Celebrate Juneteenth with food, music and fun at these Jersey Shore spots

The history of Juneteenth dates to June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation became official — when Major General Gordon Granger of the Union army traveled to Galveston, Texas, after the Civil War was won with General Order Number 3, which informed enslaved African Americans that they were finally free.

Juneteenth celebrations have been going on for decades, but since it became a federal holiday in 2021, more towns, arts organizations and nonprofit groups in New Jersey and across the country have hosted parades and events.

Want to celebrate Juneteenth this week? You can at the Jersey Shore. Because this year June 19 falls on a Monday, many are happening this weekend. But not all of them. The Count Basie Center for the Arts will host a community Juneteenth celebration on Wednesday, June 14, at The Vogel, 99 Monmouth St., in Red Bank.

There will be a performance by the Count Basie Center Gospel Choir, led by director Gwen Moten. A theatrical presentation of Moten’s life story, "From Birmingham to Botswana," will open the festivities.

Also performing: Calpulli Mexican Dance Company’s Red Bank community; Italy Lee, 2022 state champion of the national Poetry Foundation’s Poetry Out Loud recitation competition; vocalist and Jersey Shore musical luminary Layonne Holmes; percussionist and educator Ty Laws; and Pastor Terrence Porter of Red Bank’s Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Event hosts are Jaz Graham and Delisha Grant. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. Entry is free, with a $10 suggested donation.

Go: Juneteenth celebration, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, The Vogel, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $10 suggested donation; 732-842-9000, thebasie.org.

Here are some other Juneteenth events happening at the Shore. Did we miss one? Let us know at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.

Freehold: Court Street School Education Community Center

From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 17, the Court Street School of Education Community Center of Freehold will host its annual Juneteenth program.

The event, which takes place at the center, 140 Court St., will begin with a ceremonial ringing of the bell and a dedication of the Fellowship Flag by boxing champion and CSSECC board of trustees member Imamu Mayfield. The Rev. Gerald Bailey will provide the keynote address on the topic of Black Emancipation and Determination.

The program features music by Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band.

Artist Jonathan Scialabba of Jonathan J. Studio will unveil a life-sized mural on the grounds of the school. Scialabba was commissioned to bring to life the story of Ruby Bridges, along with aspects of the history of Court Street School.

Opened as a segregated school house in 1919, the school was transformed into a community center in 1995.

"The more I worked on this piece, the more the vibrant and storied history of Court Street School and the U.S. came to life," he said in a release.

A civil rights activist, Bridges was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana in 1960.

Trena Y. Parks, president of the board, is the coordinator of the Freehold event.

"This program is intended to unite the entire community in education around the important history surrounding Juneteenth," she said in a release. "Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, but it is also a reminder of the plight of Black Americans to move forward in excellence even through adversity."

Go: Court Street School of Education Community Center Juneteenth celebration, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Court Street School of Education Community Center, 140 Court St.; 908-670-8398, facebook.com/courtstreetschool.

Freehold: Monmouth County Diversity Alliance Inc.

The Monmouth County Diversity Alliance Inc. is hosting a Juneteenth celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Monmouth County Hall of Records in Freehold.

There will be dance groups, music, food, vendors and various speakers.

A nonprofit organization, the Freehold-based group launched in January 2022 "with a desire to work with local faith-based organizations and community outreach groups to devise solutions," the alliance's website states.

The alliance is hosting a Juneteenth Black Tie gala at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 18, at Belle Vista Country Club in Marlboro. For tickets and more information, visit eventbrite.com and search for Juneteenth gala in Marlboro.

Go: Juneteenth celebration, Monmouth County Diversity Alliance Inc., noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Monmouth County Hall of Records, 1 E. Main St., Freehold; mcdiversityalliance@gmail.com, mcdiversityalliance.com.

Long Branch

Long Branch's Juneteenth celebration takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Bucky James Center, 231 Wilbur Ray Ave.

There will be music from the John Luckenbill Pops Orchestra, as well as a poetry reading, a DJ, snacks and a bouncy house. Guest speakers include Tasha Youngblood Brown and Rev. Kerwin Webb.

Go: Juneteenth celebration, 1 to 4 p.m., Bucky James Center, 231 Wilbur Ray Ave., Long Branch; 732-222-3900, ext. 2210, nmarshall@longbranchlib.org.

