Juneteenth in Memphis: 12 ways to celebrate the holiday, from concerts to festivals

Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Updated ·5 min read
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Memphis will be host to a series of festivals and events marking Juneteenth.

Juneteenth honors Black ancestry and the events of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were officially told they had been freed by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation two years prior.

This year, a mix of programming and festivals — financial symposiums and star-studded concerts, bazaars and block parties — will mark the holiday.

Here are 12 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Memphis.

TONE Juneteenth Family Reunion Weekend

June 15-18; various locations  

Memphis rapper Project Pat will be one of the headliners during a free concert that is part of TONE's Juneteenth celebration.
Memphis rapper Project Pat will be one of the headliners during a free concert that is part of TONE's Juneteenth celebration.

TONE — a local organization uplifting Black communities and creatives — will once again stage its annual Juneteenth Family Reunion Weekend. The four days of festivities will include a screening of “B.A.P.S.” at Malco on the Square on June 15 and a Spades Tournament at TONE on June 16.

The main events begin June 17 at The Cadre Building, 149 Monroe Ave., with a gala and after-party themed B.A.P.S., "Black American Princesses’ Slaying" and "Black American Princes’ Serving.” The June 17 gala begins at 6:30 p.m., and the after-party starts at 9 p.m. and lasts until midnight. The gala and after-party tickets range from $50-$150.

On June 18, Project Pat, Duke Deuce and Hitkidd will headline a free concert fest along with other local artists in the mix including Lukah, Talibah Safiya, Mafia 9 and Austin Crui$e. The festival will take place at the Orange Mound Tower, 2205 Lamar Ave. The June 18 festival starts at 3 p.m. and goes until midnight. Admission is free.

For details, go to Tonejuneteenth.com.

Cxffeeblack Juneteenth Block Party and Bazaar

4-7 p.m. June 16; 761 National St.

Juneteenth is the perfect time to do what community organization Cxffeeblack does all year long: reclaim and redeem Black roots and reimagine Black futures. The group’s Anti Gentrification Cxffee Club will celebrate Juneteenth with a block party and bazaar featuring DJ sets, vendors, games, giveaways and a special food menu.

For details, go to Eventbrite.com.

'Building on the Promise' Juneteenth Block Party

6:30-9:30 p.m. June 16, 5507 Winchester Road

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers' Young Realist Division will present a Juneteenth Block Party, the theme of which is “Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Progress and Building on The Promise.” This community event is family-friendly and will feature vendors, food and music.

To reserve a spot, go to Eventbrite.com.

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Dream Summit's Juneteenth Gala

7-10 p.m. June 16; National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry St.

A black-tie gala, organized by The Dream Commission LLC, will serve as the official kickoff to the Dream Summit’s Juneteenth event (see below). This gala is set for the National Civil Rights Museum. General admission tickets, which include dinner, are $100.

For tickets, go to Eventbrite.com.

Dream Summit's Juneteenth Summit

10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 17; Renasant Convention Center, 255 Main St.

This financial literacy and empowerment summit will mark Juneteenth with an all-star cast of speakers including Forbes Business Council member Milan Harris, aka Milan Rouge, investor and TV personality Marvin Mitchell and James Dubose, GM of Fox Soul, among others. The event is sponsored by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, Memphis Public Libraries and Tennessee Valley Authority.

Tickets can be reserved for free at Eventbrite.com.

Prizm Ensemble: A Juneteenth Celebration

7 p.m. June 17; Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave.

The Prizm Ensemble will present a special Juneteenth concert at the Crosstown Theater featuring gospel-soul vocalists The Sensational Barnes Brothers. The free program of choral, chamber and orchestral music will honor Black composers including Valerie Coleman and Jessie Montgomery. PRIZM musicians and students will be joined by the Celebration Chorus to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

The event is free, but those attending should reserve tickets at Eventbrite.com.

Memphis Juneteenth Festival 2023

10 a.m.-10 p.m. June 17-18; Health Sciences Park, Madison Avenue and South Dunlap Street

Attendees of the Juneteenth celebration in Health Sciences Park speak to vendors, Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Memphis, TN.
Attendees of the Juneteenth celebration in Health Sciences Park speak to vendors, Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Memphis, TN.

The Memphis Juneteenth Festival will take place over for two fun-filled days at Health Sciences Park in the Medical District. There will be a variety of musical performances (soul, R&B, gospel, hip-hop and other genres), arts and crafts, food vendors majorettes, dancers, steppers, cheerleaders, a car and bike show, activities for seniors and kids, and more.

For details, visit MCDcollaborative.org.

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Juneteenth Freedom Ride

7 a.m. June 17; Mud Island, 101 N. Island Drive

Major Taylor Memphis cycling club will present the third annual Juneteenth Freedom Ride on June 17. Cyclists of all levels can participate, with multiple routes/distances offered. Registration is $55. There will also be a meet and greet/pre-ride social event from 3-7 p.m. June 16 at Loflin Yard and a recovery ride on June 18 at the Greenbelt Park.

For details, go to Raceroster.com.

Juneteenth Shop Black Festival

11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 17; Fourth Bluff Park, 51 JeffersonThe fourth annual Juneteenth Shop Black Festival will take place at Fourth Bluff Park in Downtown Memphis. The event will feature Black businesses, food trucks and live music. More than 100 local and regional Black vendors (among them Aromatic Joy Candle Company, Conrad's Apparel, Kay-La's Boutique and Dynamic Fashions) will be on hand, along with an expected 5,000 patrons.

For details, go to Juneteenthshopblackfestival.com.

Memphteenth Fest

7 p.m. June 17; 2988 Austin Peay Highway

QMP Magazine will present the Memphteenth Festival, featuring a lineup of musical artists including Jay Da Skreet, Drumma Queen, Yung Praise and more. In addition to the concert celebration, there will also be an awards ceremony.

For more details on this free event, go to Eventbrite.com.

Juneteenth Douglass Freedom & Heritage Festival

3-8 p.m. June 17-18; Douglass Park, 3299 Omar Robinson St.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Juneteenth Douglass Freedom & Heritage Festival held annually in Douglass Park. Located in North Memphis and hailed as the first park for African Americans, it will once again serve as the home for a weekend of art, music, food and celebration.

For details, go to Facebook.com.

Civil Rights Museum offers free Juneteenth admission

9 a.m.-6 p.m. June 19, 450 Mulberry St.

The National Civil Rights Museum is offering free museum admission and museum Member Appreciation Day on the Juneteenth holiday as part of “Community Day.” Ford Motor Co. Fund is sponsoring the free museum admission. Admission to the museum is on a first-come basis, and there is no advance reservation.

For details, visit civilrightsmuseum.org.

Commercial Appeal reporter Omer Yusuf contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 12 ways to celebrate Juneteenth 2023 in Memphis. Check out the events