Marchers at 2020’s Juneteenth Freedom March

Over the weekend, the City of Seattle reversed course and issued a permit for a small Juneteenth event in Cal Anderson Park on the one-year anniversary of the formation of the occupied protest zone on Capitol Hill. While many of the battles of last year’s Black Lives Matter marches have transformed into plans and initiatives at Seattle City Hall, 2021’s Juneteenth celebrations will again center equity and equality as Black communities across the Seattle area mark the holiday celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the United States.

By this time next year, the day will be an official Washington state holiday.

Below, we’ve featured the upcoming Juneteenth events in Central Seattle including where you can find the Seattle Buffalo Soldiers. We’ve also included pictures from last summer as thousands took to the street for the Juneteenth Freedom March across the Central District.

Your can find listings for events from around the entirety of the Seattle area as well as online events here from our friends at the South Seattle Emerald. You can also get ready for LGBTQ+ celebrations here with CHS’s Pride 2021 on Capitol Hill listings.

CENTRAL SEATTLE 2021 JUNETEENTH

• Jackson’s Catfish Corner Grand Opening: CHS reported here on the return of Jackson’s Catfish Corner to the CD at 23rd and Jackson. Saturday, you can stop by for a party and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the restaurant’s grand opening. Saturday, June 19th, 10 AM with giveaways, live music, and special guests all day. Jackson’s Catfish Corner, 2218 S Jackson.
• Wa Na Wari Juneteenth Celebration: The Central District cultural and community center will host an outdoor day of music featuring the Blu Meadows Trio of Black Hawk County, Iowa. The event will feature drinks for those 21+ from Erudite & Stone. Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 6pm in Wa Na Wari’s backyard, 911 24th Ave.
• Juneteenth21 Freedom March & People’s Assembly: Thousands marched in 2020 with King County Equity Now and Africatown to mark Juneteenth and call for equity and ownership of Central District properties. The cause continues in 2021 with a weekend assembly and march:
  Juneteenth is the celebration of Black resistance. We honor those who were enslaved and continue the work to freedom.
  Come to this year’s Freedom March and People’s Assembly starting on 23rd & Madison; ending at Jimi Hendrix Park. Live performances by Sevyn Streeter, Gifted Gab, and more:
  -Black community leaders will lead the Freedom March through the Central District, speak on local Black history and present collective calls-to-action toward advancing Black equity
  -1000 Black Businesses (continuing to Honor Black Wall Street)
  -Black Elder Car Brigade and Caravan
  -Black Drill Teams
  -Black Graduation Procession
  -GHS Cheer
  -Soul food
  -COVID Vaccines, with the Tubman Center for Health and Freedom
  -Live Black joy performances by Sevyn Streeter, Total Experience Gospel Choir, Seattle’s own Gifted-Gab, and more!

  The two-day event begins Saturday with the march planned to again cross the Central District.
  Juneteenth21 Freedom March & People’s Assembly — Saturday and Sunday, June 19th and June 20th, 23rd and Madison.

• Juneteenth Week: Jamboree: The Northwest African American Museum’s week of events culminates with a Saturday celebration in Judkins park featuring “family fun, recreation, and activity from local professional sports teams.”

  NAAM’s Juneteenth Jamboree will feature:

  • Live Performances

  • Live Storytime

  • Youth Engagement with Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, and Seattle Storm

  • COVID-19 Vaccinations and education from Seattle Fire Department

  • Blood pressure screenings, mental health tools, and COVID-19 vaccine education from OneMedical

  • Live demonstrations, education, and horseback rides from Seattle Buffalo Soldiers

  • Food, Music, and More!

  NAAM’s Juneteenth Jamboree, Saturday, June 19th, noon to 6 PM, 2150 South Norman Street

More scenes from the 2020 Freedom March:

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