North to Shore: Neptune to Asbury Park

Part of the big North to Shore Festival in Asbury Park this week, the third annual Juneteenth celebration begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, with a flag-raising ceremony at the Neptune Municipal Building, 25 Neptune Blvd., Neptune City.

A classic car presentation down Lake Avenue follows at 10:30 a.m. The block party starts at 11 a.m. at Midtown Commons Park on West Lake Avenue, with lots of music, entertainment, games and giveaways. It's all free.

The parade steps off at 1 p.m. from the park and heads down West Lake Avenue to Springwood Avenue Park in Asbury Park. There will be plenty of entertainment and activities until 5 p.m. Young rapper Ryver Bey will take the stage, as will headliner Valerie Adams & the Dimensions. There also will be a performance from the Asbury Park Technical Academy of Dance, and the crowning of Miss Juneteenth.

While the event ends at 5 p.m., you may want to stick around for the Old School Dance Party, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the park.

Go: Juneteenth celebration, from Neptune to Asbury Park, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17; 732-616-2940, info@neptunemurc.com.

Ocean County Library, Jackson and Waretown

In honor of Juneteenth, the Ocean County Library will present "When the Cavalry Came to Call" by storyteller Michelle Washington Wilson.

The presentation will take place at the Jackson Branch at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17, and at the Waretown Branch at 4 p.m. Monday, June 19. Wilson will relate stories and poems that celebrate African American Emancipation and honor the sacrifices made to attain it.

Wilson has devoted more than 30 years to writing, performing and storytelling throughout North America and the Caribbean, sharing tales from around the world. She is featured in two books, "Legendary Locals of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey" and "Small Towns, Black Lives." Both can be found in the Ocean County Library system.

Register at theoceancountylibrary.org/events to attend this free program at either branch.

Go: "When the Cavalry Came to Call," Michelle Washington Wilson, 2 p.m. Saturday June 17, Ocean County Library,. Jackson Branch, 2 Jackson Drive; 732-928-4400. Also 4 p.m. Monday, June 19, Ocean County Library, Waretown Branch, 112 Main St.; 609- 693-5133, theoceancountylibrary.org.

Red Bank

Red Bank's annual Juneteenth celebration takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 18, at Johnny Jazz Park, 270 Shrewsbury Ave.

The Celebration of Freedom begins with a parade from Pilgrim Baptist Church, 172 Shrewsbury Ave., at 12:50 p.m. At the park, there will be music, food trucks, vendors, speakers and more.

Go: Juneteenth celebration, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 18, Johnny Jazz Park, 270 Shrewsbury Ave., Red Bank; 732-530-2782, recreation@redbanknj.org.

Princeton

At 7 p.m. Monday, June 19, at Morven Museum & Garden, the Princeton Festival caps a day of events celebrating Juneteenth with a special performance by Grammy Award-winning and Metropolitan Opera star Will Liverman.

The baritone performs art songs set to texts by Laurence Hope, Langston Hughes and Louise C. Wallace, with music by Black composers including Damien Sneed, Margaret Bonds and Florence Price, with pianist Kevin Miller. Tickets are $20.

Leading up to the vocal recital are a community Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony at noon at 1 Monument Hall, and the opening of the “Beyond Freedom” art installation at Morven’s Stockton Education Center. The exhibit opens at 2 p.m. with Arts Against Racism founder Rhinold Lamar Ponder’s talk, “Reclaiming Humanity Through Art.” The free exhibit will be open until 6 p.m. Monday. It also will be on view from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, and from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24.

Go: Will Liverman, 7 p.m. Monday, June 19, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton St., $20, youths 5 to 17 receive a 50% discount with an adult purchase; 609-497-0020, princetonsymphony.org.

Trenton

The African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County, in partnership with the Mercer County Park Commission, state Sen. Shirley K. Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, present a Juneteenth Weekend Finale concert from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 17, on the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds.

Among the performers: Everette Harp, Alex Bugnon, The Heart of Jazz, Pablo Perez, B-Side, Jeff Bradshaw and Carol Riddick, and the Trenton Puerto Rican Community & Friends Organization. Hosted by Wendy Hicks, there also will be DJs.

Go: Juneteenth Weekend Finale, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 17; facebook.com/trentonaapride/

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Juneteenth events happening in Asbury Park, Long Branch, Freehold