Reflections on Juneteenth and Opportunities to Celebrate & Observe
Celebrating Juneteenth in today’s racially polarized political climate can feel especially difficult. Juneteenth is often caught between remembrance, education, and our country’s ongoing public debate about race, history, equity, and who belongs.
For many people of African descent, what should be a day of reflection, celebration, and joy is increasingly complicated by political tension, attempts to minimize Black history, and the emotional weight of seeing hard-won progress questioned, rolled back or simply “erased”.
This environment can make it challenging to honor the “freedom” that Juneteenth represents while also acknowledging how much work remains. Even so, these difficulties can deepen the day’s significance, reminding communities that celebration and truth-telling often exist together.
Today, the New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity celebrates Juneteenth by sharing resources, reflections, and community-led events taking place across the Granite State.
Read More About Juneteenth
Learn how Ona Judge's legacy and the Black Heritage Trail of NH are expanding America's story during the nation's 250th year.
Celebrate Juneteenth with reflections, resources, and a comprehensive statewide calendar of events happening across New Hampshire.
Reclaiming erased Black lineages tied to America's founders, this Juneteenth panel redefines patriotism, history, and belonging ahead of the nation’s 250th.
Explore the deeper truths behind Juneteenth, from delayed emancipation to the fight for citizenship and justice.
Discover the history and significance of Juneteenth, its federal recognition, and ongoing efforts to make it an official holiday in New Hampshire.
Opportunities to Observe & Celebrate
Southern NH - Greater Manchester & Nashua areas
The Black Freedom Celebration & Community Cookout in Manchester, NH takes place on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the lawn of Brookside Congregational Church at 2013 Elm Street.
Join the NH Collective Power Coalition and local partners on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 5pm for a community rally outside Manchester City Hall ahead of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) meeting to honor Nickenley's life by strengthening our connections and building our collective power.
Join us as we come together to learn, process, heal, and act. Turn grief into community action and be empowered to share your concerns and demands for real change directly with city leaders.
The NH Collective Power Coalition will be hosting a Community Conversation to discuss the recently released Attorney General's report on the killing of Nickenley Turenne.
Juneteenth New England will be returning to Crossway Christian Church in downtown Nashua for a 3rd year of celebration! We’re looking forward to gathering together again on Saturday, June 20, 2026 for another powerful celebration rooted in Black American culture.
An interactive session for makers and thinkers to collaborate, connect, and spark new ideas.
This special poster series exhibit pulls back the curtain on the complexities of early American liberty. Through historic documents, maps, and interpretive panels, visitors will discover the stories of the women who sustained the home front, the Indigenous Nations fighting for ancestral sovereignty, and the Black patriots who stood at the critical center of a war for freedom they were often denied.
In commemoration of Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, in partnership with the American Independence Center and Exeter Historical Society, invites the public to join us for a moving, immersive journey through New Hampshire’s Black Revolutionary War history.
This Juneteenth, step into history and celebrate five historic African Americans whose lives, courage, and brilliance offer powerful insights into New Hampshire's Black history.
Through engaging living-history performances, these historic men and women will come to life—inviting us to look beyond familiar narratives to discover a richer, more complex American history.
oin us for a sacred Juneteenth gathering honoring the lives and legacies of those excluded from America’s founding promises—Native Americans, Africans and African Americans, immigrants, Latinos, and other marginalized communities.
Celebrate Juneteenth side-by-side with others of goodwill by walking from Kittery, Maine, to the African Burying Ground in Portsmouth, New Hampshire!
The Sixth Annual Hartford/Lebanon/Bethel Juneteenth Celebration promises to once again bring the Upper Valley community together for an afternoon of unity, reflection, and celebration on Saturday, June 20, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Lyman Point Park in White River Junction. Hosted by Vermont State Senator Joe Major, the free event honors the legacy of Juneteenth while celebrating the values of freedom, equality, and community through music, fellowship, education, and family-friendly activities.
Join us for a magical and beautifully animated journey through time, Arco is a dazzling adventure about a 10-year-old boy from a peaceful, distant future who accidentally travels back to the year 2075 and discovers a world in peril. The film debuted at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and won The Cristal Award for Best Feature Film at the 2025 Annecy Awards.
Hosted by the City of Keene and co-hosted by W.S. Badger and the Keene Family YMCA this free, family-friendly community event will feature live music, good vibes, and family fun! Featuring performances by Jazzlyn Mota, Samirah Evans, and JohnLu & The Band.
Hosted by the City of Keene and co-hosted by W.S. Badger and the Keene Family YMCA this free, family-friendly community event will feature live music, good vibes, and family fun! Featuring performances by Jazzlyn Mota, Samirah Evans, and JohnLu & The Band.
Join us for a very special screening and New Hampshire premiere of the documentary, Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It (2026), an exhilarating film about the legendary GRAMMY-winning musician whose signature sound shaped the work of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, and countless others. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, acclaimed director Paris Barclay interweaves the complicated aspects of this artist’s extraordinary life and musical career.
What happened on June 19, 1865? Why is June 19th now a federal holiday? We invite you to join us as we learn about the history of Juneteenth. We will also spend some time talking about books we have read centering on African-American history. Books that have taught us, inspired us, or touched us in some way. We have many titles here if you’d like to try something new. Just ask us at the front desk. All are welcome to participate and if you’d like to let us know which book you’ll be briefly (5 minutes max!) talking about please email Amy at hancocklibrary@comcast.net and put Juneteenth in the subject line. All are welcome! Refreshments will be served.
We invite you to join us at Camp Hale for a special day of community and reflection as we honor the legacy of Juneteenth. Come grab a seat at the table with camp staff, dive into the stories behind this historic day, and enjoy an evening of togetherness in a beautiful setting.
