Juneteenth 2025 events: How to celebrate holiday in and around Rochester
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, heard news of their emancipation.
'While President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it took over two years for the news to reach all enslaved people, particularly in remote areas,' Rochester Juneteenth Festival coordinator Nikia Washington said. 'Juneteenth represents both the joy of freedom and the recognition that the fight for true equality continues. It's often called 'Freedom Day' and celebrates African American culture, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.'
Although many people in Rochester observed the holiday on June 14 at the 2025 Juneteenth Festival at Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Park, there is still more celebrating to come this week.
Here are some ways people will be celebrating Juneteenth this weekend.
This Juneteenth celebration will have tie-dye making in the museum's Play Lab, a dance performance, and a bubble party.
Date: Thursday, June 19
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester, 14607
For more information, visit https://www.museumofplay.org/event/juneteenth-celebration-4/
This free Juneteenth celebration will have a Black-Owned business bazaar, hands-on crafts and activities and history about Juneteenth. The Strasenburgh Planetarium will have showings for an additional cost including Laser Beyoncé.
Date: Thursday, June 19
Time: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: 657 East Ave., Rochester, 14607
For more information, visit https://rmsc.org/events/juneteenth25/
This free Juneteenth celebration presented by Ibero-American Development Corporation will feature music in the plaza with DJ Shawn.
Date: Thursday, June 19
Time: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: The International Plaza, 828 N Clinton Ave., Rochester, 14605
For more information, visit https://www.visitrochester.com/event/juneteenth/107355/
This free event kicks off Finger Lakes Opera's summer festival. It will feature five opera soloists, Wings of Praise Flag Ministry, the Mt. Olivet Choir and more.
Date: Thursday, June 19
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams St., Rochester, 14608
For more information, visit https://www.fingerlakesopera.org/2025-season/juneteenth-2025
This Juneteenth celebration hosted by the E.R.A.S.E. and the Town of Irondequoit will feature live music, family friendly activities, Black-owned business pop-up shops and more. There will also be a 5k run earlier in the day.
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Irondequoit Town Hall, 1280 Titus Ave., Rochester, 14617
For more information, visit https://erasenow.org/events/
This event hosted by the Community Justice Initiative will feature local Black-owned businesses — an extension of its Black Power Marketplace.
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: At the Cornerstone, 398 Thurston Road, Rochester, 14619
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/9869431999802088
This community celebration hosted by Rochester Fashion Runway will have music, food, activities and games like spades.
Date: Sunday, June 22
Time: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Cobbs Hill Park, 80 Culver Road, Rochester, 14610
For more information, visit https://www.instagram.com/rochesterfashionrunway/
— As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard — the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester's vibrant neighborhoods. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marburyand by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Juneteenth events: How to celebrate holiday in and around Rochester NY
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