Jun 16, 2023 - Things to Do

Juneteenth celebrations in Portland

Emily Harris

People marching in a parade, carrying a banner celebrating Juneteenth. — The Juneteenth Parade is on Saturday this year. Photo: Courtesy of Juneteenth Oregon

Monday marks the second year Juneteenth has been an official state holiday. It became a federal holiday in 2021.

Juneteenth commemorates the day that word came to enslaved people in Texas that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by President Abraham Lincoln more than two years earlier, freeing them.

Here are some of the many celebrations around Portland this weekend.

🎺 Juneteenth Parade, starting at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. Saturday, 11am. Free.

🎶 Juneteenth Festival, Lillis-Albina Park. Saturday, noon to 7pm, and Sunday, noon to 6pm. Food, music, games. Free.

🐎 Eight Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo, Portland's first Black rodeo. Saturday, doors at 3pm, show at 7pm. Roping lessons, mechanical bull, barrel racing. $42 and up.

🎨 Art and activism youth workshop, Pacific Northwest College of Art. Friday and Saturday, 9am to 2pm. Zines, printmaking, social justice education. Free.

🌭 Community Cookout, The Redd. Music, kids area, food and other vendors. Friday, 5pm–11pm. Free.

🎧 Juneteenth Cold Sundaze party at Opaline. Drinks and music with DJ Maddchill. Sunday, 3pm to 7pm. 21 and over only.

🎥 Children's Film Showcase, Hillsdale Library. Animated children's books honoring Juneteenth and Black history. Sunday, 3pm–4:30pm. Free.

📚 The Freadom Festival, Peninsula Park. Book swap, book drive, kids readings, local author talks. Monday, noon–5:30pm. Free.

🎤 Juneteenth Jubilee, 133 SE Madison. Panel discussion on gentrification and the displacement of Portland's Black community, plus entertainers including hip-hop artist Swiggle Mandela and comedian Mx. Dahlia Belle. Monday, 4pm–8pm. Free.

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Juneteenth celebrations in Portland

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