How to celebrate Juneteenth: 6 ways to honor the holiday

Across the country, Juneteenth brings a host of holiday events and gatherings, making it a cause for celebration.

The holiday, also called Emancipation Day and Jubilee Day, takes place on June 19 each year, and commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Although President Abraham Lincoln ended slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, many people in Confederate-controlled areas remained enslaved.

Although Juneteenth was first celebrated in 1866, it wasn't recognized as a federal holiday until June 2021 when President Joe Biden signed it into law.

“By making Juneteenth a federal holiday, all Americans can feel the power of this day, and learn from our history, and celebrate progress, and grapple with the distance we’ve come but the distance we have to travel,” President Joe Biden said in a speech before signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.

Since Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, many schools, businesses and government buildings will be closed on Wednesday, June 19. If you're looking to something to do, you're in luck, because we've rounded up all the best ways to celebrate Juneteenth with family and friends.

Since Juneteenth has become widely recognized, there are a variety of fun events to attend around the country.

Here are some popular Juneteenth events happening in 2024:

• Atlanta, Georgia: Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival, June 21 to 23
• New York City, New York: Juneteenth NY Celebration, June 14 to 19
• Washington, D.C.: Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Anacostia Community Museum, June 19
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Juneteenth Homecoming Celebration, June 14 to 16

It isn't Juneteenth until you chow down on some good soul food, the ethnic cuisine prepared by African Americans. This type of cooking came out of necessity when enslaved people no choice but to prepare meals with inexpensive ingredients and limited supplies.

Once African Americans gained their freedom, staples of the past, including catfish and red soda water, became revered. As time went on, soul food took on a whole new meaning. Now, a typical soul food meal consists of fried meats, hearty side dishes and sweet drinks like lemonade.

While you can always spend Juneteenth whipping up some inspired recipes, you might want to leave it up to the pros. In that case, head to your local Black-owned restaurant for a delicious meal.

Next time you're shopping for a new makeup product, ice cream brand, or children's book, check out your local Black-owned businesses.

This Juneteenth, take stock of what you need and consider buying exclusively from Black-owned food, beauty and kidswear brands. Check out The Nile List and similar directories to find a range of businesses to shop from.

While you're at it, support Black authors, musicians and artists too. Your dollar can really go a long way.

Set aside the day to dive even deeper into the past, present and future of Black culture. Take a trip to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, Illinois, or the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute in New York.

It's never too early to start teaching your kids about the importance of Juneteenth. Round up a bunch of Juneteenth-inspired crafts, so they can learn by doing. Help them make the Juneteenth Pan-African flag by glueing popsicle sticks together and coloring them with red, black and green markers, just like the blogger behind Crafting a Fun Life did here.

Another idea: Jot down different Black leaders' names on pieces of paper, stick them in a bowl and ask your kids to pick a name to learn about their impact. You can also sprinkle in a few Juneteenth quotes for good measure.

If you want to learn more about the holiday, “On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed provides an intimate history of how Juneteenth came to be.

Need a poetic pick-me-up? Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman" poetry collection will always lift your spirits.

For history buffs, there are a number of books that deserve a spot on your reading list. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s “Stony the Road” follows the fight against Jim Crow in the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. “Four Hundred Souls,” edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, ambitiously chronicles African-American history through stories by 90 different writers.

Younger kids will love books like “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers, which celebrates self love, and “Brown Boy Joy” by Thomishia Booker.

Or you can press play on films that shine a light on Black talent, like “Alice” starring Keke Palmer or “Emergency” directed by Carey Williams. Not only are these movies incredibly entertaining, but they provoke important conversations among those who watch them.