Tag Archives: juneteenth

Central District Juneteenth 2026 celebrations: Marsha Ambrosius at Juneteenth Freedom Fest

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Seattle’s 2026 Juneteenth will have greater poignancy in the face of the Trump administration’s inflation of the country’s 250th anniversary this summer. They will also have more support and funding thanks to community grants around Seattle’s effort to host World Cup matches. Get out and enjoy the bigger celebration.

Here are the 2026 highlights of Juneteenth 2026 around the Central District:

  • Marsha Ambrosius Live at Juneteenth Freedom Fest: Africatown has grown its Juneteenth celebration in Jimi Hendrix Park into the city’s biggest. This year R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and producer Marsha Ambrosius headlines the festival honoring “Black legacy, resilience, and joy in Seattle.” The annual event is free but donations are encouraged. Friday, June 19th • 12 PM – 8 PM — Jimi Hendrix Park 2400 S Massachusetts
  • The Northwest African American Museum Juneteenth Celebration — The Sound of Connection: Next to Jimi Hendrix Park, NAAM will continue its historical legacy of Juneteenth events with a 2026 edition — “From the return of our famous Skate to Freedom Party to vendors, workshops, local artists, community conversations, an arts and crafts family room, a FIFA World Cup watch party, live performances from Living Voices, and more, there will be something for everyone to enjoy across Judkins Park and the Museum.” Friday, June 19th • 10 AM – 5 PM — Jimi Hendrix Park 2300 S Massachusetts
  • Black Planet: Capitol Hill’s The Wash hosts this night of dance and Black excellence from Seattle nightlife producer [HOME]. Friday, June 19th • 6 PM – 2 AM — The Wash 1801 E Olive Way
  • 5th Annual REVIVAL Juneteenth Pop-Up Market: The Juneteenth tradition at 23rd and Union’s Midtown Square marks its fifth anniversary. “Join us to celebrate Blackness in all its forms as our city’s premier creatives, culinary greats, and esteemed entrepreneurs unite to showcase their talents! REVIVAL Juneteenth pulls down the curtains & addresses a very often hidden truth: supporting our own people was *MADE* to be difficult. Black-Owned Business are often dispersed throughout cities and are less likely to receive external funding to promote or develop their companies.” Saturday, June 20th • 12 PM – 5 PM — Midtown Square 2301 E Union
 
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CHS Pics | A market for Black artists and small businesses at 23rd and Union — Plus, ‘Seattle’s largest Juneteenth celebration’ this week in Jimi Hendrix Park

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Juneteenth celebrations this year in the Central District will include one of the week’s biggest events in Seattle at Jimi Hendrix Park. The celebrations marking the holiday have been underway including Sunday’s Revival Juneteenth Pop-up Market at the Midtown Square development at 23rd and Union.

Organizer Donna Moodie of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle says Sunday’s market grew out of efforts reviving small businesses after the pandemic.

“It’s amazing to me. Probably one of my favorite things that we do,” Moodie said.

“We love this. We want it to be bigger.” Continue reading →

Weekend brings second annual Juneteenth Pop-up Market — and DJ Riz — to 23rd and Union’s Midtown Square

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(Image: EcoDistrict)

Sunday, June 16th will bring the second annual REVIVAL: Juneteenth Pop-up Market to the Central District’s Midtown Square development at 23rd and Union.

The annual market event returns with support of the EcoDistrict and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle as well as Midtown Square’s Arte Noir gallery.

(Image: EcoDistrict)


Continue reading →

Juneteenth 2021 in the Central District: Jackson’s Catfish Corner Grand Opening, Freedom March, Northwest African American Museum Jubilee

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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.

Continue reading →

City says won’t permit Juneteenth celebration in Cal Anderson on anniversary of CHOP formation — UPDATE

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Seattle Parks and the city’s Office of Economic Development have issued last-minute denials of permits for an event in Cal Anderson on the one-year anniversary of the formation of the occupied protest on Capitol Hill.

CHS reported on the June 11th to June 13th celebration planned for months by a CHOP Art group amid a call from the city for proposals for events and activities to activate the park and help the area recover from a year of protests, encampments, and pandemic.

In denying the permit, Seattle Parks and Recreation said it is holding Cal Anderson area events to “higher-than-usual safety and security standards” due to the protests and two homicides around the occupied zone last summer:

SPR is committed to creating spaces for community members to gather while also preserving the public safety and public health of the area. However, because of the extensive protest activity and the lacts (sic) of violence that occurred at the park and the surrounding area last summer and fall, as well as the significant restoration and cleanup efforts that were needed to restore the park, SPR is using higher-than-usual safety and security standards to evaluate all permit requests at Cal Anderson and Bobby Morris Playfield.

The parks department also said community backlash shaped its decisions. Continue reading →

The Central District celebrates 31st Juneteenth in Pratt Park

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Screen Shot 2014-06-05 at 9.32.01 PMThe Juneteenth Independence Day community celebration returns to the Central District’s Pratt Park this weekend with three days of fun and free activities.

June 19th marks the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas in 1865. The holiday has grown to represent a celebration of the emancipation of all African Americans.

The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle invites you to join us this weekend, June 6th – 8th, as we celebrate the 31st annual Juneteenth festival. Festivities will be held at Pratt Park and will include many events such as an ice cream social, open mic, live music, church in the park, face painting, vendor and much more. We’d love to see you there!

Pratt Park is located at 20th and Yesler.

For more things to get out and do around Capitol Hill and Central Seattle, check out this week’s On the List.

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