Juneteenth

Washington Revels is co-presenting a series of concerts, community events, 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. These events highlight local African American history through a series of in-person events around the Washington metropolitan region, and are free and open to all ages.

Beginning on Sunday, June 9, Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will be featured on Carpe Diem’s Daily Antidote of Song. On the following Saturday, June 15 at 11:30am, Jubilee Voices will perform at Josiah Henson’s Birthday Celebration. Also, on June 15, the city of Kensington, MD will present their 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration. On Wednesday, June 19, Washington Revels Jubilee Voices presents an outdoor concert in Alexandria, VA–Singing the Journey: Freedom Stories.

Celebrate the joy of Juneteenth and commemorate Pride Month with Washington Revels and Unity of Washington DC. From jazz to gospel, these groups will inspire you with soulful harmonies and exuberant rejoicing! Join us at Unity of Washington DC on Saturday, Jun 22, 2024 at 3:00 PM for  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! This is a family friendly event and all are welcome.

Watch a video of “Juneteenth Pride & Joy”:

Watch highlights from the first annual “Festival of Freedom” held at Glen Echo Park on June 25, 2023:

Along with program partners Carpe Diem Arts and Montgomery History, we offered a festive week of live events (both in person and online) celebrating freedom!

From June 17-25, the festival kicked off with a Juneteenth celebration in Kensington, MD on Saturday, June 17. Beginning on Sunday, June 18, Washington Revels hosted artists every day at noon on Carpe Diem’s Daily Antidote of Song. On Monday, June 19, Washington Revels Jubilee Voices presented an outdoor concert in Alexandria, VA–Singing the Journey: Juneteenth Joy. On Tuesday, June 20, 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. On Wednesday, June 21, we celebrated Juneteenth in song at Carpe Diem’s virtual Community Sing (on Zoom or Facebook). Arlington Library hosted a conversation on Thursday, June 22 featuring renowned author Imani Perry, preceded by a musical presentation by Washington Revels Heritage Voices. Jazz Night in D.C. at Westminster Presbyterian Church featured a tribute to Freddie Hubbard on Friday, June 23. And, on Saturday, June 24 and 25, the Daily Antidote of Song was live from Glen Echo Park!

On Sunday, June 25, our 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!).