Celebrating Juneteenth in Galveston

Galveston comes together each year to celebrate Juneteenth as only our unique island community can. Parades, lectures, guided tours, galas, and ceremonies occur throughout the month to mark this important cultural holiday that started right here on the island.

Sand 'N Sea vacation rentals provide the perfect home away from home for your Juneteenth celebration, with roomy vacation rental options that can comfortably fit your whole family.

Whether you're visiting Galveston specifically for Juneteenth or are just curious to learn more about the city's connection to the holiday, this guide will help you plan where to go and what to do.

2025 Juneteenth Galveston Events

These are some of the most notable special events, displays, and galas taking place this year. The Juneteenth celebration calendar has even more events you can attend.

Emancipation Celebration at The Grand 1894 Opera House

• Date: June 8, 2025
• Hours: 4 p.m.

Hosted by the Nia Cultural Center, this award ceremony and concert takes place at The Grand 1894 Opera House.

The event will feature the Houston Mass Choir, Shirley Caesar, and The Walls Group.

BLVD Juneteenth Golf Tournament

• Date: June 13, 2025
• Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Held at Moody Gardens, this inaugural  Juneteenth Golf Tournament is open to the public. Proceeds benefit the Galveston Ball High School golf program.

Juneteenth Festival

• Date: June 14, 2025
• Hours: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The annual  Juneteenth Festival at Menard Park on the Seawall will take place the Saturday before Juneteenth this year. The grounds will have food and shopping vendors as well as entertainment.

Summer POPS Juneteenth Celebration

• Date: June 15, 2025
• Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The  Galveston Symphony orchestra will put on a special concert at The Grand 1894 Opera House to celebrate Juneteenth. Tickets can be purchased in advance.

Juneteenth Parade and Picnic

• Date: June 19, 2025
• Hours: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This year's annual  Juneteenth Parade and Picnic will be held on the holiday. The parade marches down Avenue H from 26th Street to 41st Street and ends at Wright Cuney Park for a social gathering and picnic.

The Official Juneteenth Return

• Date: June 19, 2025
• Hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Put on by the  Nia Cultural Center, this event will blend art, performance, storytelling, and community. It starts with a panel and happy hour at the center before moving to the Juneteenth Mural for live music and dance.

Juneteenth Celebration at Reedy AMA Church

• Date: June 19, 2024
• Hours: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Hosted at  Reedy Chapel AME Church, this event will begin with a reading of General Order No. 3. The following celebration will include an emancipation march, a special service, and a block party with family-friendly activities, food, and games.

Annual Galveston Juneteenth Activities

Galveston has a full calendar of Juneteenth events each year, from galas and banquets to parades, marches, prayer services, and tours of notable sites. We've rounded up a few of our favorite annual  events and  festivals below.

1. Juneteenth Parade and Picnic

The annual Juneteenth Parade and Picnic usually occurs the weekend before June 19. The parade route runs down Avenue H, starting from 26th Street and ending at 41st Street. A community picnic follows just after at Wright Cuney Park.

2. Juneteenth Festival

The  Juneteenth Festival is held yearly at Menard Park near the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier on the Seawall. Some of the  best experiences in Galveston are free, and this is no exception. You'll have open access to food vendors, a marketplace, and live entertainment.

3. Emancipation March

The Emancipation March on Juneteenth stretches between the historic Reedy Chapel AME Church and the Galveston Courthouse. This event also includes a reading of the declaration in General Order No. 3.

The History of Juneteenth in Galveston

Juneteenth has a special significance in Galveston, marking the day in 1865 when freedom was finally proclaimed for the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas.

Delayed Justice

Although President Abraham Lincoln had outlawed slavery in rebel states with the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, there were few Union troops in Texas to enforce the law since the state was the westernmost member of the Confederacy.

It wasn't until June 19, 1865, more than two months after the surrender of the Confederate Armies, that Emancipation Day finally reached Galveston with the arrival of U.S. Major General Gordon Granger and about 2,000 Union troops in the bay. Granger issued General Order No. 3 and read it aloud on the steps of the Union Army Headquarters at the now-demolished Osterman Building.

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.

The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

The day became known as Juneteenth, an amalgamation of "June" and "Nineteenth" to acknowledge the eponymous date. The ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment on December 6, 1865, officially abolished chattel slavery for the entire country.

A New National Holiday

Black Americans have long remembered Juneteenth in local and community celebrations, but the day was finally set aside as a national holiday in June 2021. As the birthplace of Juneteenth, Galveston is a pilgrimage destination to acknowledge its historical importance.

Year-Round Juneteenth History in Galveston

While many events take place around the June 19th holiday in Galveston, the birthplace of Juneteenth also has several ways to delve into the history throughout the year.

No matter when you visit, you can learn more about Juneteenth with these local tours and exhibits. Some displays were launched as part of Juneteenth celebrations in years past.

The "Absolute Equality" Mural

Painted on the exterior of the Old Galveston Square building in Downtown Galveston, the "Absolute Equality" mural portrays the history of African Americans from enslavement to freedom.

The 5,000-square-foot mural was created by a local artist from Houston, Reginald C. Adams, and dedicated during Juneteenth in 2021. You can see this masterful art piece on the corner of The Strand and 22nd Street.

The "And Still We Rise" Exhibit

Launched during the 2022 Juneteenth celebrations, "And Still We Rise...Galveston's Juneteenth Story" is located at the 1859 Ashton Villa on Broadway Avenue in the property's carriage house. Maintained by the  Galveston Historical Foundation's African American Heritage Committee, the exhibit tells the story of Juneteenth in 1865 and connects it to the present day.

The interactive experience has digital displays where visitors can engage with photos, documents, and interviews. This is also a great spot to learn more about the island's other Juneteenth events and significant locations.

Self-Guided Freedom Walk

Galveston's self-guided Freedom Walk leads to five historic sites connected to Juneteenth.

Starting at the Port of Galveston, the tour incorporates several historic markers, including a Pier 21 commemoration for captive Africans who were enslaved in Galveston and for those who died during the Middle Passage.

You'll also visit the former site of the Union Army headquarters on the island, the U.S. Customs House, and the Juneteenth statue at Ashton Villa that marks June 19th as a state holiday.

You can  download a map from Visit Galveston to find the locations and take the "Freedom Walk Challenge" on their app to earn a keepsake.