There are many meaningful ways to celebrate Juneteenth with kids in NJ. Celebrating Juneteenth is only meaningful if you understand what’s being celebrated. Juneteenth (also referred to as Freedom Day) has a rich history and a special meaning. The end of slavery in America is still celebrated today, in the form of the Juneteenth celebration. The name comes from the melding of June and Nineteenth, or June 19th. This holiday marks the anniversary of when Texas learned that President Lincoln had declared slavery illegal. Texas was the final state to hear the news, so June 19, 1865, was when the last slaves were freed. It is a joyous occasion, punctuated by great feasts and gatherings of people.

Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth with Kids in NJ

Juneteenth gives African-Americans (and indeed everyone living in America) a sense of togetherness. You don’t have to be African-American to join in celebrating the anniversary of the end of slavery. By celebrating the Juneteenth holiday, you are celebrating a holiday just as important as the Fourth of July and Memorial Day. There are many meaningful ways to celebrate Juneteenth with your family. Here is a listing of home activities, children book recommendations and Juneteenth events and celebrations in NJ. Happy Juneteenth!

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Juneteenth Events and Celebrations in NJ

Celebrate Juneteenth at these family-friendly events and celebrations in NJ.

Central Jersey Juneteenth Events

Juneteenth Celebration
June 15, 2024 at 5PM – 7PM
Metuchen Downtown Alliance
Metuchen, NJ

SSAAM Juneteenth Celebration – Freedom Forward
June 15, 2024 at 12PM – 4PM
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
Skillman, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 15, 2024 at 1PM – 6PM
Woodbridge High School
Woodbridge, NJ

Basie Center Community Juneteenth Celebration
June 16, 2024
Count Basie Center for the Arts
Red Bank, NJ

Juneteenth Kids Program and Flag Raising
June 19, 2024
Highland Park Community Center
Highland Park, NJ

Annual New Brunswick Community Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony and Block Party
June 19, 2024
New Brunswick, NJ

Annual Juneteenth Celebration
June 19, 2024
Somerset County Courthouse Green
Somerville, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 23, 2024 at 2PM – 4PM
Woodlot Park
Monmouth Junction, NJ

North Jersey Juneteenth Events

A Salute to the Black Soldier Juneteenth Exhibit
June 8 – July 6, 2024
West Orange Arts Center
West Orange, NJ

Juneteenth Arts Festival
June 15, 2024 at 12PM – 6PM
Rabkin Park
Union, NJ

Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
June 15, 2024 at 10AM – 2PM
Audubon Park
Jersey City, NJ

Juneteenth Silent Walk
June 15, 2024 at 8AM
MLK Monument
FDU Hackensack Campus
Hackensack, NJ

Paterson Juneteenth Flag Raising
June 18, 2024 at 5PM
City of Paterson – City Hall
Paterson, NJ

Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony
June 19, 2024 at 6PM
Dr. Morris Park
Bayonne, NJ

Juneteenth Flag Raising
June 19, 2024 at 12PM
Votee Sportsplex
Teaneck, NJ

Juneteenth Jubilee
June 19, 2024
Teaneck, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 19, 2024 at 2PM – 10PM
Branch Brook Park
Newark, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 19, 2024 at 2PM – 7PM
American Dream
East Rutherford, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 21, 2024
Summit’s Village Green
Summit, NJ

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom
June 23, 2024 at 1PM – 5PM
Durand Hedden House & Garden Association
Maplewood, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 29, 2024 at 11:30AM
Denville Museum Brick Patio
Denville, NJ

South Jersey Juneteenth Events

Burlington Freedom Day 2024: A Juneteenth Celebration
June 15 – 16, 2024 at 2PM – 7PM
Burlington Riverfront Promenade
Burlington, NJ

Lawnside Juneteenth 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Walk
June 15, 2024
323 E Charleston Ave
Lawnside, NJ

Juneteenth Festival
June 15, 2024 at 12PM – 4PM
Millcreek Park
Willingboro, NJ

Juneteenth Independence Day Celebration
June 16, 2024 at 2PM – 4PM
Farnham Park
Camden, NJ

Home Activities to Celebrate Juneteenth

Family Feast: Plan a special meal and gather the family together to acknowledge Juneteenth. Decorate your table and door with a Juneteenth theme and discuss what the celebration means today. Red foods are customary for Juneteenth, the crimson a symbol of ingenuity and resilience in bondage. Food with red hues such as watermelon, hot sauce, spicy hot links, strawberry pie and red velvet cake are abundant. Also, red beverages, like strawberry soda, kola nut tea and hibiscus tea are popular as well. Charcoal-grilled meats, greens, black-eyed peas and teacakes are common, along with the assortment of foods and drinks with red hues.

Juneteenth Storytelling: Commemorate Juneteenth by going over African-American folktales, songs and hymns. Sing along to the songs and learn about their significance in getting slaves through tough times.

African Flags: Create African flags. Children can draw relatively simple African flags on construction paper. Afterward, the flags can be attached to string.

African Dance: Children can learn dances, such as the Juba and Ring Dance.

African-American Activities: Do activities deeply rooted in African-American tradition. Consider visiting an African-American Museum or taking your children to any public place that specializes in promoting African-American culture.

Gather with Friends: Plan a special gathering with friends to acknowledge Juneteenth. Invite your children’s friends and family for storytime (see below for book recommendations). Also, exchange facts or quotes from history.

Personal Reflection: Take some personal time to reflect and write in a journal.

Local Events: Attend a local family-friendly event.

Support Black-Owned Businesses: Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your community—not just today, but every day.

We periodically feature Black-owned businesses on Familyhood Central®. Own a Black-owned business that offers products or services to families in NJ? Get featured in our Guide to Black-owned Businesses in NJ. Contact us for more info.