Juneteenth 2025 in Delaware: Where parades, festivals and celebrations this month
Juneteenth is still weeks away, but celebrations are kicking off across Delaware. From parades and festivals to performances and historical tributes, communities throughout the First State are honoring the holiday with a full slate of events that reflect both celebration and remembrance.
Now recognized as a national holiday on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom. Although slavery continued in Delaware until the ratification of the 13th Amendment that December, the observance has become a celebration and a national symbol of freedom.
Here's a look at the Juneteenth events happening across Delaware in the days ahead.
The Delaware Juneteenth Association, founded in 1994, will kick off festivities June 14, with its annual parade and festival in Wilmington. The parade steps off from Rodney Square to Tubman-Garrett Park at 11 a.m., followed by the Freedom Festival at noon. Attendees can enjoy live music, food trucks, vendors, a kids' fun zone and community resource tables. Get full details at delawarejuneteenth.org.
The Walnut Street YMCA in Wilmington will host its Juneteenth Block Party from 1 to 4 p.m. June 14. The event will feature a stage performance by Best Kept Soul, DJs, food vendors, pool access and family-friendly activities celebrating freedom and community. Learn more on the event's Facebook page.
On June 19, the Delaware Art Museum will host the sixth annual Beyond Juneteenth Festival from 4 to 8 p.m. in its outdoor Sculpture Garden. The free event includes museum admission, a special opening ceremony honoring ancestors, performances by local artists, food from Drop Squad Kitchen and Alberta's Soul Food, local arts and crafts vendors and a cash bar. Registration is encouraged. For more information, visit delart.org.
Dover's celebration, "Juneteenth on the Green," will take place June 21. The parade begins at noon on West Loockerman Street and is followed by a festival at The Green on Legislative Avenue at 1:30 p.m., featuring music, DJs, entertainment, food, retail vendors and activities for all ages including games and bounce houses. Learn more on Facebook.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: Language translation service now available during Wilmington City Council meetings
On June 19, the third annual West Rehoboth Juneteenth Celebration, hosted by Developing Artist Collaboration and West Side Creative Market, invites the community to enjoy an afternoon of history, music and food from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The West Side Creative Market will showcase local Black, Brown and African American businesses. The festivities will feature music, guest speakers, educational programs, entertainment and food trucks. Just down the street, the celebration of West Rehoboth's Black American history and culture will continue at the West Rehoboth Legacy Mural, where attendees can enjoy a community fish fry and music from a live DJ.
The event is free and open to all. For details, visit Eventbrite.
SUMMER GUIDE: Welcome to our 2025 Delaware Summer Guide
You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Juneteenth Delaware guide to parades, festivals, celebrations in 2025
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