Just a few years after Juneteenth was officially named a federal holiday, San Francisco has stepped up to the plate to celebrate with a slew of activities across the city, from street fairs to film screenings. Are you ready for an amazing weekend? Read on to discover everything that’s going on during Juneteenth 2024 in San Francisco.
1. Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
Saturday, June 15, in the Fillmore District
This enormous celebration will take over 8 blocks in the Fillmore District on Saturday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. It will include live music and performances, a fashion and hair show, a classic car show, dozens of food trucks and booths, a 21+ beer and wine garden, FREE unlimited carnival rides, games, and an obstacle course.
2. The Juneteenth Kickoff Celebration
Prior to the 8-block celebration that occurs the Saturday before Juneteenth, a Kick-off celebration will take place on Friday, June 14. The San Francisco Human Rights Commission is hosting the event at City Hall starting at 12:00 pm with Mayor London Breed. The event is free to attend and open to the public.
3. Juneteenth at the Bandshell
The Golden Gate Park Bandshell is in the midst of its 2024 season of Illuminate Live, which runs all the way through mid-November. These weekly free and family-friendly concerts are some of the most beloved events in the park. Catch over 100 performances in a variety of genres, including R&B, soul, jazz, funk, big band, strings, indie, rock, reggae, salsa, electronic, and EDM. The bandshell will be hosting a special Juneteenth concert on Saturday, June 15. the lineup features Klassic Man, MICOSOUL, RhoyalBaib’e, and The Sistas and will run from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. Then, on the actual holiday, June 19, a special edition of singer/songwriter Wednesdays will take place featuring August Lee Stevens, Stephanie Woodford Quartet, Veotis, and Friends. The show will start at 4:00 and run until 7:00 pm.
4. City Hall lighting
In past years, SF City Hall has gone all out on lighting every June for Juneteenth, Pride, the Trans March, and more. City Hall is typically illuminated in red, green, and black in honor of Juneteenth after the sun goes down. While June 2024’s lighting schedule has not been released, you can check the Civic Center website for more information in the meantime.
5. Hayes Valley Juneteenth Pride Stroll Hosted by SF Jazz
The SF Jazz Festival continues until June 16 with plenty of amazing jazz concerts. However, if you aren’t able to make any of the shows, you can still attend a wonderful event by the jazz center. SFJAZZ is hosting a Juneteenth Pride stroll on Wednesday, June 19, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. There will be food, drinks, drag performances, and plenty of great music.
6. Juneteenth celebration with SF Public Library
The SF Public Library is hosting a Juneteenth celebrationat the Noe Valley branch on Monday, June 17, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. The celebration will include crafts and snacks for guests while people can mingle and connect.
7. Juneteenth Bayview Father’s Day Festival
On Sunday, June 16, a Juneteenth Father’s Day Festival is taking over Gilman Park. The festival includes live performances by 112, Surface, and Regina Belle. You can look forward to amusement rides, food, a car show, giveaways, and more. The event runs from 12:00 to 6:00 pm and is a great way to celebrate while enjoying food and live music.
8. Framline Juneteenth Block Party
Framline and MoAD have partnered for this new screening and block party on June 19. The event will have an outdoor screening of Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero, along with a drag performance. The event will take place on the 400 block of Castro Street, with screens on the 17th and 18th. The pre-screening drag show will begin at 7:00, with the film playing at 8:20 pm. The event is free, and no tickets are required, but bring layers and some blankets to prepare for the chilly SF weather.
A brief history of Juneteenth
June 19, also known as Juneteenth, Emancipation Day, or Freedom Day, is a day that signifies the end of slavery in America. Over 150 years ago, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to break news that the Civil War had ended and that all those who were enslaved were now free, according to Juneteenth.com.
President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had gone into effect on January 1, 1863, and declared every enslaved person in Confederate States was now legally free. But, Texas, the furthest west territory, was still under Confederate control at the time. So, enslaved people there did not receive emancipation until the end of the war nearly two years later. The day celebrates the triumph, of course, but also shows how long it took for that freedom to be implemented in the far reaches of the Confederacy.
During the post-emancipation period of Reconstruction (1865-1877), most formerly-enslaved populations were left without possessions, land or resources to begin new lives with. Yet after 200 years of slavery, these populations immediately worked to reunify families, run for office, establish schools, and even sue their enslavers for damages.
The U.S. Senate passed a bill on June 16, 2021, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
By Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn