8 Ways To Celebrate Juneteenth In Miami

Juneteenth commemorates the date - June 19, 1865 - when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas (the most remote of the slave states) to announce that the Civil War had ended, and that slavery had been abolished. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed two and half years before, it wasn’t until Juneteenth that all enslaved African Americans in the United States were considered free. The holiday has long been celebrated in the Black community, and in recent years many activists have campaigned for it to be recognized as a national holiday. Thankfully there are ways you can celebrate the holiday right here in Miami, from concerts to block parties and more. Here are some options.

The Events

• Rosie’s Juneteenth Brunch Party: The never-not-delicious Overtown spot Rosie’s is throwing a Juneteenth brunch party this Saturday (9am-4pm). There will be the same great food you can always expect at Rosie’s (get the pastrami hash and some form of fried chicken), but there will also be cocktails courtesy of Over Under, ice cream sandwiches from Wynwood Parlor, clothes from Grand Opening, and music by DJ Spinelli. This is going to be a fun one, and it’s first-come-first-served, so arrive early for a table.

• Hungry Black Man Annual Juneteenth Food & Music Weekend Celebration: Hungry Black Man, a website dedicated to Black-owned restaurants in South Florida, is throwing a music and food festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday’s party is going down in Overtown (937 NW 3rd Ave) and will feature live music, food, and drinks. On Saturday, the party moves to Bandshell Park in North Beach with more DJs, food vendors, and cocktails. And everything wraps up on Sunday with a dinner at 800 Woodfired Kitchen, a restaurant owned by Udonis Haslem, who will also be in attendance. Friday and Saturday’s events are free and open to the public, but Sunday’s dinner will require a ticket. Buy one and RSVP online.

• The Juneteenth Experience at the North Beach Bandshell: The North Beach Bandshell will show “The Juneteenth Experience” on Saturday. It is described as “a multidisciplinary, immersive performance of our American Holiday, Juneteenth - past, present, and future.” The show is free, though attendance will be limited, so RSVP online fast.

• Roots Collective Block Party: Miami’s Roots Collective are hosting a block party on Saturday, June 19. The free event will have barbecue, music, and more. There’s more info on the location, and how you can register for a free ticket online.

• Wade In The Water At Tower Theater: On Saturday, Little Havana’s historic Tower Theater will be showing Wade In The Water: Drowning In Racism. It’s a short film by South Florida filmmaker Cathleen Dean that documents the Florida Black community’s fight for their right to swim in state beaches and swimming pools. There will be a live discussion with Dean after the screening. The event is free, and you can RSVP online.

• I Am Not Your Negro At Coral Gables Art Cinema: Coral Gables Art Cinema, another great local movie theater, will also have a special screening on June 19. They will be showing the James Baldwin documentary I Am Not Your Negro. The showing is happening at 1:30pm on Saturday and you can buy a ticket online.

• Frost Art Museum Exhibition Opening and Summer Lawn Party: In honor of Juneteenth and two new exhibitions opening, FIU’s Frost Art Museum will throw a summer lawn party. There will be live music, spoken word, and you can also sign up for a private tour of the new exhibitions, which are “Place and Purpose: Art Transformation in Coconut Grove” and “Peggy Levison Nolan: Blueprint for a Good Life.” You can register for the event online.

• Hampton House Concert: The Historic Hampton House, which was the real life setting of film One Night in Miami, is having a concert on Friday, June 18, at 7pm. The show, called “From Renaissance to Resistance - The Live Experience,” will offer a classical and jazz fusion performance featuring the music of Duke Ellington and the South Florida Composer Dwight Banks. Tickets are only $10 and you can buy them online.