Celebrating liberty and freedom
Celebrate the day honoring end of slavery in the US at these local events
Even though Juneteenth didn’t became a federal holiday until 2021 — and a Virginia holiday in 2020 — Newport News Vice Mayor Saundra Cherry has observed the independence day for years.
Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It is tied to June 19, 1865 when the Union Army took control of Texas and soldiers arrived in Galveston. They announced that the Civil War had ended in April and that the enslaved were finally free; some 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas did not know that the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 had freed most enslaved in Confederate states two years earlier.
African Americans have commemorated “Emancipation Day” or “Freedom Day” since, and Cherry and her family have observed it as a way to honor the culture and progress of African Americans. The spirit of celebration spread.
“So, we started working on a festival and the city of Newport News has supported the festival for years,” she said.
Newport News and the
Downtown Newport News Merchants and Neighbors Association, which Cherry’s late husband started, kicked off a 12-day spread of events on June 8. The first major highlight is a parade on June 11.
“Everything that we do for Juneteenth, we’re trying to bring the community at large together,” she said. “It doesn’t matter about what culture, what race ... It’s about educating the community.”
Here’s a list of other local Juneteenth events:
CHESAPEAKE 757 Juneteenth FreedomFest.
Noon to 6 p.m. June 18. 1060 Cascade Blvd. Free, but a pass is needed. For passes and information, 757freedomfest. org
Juneteenth Father’s Day Festival. 1 p.m. June 19. 700 Conference Center Drive. $10 adults; free for ages 10 and
younger. visitchesapeake.com
HAMPTON
Juneteenth: The Fight for Freedom and the Power of Words at Hampton History Museum. 6 to 8 p.m. June 13. Hampton History Museum. 120 Old Hampton Lane. HamptonHistoryMuseum.org
Juneteenth Festival at Darling Stadium featuring singer and activist Rahiem. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 18. 4111 Victoria Blvd. Free. celebratehealthcare.net;
757-287-0277
Faith-Walk Juneteenth Celebration 2022: Still Walking at Mill Point Park. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19. 100 Eaton St. Free. tinyurl.com/Faithwalkevent
Hampton African American Heritage Festival at Mill Point Park. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 25. 100 Eaton St. Adults $10; free for ages 12 and younger. project1619.org
NEWPORT NEWS
Visit nnva.gov/2663/Juneteenth
for more details on events.
Free Juneteenth give-a-way novelties at Newport News community centers through June 19:
Doris Miller Community Center, 2814 Wickham Ave. Brittingham-Midtown Community Center, 570 McLawhorne Drive
Denbigh Community Center, 15198 Warwick Blvd.
Newport News Visitor Center,
Turn to Juneteenth,
13560 Jefferson Ave.
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Main Office, 700 Town Center Drive, suite 320
Juneteenth Parade from Brooks Crossing to King-Lincoln Park .10 a.m. to noon June 11. 600 Jefferson Ave.
Juneteenth Concert at King-Lincoln Park. 5 to 7:30 p.m. June 12. 600 Jefferson Ave.
Juneteenth Raising of the Flag Ceremony at City Hall 1 p.m. June 13. Newport News City Hall 2400 Washington Ave.
Juneteenth Bingo at Brittingham Midtown Community Center. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 14. 570 McLawhorne Drive.
Juneteenth Debate at Denbigh Community Center. 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 15. 15198 Warwick Blvd.
Juneteenth Spoken Word at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. 7 to 9 p.m. June 16. 2410 Wickham Ave.
Juneteenth Mime: The Faces of Freedom at The Mariner’s Museum and Park. 7 to 9 p.m. June 17. 100 Museum Drive.
Juneteenth Youth Field and Games at Riverview Farm Park. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 18. Riverview Parkway.
Juneteenth Historical Pageant.
7 to 8:30 p.m. June 18. Virtual program shown on NNTV (Cox Channel 48/Verizon Channel 19); streamed on nnva.gov/NNTV
Juneteenth Freedom Festival at King-Lincoln Park. Noon to 4 p.m. June 19. 600 Jefferson Ave.
NORFOLK
Black History on the Elizabeth River Trail:
A
Juneteenth Walking Tour. 7 to 8 p.m. June 10. Waterside District. 333 Waterside Drive. Free. visitnorfolk.com
Family Day: Juneteenth at the Chrysler Museum.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18. Chrysler Museum of Art. One Memorial Place. chrysler.org
Juneteenth in the Park. Noon to 5 p.m. June 18. Town Point Park. 113 Waterside Drive. festevents.org
Community Day at Richard A. Tucker Memorial Library. Noon to 4 p.m. June 18. 2350 Berkley Ave. Ext. Music, arts and crafts, inflatables, story talk with The 1619 Project book,“Born on the Water.” norfolk.gov/Juneteenth
Juneteenth Freedom Festival at Slover Library.
1 to 5:30 p.m. June 18. 235 E. Plume St. Free. norfolk.gov/ Juneteenth
Frederick Douglass: On Slavery and Emancipation. June 18. 8 a.m. Norfolk
Public Library. Online/virtual. norfolk.gov/Juneteenth. Free but registration is required. Email NPLPrograms@ norfolk.gov for access. Program will be recorded and streamed.
Celebrate Juneteenth with Storyteller Eunice Shands. 2 p.m. June 18. Norfolk Public Library. Online/virtual at www.facebook.com/NorfolkPublicLibrary.
PORTSMOUTH
Wine and Jazz at The Book Club. JuneteenthVA fundraiser. 8 to 10 p.m. June 17. The Book Club, 620 High St. Tickets: $20 per person, $35 per couple. juneteenthva.org
Juneteenth Freedom Day by the Urban League of Hampton Roads . 1 to 9 p.m. June 19. High Street Landing. Vendors, food, live music and entertainment. Free. ulhr.org/juneteenth
SUFFOLK
Juneteenth Black Excellence
Expo. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 18. Morgan Memorial Library. 443 W. Washington St. suffolkpubliclibrary.com
VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia Beach Public Art Walk: “Portraits from a Place of Grace” sponsored by Virginia Beach Arts and Virginia African American Cultural Center. 4 to 6 p.m. June 16. Lake Edwards Park, 744 Hampshire Lane. Please RSVP at ngoodale@vbgov. com. tinyurl.com/Juneteenthartwalk
Juneteenth at the Beach. 24th Street Park at Atlantic Avenue. Education, culture, live entertainment and family events. Noon to 10 p.m. June 18; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 19. Free. www. juneteenthvb.com
Unity in the Community ArtWalk Along the Boardwalk. 11 a.m. June 19. 24th Street Park and Atlantic Avenue. vaaccvb.org.
African American Music Month Celebrating Juneteenth. 3:30 to 5 p.m. June 19. Renaissance Academy. 5100 Cleveland St. Free but tickets are required. For information and tickets, www.museumsvb.org
WILLIAMSBURG The Village Initiative for Equity in Education and Williamsburg Action present Juneteenth 2022:
Celebration at The Triangle. 3 to 7 p.m. June 19. Parade, food, vendors, line dancing. The initiative will also be collecting oral histories. Scotland and Prince George streets. Free. williamsburgfamilies.com
Colonial Williamsburg is offering free admission to the Historic Area and the art museums. 9 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. June 19. 101 Visitor Center Drive. colonialwillamsburg.org