Juneteenth is celebrated throughout the United States annually on June 19. The holiday pays tribute to and celebrates a pivotal milestone in African American history – the journey to freedom and the contributions and sacrifices that were made by enslaved people. Are you looking to get involved in Juneteenth celebrations in Charleston? Here are a few events taking place in the region!
Explore Juneteenth Celebrations
Lowcountry Juneteenth Week
Lowcountry Juneteenth Week kicks off June 12 and continues through June 19 at the Hanahan Amphitheater. The week-long festival celebrates black owned businesses and Gullah history + culture through music, food, educational programs, entertainment, and community events.
Juneteenth Family Fest
The third annual Juneteenth Family Fest is taking place at North Charleston’s Riverfront Park this Saturday, June 17. This free, family friendly celebration will be packed with live performances, black art displays, games for children, and delicious food!
Gullah Juneteenth
The Gullah/Geechee Family Foundation’s third annual Gullah Juneteenth celebration is taking place Saturday, June 17. Stop by 34 Cannon St from 12-3 PM. Event organizers encourage guests to “Bring chairs, drums, ancestral tribute items and the entire family for this Gullah/Geechee intergenerational gathering and freedom celebration.”
Celebrations often center around food. And as we honor the cultural significance of this day, it’s important we pay homage to those who laid the foundation for American – specifically Southern – cuisine. Recipes, ingredients, and the ingenuity of how to use them traveled in the slave trade from Africa to America and were passed down from generation to generation. Cooking is part of the heritage of African Americans, and this heritage has been and will continue to be part of the way we eat today.