GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — West Michigan will honor Juneteenth with many events this year.
Juneteenth is a day that celebrates when news of the Emancipation Proclamation — signed in 1862 — reached all parts of the country on June 19, 1865. The day is considered independence day for African Americans.
Find a celebration near you here:
Virtual events
- WMU presentation with Dr. Benjamin Wilson | Friday, June 18, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Event details
- WMU Spoken Word event | Friday, June 18, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Event details
- Grand Rapids Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom event | Friday, June 18, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Event details
- Community Event: Juneteenth – Minor Element | Saturday, June 19, at 7 p.m. | Event details
- 2021 Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom | Saturday, June 19, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Event details
- University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School’s Juneteenth Symposium: Celebrating Black Joy, Hope, and Healing | June 14 to June 19 | Event details
Battle Creek
- Juneteenth Family Day Motorcade Parade | Saturday, June 19, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth Vaccine Education and Walk-In Vaccine Clinic | Saturday, June 19, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth Children’s Book Drive | Saturday, June 19, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Event details
Grand Rapids and metro area
- Versiti blood drive | Saturday, June 19, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Event details
- Justice 4 All Juneteenth Jam! | Saturday, June 19, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Event details
- Black Impact Collaborative Juneteenth roller skating event & COVID-19 vaccine clinic| June 18 – June 20, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily, vaccination clinic Saturday, June 19 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Event details
- GR Juneteenth 2021 Dickinson Park Dumumba | Saturday, June 19, parade at 12:30 p.m., opening ceremony at 1 p.m. | Event details
- Kent County Health Department Juneteenth COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics | Walk-ins welcome but appointments available
- Thursday, June 17, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Kent County Health Department South Clinic, 4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood, 49508 | Walk-ins welcome or schedule an appointment.
- June 18 | noon to 2 p.m. | Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church Parking Lot, 514 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, 49507
- June 19 | 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Dickenson Buffer Park, 1635 Willard Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, 49507
Holland
- Juneteenth Celebration with Miz Rosie, Harriet Tubman and the Underground railroad | Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth Festival | Saturday, June 19, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth celebration J&J vaccine clinic | Saturday, June 19, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Event details
Kalamazoo
- Rootead: Interactive Drum and Dance for Mental Wellness | Thursday, June 17, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Event details
- Juneteenth: They Say We Are Free! | Friday, June 18, at 6 p.m. | Event details
- Bell’s Brewery Celebration Series Tappening: Seneca Village Black IPA | Saturday, June 19, at 12:00 p.m. | Event details
Kentwood
- Kentwood Food Truck Festival with Juneteenth celebration | Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Event details
Mt. Pleasant
- CMU Juneteenth campus and community celebration | Friday, June 18, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Event details
Muskegon
- Juneteenth Celebration | Saturday, June 19, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Event details
Portage
- Juneteenth solidarity march at Celery Flats | Saturday, June 19 at 9 a.m. | Event details
Don’t see your event on our list? Send us the information by emailing ReportIt@woodtv.com.
