elevate Hackensack will host the city's Juneteenth festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 18 at Carver Park (294 2d St.). There will be scholarship giveaways, live performances, food trucks, face painting and speeches from public figures.

More info: hackensack.org/events.

Englewood

Englewood's Juneteenth celebration runs for not one, not two, but four days. Head to Depot Square, between Demarest Avenue and Dean Street, for the festivities, including carnival rides and vendors. Hours are as follows: June 16 from 5 to 10 p.m., June 17 from 5 to 11 p.m., June 19 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and June 19 from noon to 9 p.m. A parade will also take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday. It kicks off at the monument at Tenafly Road and Palisade Avenue.

Garfield

The Garfield Black History Committee and the Friendship Baptist Church have teamed up to host a Juneteenth celebration. Shop from vendors and food stands, browse work from local artists and listen to performances from the open mic. It will run from noon to 4 p.m. on June 18 at 154 Gaston Ave.

Rebecca King is a food writer for NorthJersey.com. For more on where to dine and drink, please subscribe today and sign up for our North Jersey Eats newsletter.

Email: kingr@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @rebeccakingnj 

Instagram: @northjerseyeats

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Juneteenth 2022: North Jersey festivals, events to celebrate