In 2021, Juneteenth became a federally recognized holiday and today serves as an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s history, commemorate emancipation, and celebrate together as a community. Juneteenth – short for June nineteenth – marks the anniversary of Union troops marching into Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to announce the end of the Civil War and the freedom of all enslaved people more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
This June, join the Greenwich Historical Society for a day of celebrating this momentous anniversary and freedom at the 2nd annual Juneteenth Celebration Festival!
Back by delicious demand, Soul Tasty from Stamford, CT, will bring mouthwatering soul food guaranteed to please everyone. Enjoy a tasty plate of fried chicken, mac and cheese, or red velvet cake and stay cool with some flavorful snow cones as you relax on the lawn to listen to live music from the band Suburban Chaos.
Savor the summer sunshine on our Great Lawn by spending time making Juneteenth-inspired educational crafts, finding clues in our scavenger hunt throughout the grounds, and playing some fun lawn games by our heirloom garden. Balloon artists will help make your favorite animal out of colorful balloons.
Want to learn more about the history of Juneteenth and African American History in Greenwich? Check out educational videos in our second-floor Permanent Collections Gallery. Don’t forget to visit the Historical Society’s special exhibition, Greenwich During the Revolutionary War: A Frontier Town on the Frontlines, which closes at the end of June, to learn about how the Revolutionary War affected enslaved individuals in Greenwich. Our Library & Archives will be open for visitors to dive further into Greenwich history.
Half-hour tours of Bush-Holley House will run at 12:00pm, 1:00pm, and 2:00pm. Tours will begin at the kitchen entrance of the Bush-Holley House.
Engage with community organizations and local businesses in our historic barn and education center. At 1:00pm, Perrot Library will host a half-hour story time featuring a book about Juneteenth.
Participating Community Organizations:
Greenwich Youth Services Bureau
YWCA
Greenwich Library
Perrot Memorial Library
Molly & Mags
Stitchtrove Design
Bring your water bottles, blankets, and lawn chairs for a day of fun and learning for the whole family!
In the event of inclement weather, the Juneteenth Celebration will take place the following day on Sunday, June 22nd.
As this is a FREE public program, pre-registration is optional, but highly recommended. Family tickets are for up to two adults and two children. Please register additional adults and children separately.
Donations are greatly appreciated and can be made at the time of registration.
