There are many meaningful ways to celebrate Juneteenth with kids in NJ. Celebrating Juneteenth is only meaningful if you understand what’s being celebrated. Juneteenth (also referred to as Freedom Day) has a rich history and a special meaning. The end of slavery in America is still celebrated today, in the form of the Juneteenth celebration. The name comes from the melding of June and Nineteenth, or June 19th. This holiday marks the anniversary of when Texas learned that President Lincoln had declared slavery illegal. Texas was the final state to hear the news, so June 19, 1865, was when the last slaves were freed. It is a joyous occasion, punctuated by great feasts and gatherings of people.

Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth with Kids in NJ

Juneteenth gives African-Americans (and indeed everyone living in America) a sense of togetherness. You don’t have to be African-American to join in celebrating the anniversary of the end of slavery. By celebrating the Juneteenth holiday, you are celebrating a holiday just as important as the Fourth of July and Memorial Day. There are many meaningful ways to celebrate Juneteenth with your family. Here is a listing of home activities, children book recommendations and Juneteenth events and celebrations in NJ. Happy Juneteenth!

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Juneteenth Events and Celebrations in NJ

Celebrate Juneteenth at these family-friendly events and celebrations in NJ.

Central Jersey Juneteenth Events

Juneteenth – Capital City Farm
June 10, 2023 at 10AM – 3PM
Capital City Farm
Trenton, NJ

Juneteenth Freedom Day with the NAACP MEAB Branch
June 10, 2023 at 9AM – 9PM
Papaianni Park
Edison, NJ

Basie Center Community Juneteenth Celebration
June 14, 2023 at 6:30PM
Count Basie Center for the Arts
Red Bank, NJ

Juneteenth 2023 New Brunswick City Wide Week of Celebration
June 16 and 17, 2023
Multiple Locations
New Brunswick, NJ

Juneteenth Mura, Flag Raising & Commemoration & Block Party
June 16, 2023 at 3PM
Monument Square
New Brunswick, NJ

Juneteenth Parade
June 17, 2023 at 11AM
George St. & Remsen Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ

Juneteenth Festival
June 17, 2023 at 12PM
Recreation Park (7 Pine St.)
New Brunswick, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023 at 12PM – 4PM
Monmouth County Hall of Records
Freehold, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023 at 5PM – 8 PM
Metuchen Downtown Alliance
Metuchen, NJ

SSAAM Juneteenth Celebration – Freedom Forward
June 17, 2023 at 12PM – 4PM
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
Skillman, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023 at 1PM – 6PM
Woodbridge High School
Woodbridge, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023 at 1PM – 5PM
Vermeule Park
North Plainfield, NJ

Juneteenth Gala
June 18, 2023 at 5PM – 9PM
Bella Vista Country Club
Marlboro, NJ

Red Bank Juneteenth Celebration
June 18, 2023
Johnny Jazz Park
Red Bank, NJ

PechaKucha Night: A Special Juneteenth Themed Evening
June 18, 2023 at 6:30PM – 9PM
Acme Screening Room
Lambertville, NJ

Outdoor Juneteenth Concert by Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra
June 18, 2023 at 4PM – 5PM
300 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ

Juneteenth Flag Raising
June 19, 2023 at 10AM
Highland Park Community Center
Highland Park, NJ

LSP 6th Annual Recitation of Names & East Brunswick Juneteenth Celebration
June 24, 2023 at 11AM
721 Cranbury Rd
East Brunswick, NJ

North Jersey Juneteenth Events

A Salute to the Black Soldier Juneteenth Exhibit
June 3 – July 9, 2023
West Orange Arts Center
West Orange, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration to Feature ‘A Visit With Sojourner Truth’
June 3, 2023 at 1PM
Kenilworth Historical Society
Kenilworth, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration Pop Up Shop
June 10, 2023 at 12PM – 4PM
Pop Up Next Door
Elizabeth, NJ

Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony
June 13, 2023 at 6PM
Dr. Morris Park
Bayonne, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023
Summit’s Village Green
Summit, NJ

Juneteenth Arts Festival
June 17, 2023 at 11AM – 6PM
Rabkin Park
Union, NJ

Bloomfield Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023 at 10:30AM – 6PM
327 Glenwood Ave
Bloomfield, NJ

