FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Pamela Dawson | Free Your Mind Conversation Series
6/12
Kicking off the week-long Juneteenth Festival is Grammy-Award-winning Desoto, Texas, high school music teacher Pamela Dawson. Using negro spirituals, Dawson will deliver an interactive lecture and singalong that will educate attendees on African-American contributions to the sonic art form.
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Boyd Vance Theater
RSVP
Monday
wefreedourselveswefreedourselveswefr
Michael W. Twitty | Free Your Mind Conversation Series
6/15
Thursday
Culinary food historian James Beard, Book Award recipient and author of The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African-American History in the Old South, Michael T. Twitty, will present a lecture on African-American foodways and contemporary abolitionist movements.
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Boyd Vance Theater
RSVP
wefreedourselveswefreedourselveswefr
All Ages Community Dance Party and Kickback
6/16
Friday
This multi-generational community kickback and dance party is hosted in partnership with Creative Action that will provide a sensory station stocked full of glowsticks, kites, bubbles, sparklers, and more. High-energy sets by DJ Cysum and DJ Dontizl will keep the vibes high before closing out with a special edition of BodyRockATX. This event is generously sponsored by Change Water.
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Freedom
Lawn
RSVP
wefreedourselveswefreedourselveswefr
Historic Juneteenth Parade
6/17
Saturday
Every year, Greater East Austin Youth Association hosts Austin's historic Juneteenth Parade. The historic parade route starts on E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and concludes at Rosewood Park. For more information about the parade visit: www.juneteenthcentraltexas.com.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Rosewood
Neighborhood
Austin Family Reunion Cookout and Music Festival
6/17
Saturday
Starting at 3 p.m., Lady Joy will host mid-day festivities while KAZI DJs set the vibe and attendees eat smoked BBQ prepared by veteran pitmasters. Festival attendees can also check out the vendor market organized by Riches Art Gallery, carnival games, educational workshops, film screenings, and self-guided tours.
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Full Site
Activation
RSVP
At 6 p.m., host Saul Paul will kick off the music festival with opening performances by Distinguished Soundz, Stretch Musik, and DJ Kay Kali. At 8 p.m., the funky, rocking, dancing, soulful mega band GAPX brought to life by original members of the legendary group "The Gap Band" will serenade Juneteenth festival goers for 90-minutes with chart-topping hits like Outstanding, and You Dropped a Bomb on Me.
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Freedom
Lawn
RSVP
wefreedourselveswefreedourselveswefr
Dr. Annette Gordon-Reed | Free Your Mind Conversation Series
6/19
Monday
Historian, legal scholar, New York Times Bestseller, and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Dr. Annette Gordon-Reed will speak about her book, On Juneteenth.
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Boyd Vance Theater
RSVP
Juneteenth Revival and Closing Celebration
6/19
Monday
In partnership with Austin Justice Coalition, a Community Revival and Remembrance will take place to honor victims of police violence in Texas. Indigenous earth-based practitioners, faith leaders, healers and bodyworkers will gather to help elevate the spirit of our fallen sisters, brothers and non-binary community members. Join us in song, prayer and meditation as we honor our Black ancestors and gather our strength to continue doing the work to liberate our communities.
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Community
Garden
RSVP