Juneteenth
Washington Revels celebrates Juneteenth through music, storytelling, and community gatherings that commemorate the end of slavery and honor African American history. Together with local partners, we bring people of all ages together to celebrate freedom, reflect on the past, and share in the joy of community. Explore highlights from our past celebrations below.
2025 Events
Washington Revels co-presented a series of concerts, community events, and arts activities for all ages in commemoration of the end of slavery in America and in honor of the rich history of the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery County. These events highlighted local African American history through a series of in-person and online celebrations around the Washington metropolitan region, and online events–all events were free and open to all ages.
June 14, 2025 – Washington Revels Jubilee Voices headlined the annual Juneteenth celebration hosted by the city of Kensington, MD.
June 19, 2025 – Jubilee Voices presented an outdoor concert in Alexandria, VA–Love in the Time of War.
June 21, 2025 – Washington Revels Heritage Voices were featured as part of “Pushing Back: The Fight for Freedom,” hosted by the BlackRock Center for the Arts in partnership with Montgomery County and the Office of Human Rights.
June 15 to 21, 2025 – In partnership with Carpe Diem Arts, Washington Revels guest hosted and presented song leaders, including Jubilee Voices, on the The Daily Antidote of Song (DAS)–an online sing-along featuring artists from across the country and around the world.
2024 Events
Washington Revels co-presenting a series of concerts, community events, and arts activities for all ages in commemoration of the end of slavery in America and to honor the rich history of the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery County. These events highlighted local African American history through a series of in-person events.
June 9, 2024 – Washington Revels Jubilee Voices were featured on Carpe Diem’s Daily Antidote of Song.
June 15, 2024 – Jubilee Voices will perform at Josiah Henson’s Birthday Celebration and as part of the city of Kensington, MD’s 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration.
June 19, 2024 – Jubilee Voices presented an outdoor concert in Alexandria, VA–Singing the Journey: Freedom Stories.
June 22, 2024 – Washington Revels partnered with Unity of Washington DC to present Juneteenth Pride & Joy, a one-of-a-kind concert featuring jazz artists, Barry Moton and the Colin Chambers Trio; the GenOUT Youth Chorus; the Richard Payne Trio; the Unity of Washington D.C. Choir; and talented spoken word artists as we celebrate freedom in all forms! Watch a video of “Juneteenth Pride & Joy”
2023 Events
The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture (GEPPAC) and Washington Revels co-presented a festive week of live music, creative conversation, community gatherings, and arts activities for all ages as we commemorate the end of slavery in America and honor the rich history of the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery County, particularly the desegregation of the privately-owned Glen Echo Amusement Park in Montgomery County. This week-long festival highlighted local African American history through a series of in-person and virtual events around the DMV region, free and open to all ages.
Watch highlights from the first annual “Festival of Freedom” held at Glen Echo Park on June 25, 2023: featuring live performances, cultural exhibits and community engagement activities
Experience celebrations showcasing unity, diversity, music, dance, and historical reflection events
Washington Revels partnered with Carpe Diem Arts and Montgomery History to offer a festive week of live events (both in person and online) celebrating freedom!
June 17, 2023 – The week-long celebration of Juneteethkicked off with a Juneteenth celebration in Kensington, MD.
June 18-25, 2023 – Washington Revels hosted artists every day at noon on Carpe Diem’s Daily Antidote of Song.
June 19, 2023 – Washington Revels Jubilee Voices presented an outdoor concert in Alexandria, VA–Singing the Journey: Juneteenth Joy.
June 20, 2023 – Montgomery History hosted “Voices of History and Hope: The Past and Future of Juneteenth in Montgomery County,” bringing together a panel of local leaders to discuss their work to preserve and promote Montgomery County’s African American history through community, agriculture, film, and the arts.
June 21, 2023 – we celebrated Juneteenth in song at Carpe Diem’s virtual Community Sing (on Zoom or Facebook). Arlington Library hosted a conversation
June 22, 2023 – featuring renowned author Imani Perry, preceded by a musical presentation by Washington Revels Heritage Voices.
June 23, 2023 – Jazz Night in D.C. at Westminster Presbyterian Church featured a tribute to Freddie Hubbard.
June 25 2023 – Our week-long celebration concluded with a family-friendly Festival of Freedom, starting with a symbolic procession into Glen Echo Park and commemorative Carousel ride (and rides throughout the day!).