African Cultural Arts Family Festival
June 17, 2023 at 1PM – 7PM
Berry Lane Park
Jersey City, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom
June 17, 2023 at 12PM – 7PM
Shady Rest Golf and Country Club
Scotch Plains, NJ

Juneteenth Silent Walk
June 17, 2023 at 8AM
MLK Monument
FDU Hackensack Campus
Hackensack, NJ

Juneteenth Festival of Morris County
June 17, 2023 at 12PM – 5PM
Morristown Green
Morristown, NJ

The Celebration of Juneteenth & Black Music Appreciation Month
June 17, 2023 at 11AM – 1PM
NJPAC Arts Education Center
Newark, NJ

Juneteenth Jubilee
June 17, 2023 at 12PM – 6PM
Hillside Elementary School
Montclair, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023 at 2PM – 10PM
Branch Brook Park
Newark, NJ

Juneteenth Freedom Jubilee: Two Hour Dance Masterclass
June 17, 2023 at 11AM – 1PM
129 Whittlesey Ave
West Orange, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023 at 12PM – 6:30PM
American Dream
East Rutherford, NJ

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom
June 18, 2023 at 1PM – 5PM
Durand Hedden House & Garden Association
Maplewood, NJ

Juneteenth Flag Raising
June 19, 2023 at 12PM
Votee Park
Teaneck, NJ

Juneteenth At The Montclair Pre-K
June 19, 2023 at 11AM – 2PM
49 Orange Rd
Montclair, NJ

Juneteenth Around the Square
June 19, 2023 at 12PM – 4PM
Harriet Tubman Square
The Newark Museum of Art
Newark, NJ

Paterson Juneteenth Flag Raising
June 19, 2023 at 11AM
City of Paterson – City Hall
Paterson, NJ

Juneteenth Celebration
June 24, 2023 at 11:30AM
Denville Museum Brick Patio
Denville, NJ

South Jersey Juneteenth Events

Black Excellence Festival
June 16-18, 2023
Atlantic City, NJ

A Juneteenth Celebration
June 16 – 18, 2023
Jersey Shore Arts Center
Ocean Grove, NJ

Lawnside Juneteenth 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Walk
June 17, 2023 at 8AM
323 E Charleston Ave
Lawnside, NJ

Juneteenth Independence Day Celebration
June 17, 2023 at 1PM – 7PM
Wiggins Park
Camden, NJ

Burlington Freedom Day 2023: A Juneteenth Celebration
June 17 – 18, 2023 at 2PM – 7PM
Burlington Riverfront Promenade
Burlington, NJ

Juneteenth Festival
June 17, 2023 at 12PM – 4PM
Millcreek Park
Willingboro, NJ

Want your family-friendly Juneteenth event featured on our site? Contact us!

Home Activities to Celebrate Juneteenth

Family Feast: Plan a special meal and gather the family together to acknowledge Juneteenth. Decorate your table and door with a Juneteenth theme and discuss what the celebration means today. Red foods are customary for Juneteenth, the crimson a symbol of ingenuity and resilience in bondage. Food with red hues such as watermelon, hot sauce, spicy hot links, strawberry pie and red velvet cake are abundant. Also, red beverages, like strawberry soda, kola nut tea and hibiscus tea are popular as well. Charcoal-grilled meats, greens, black-eyed peas and teacakes are common, along with the assortment of foods and drinks with red hues.

Juneteenth Storytelling: Commemorate Juneteenth by going over African-American folktales, songs and hymns. Sing along to the songs and learn about their significance in getting slaves through tough times.

African Flags: Create African flags. Children can draw relatively simple African flags on construction paper. Afterward, the flags can be attached to string.

African Dance: Children can learn dances, such as the Juba and Ring Dance.

African-American Activities: Do activities deeply rooted in African-American tradition. Consider visiting an African-American Museum or taking your children to any public place that specializes in promoting African-American culture.

Gather with Friends: Plan a special gathering with friends to acknowledge Juneteenth. Invite your children’s friends and family for storytime (see below for book recommendations). Also, exchange facts or quotes from history.

Personal Reflection: Take some personal time to reflect and write in a journal.

Local Events: Attend a local family-friendly event. See Juneteenth Events and Celebrations in NJ

Support Black-Owned Businesses: Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your community—not just today, but every day.

We periodically feature Black-owned businesses on Familyhood Central®. Own a Black-owned business that offers products or services to families in NJ? Get featured in our Guide to Black-owned Businesses in NJ. Contact us for more info.