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Juneteenth Celebration
June 19 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Bring your kids, your friends and your parents and come feel the JOY in Newton on Juneteenth! This vibrant FREE annual outdoor community festival celebrating 161 years since the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans features a DJ, vendors, food trucks, live performances, a concert, and a movie under the stars.
Starting at 3 PM you can look forward to:
A party atmosphere from 3 PM hosted by DJ Firestarta
Shopping unique finds from local artisans & craft vendors
Live performances that move your spirit (African dancing by Afro Diamond, Newton reggae artist DJ Everla$t)
Two food trucks serving up delicious Caribbean flavors: Reggae Foods and Gourmet Kreyol
Meet the New England Patriots cheerleaders
A Summer Concert Series event featuring hip-hop cover band sensation The GRV from 6–8 PM
Stretch out under the summer sky for an 8PM screening of Black Panther, the critically acclaimed box office delight that defines Black Excellence This year we reject division and instead embrace ‘JOYFUL RESISTANCE!’
Together, let’s uplift the value and richness of African American culture and Black Excellence. Speaking of excellence, we honor the service of featured guest, Dr. Henry Turner, Newton North Principal of 10 years who departs to assume his new role as Superintendent of Reading Public Schools. We are proud to partner with the Hyde Community Center to seamlessly incorporate Juneteenth into their Friday Summer Concert Series. Want to get involved? Are you a Black-owned business or a community partner who would like to participate? Want to help with preparations beforehand and/or join our fun crew on the day of the event?
We desperately need more volunteers! Email juneteenth@forj.org so we can send you the link to sign up.
Thank you to our partners and sponsors! Our partners include our fiscal sponsor, Families Organizing for Justice (FORJ), the Newton Coalition of Black Residents (NCBR) and FORJ@Newton North High School (FORJ NNHS). We are grateful for generous support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Harmony Foundation and Village Bank. This Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts program is supported by Spark Newton in collaboration with The City of Newton.
