Honor freedom, community and Black joy at Juneteenth festivities throughout San Diego this week
From surf lessons to neighborhood festivals, here are ways San Diegans are celebrating Liberation Day this year.
Written by Lauren J. Mapp, Edited by Kate Morrissey
San Diegans are gearing up for Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the end of most forms of legal slavery in the United States, and are honoring the day with a week of music festivals, surf outings, cookouts, film viewings and other gatherings.
A portmanteau of the words “June” and “nineteenth,” Juneteenth dates back to June 19, 1865, when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and legal slavery.
Although Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in 1863 and the Civil War ended in April 1865, it took several months longer for Texas’ 250,000 enslaved people to be freed. Granger’s announcement sparked the first Juneteenth celebration, which has grown to be one of the most important holidays in Black communities across the country.
Also known as Jubilation or Liberation Day, the celebration has gained more recognition by non-Black Americans in recent years.
California officially observed Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2017. President Joe Biden made it a federal holiday in 2021. In 2023, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to make it a paid day off for all city staff.
This year, celebrate the day by taking a surf lesson at La Jolla Shores with Paddle for Peace, joining the Cooper Family for its annual celebration in southeastern San Diego or attending the premier of filmmaker Rose Sanchez’s short film on redlining, “Beyond the Line.”
Do you know an event we missed? To submit an event for consideration to be added to this list and our community calendar, send us the details in our online form.
June 18
SDCCE Juneteenth Celebration: The San Diego College of Continuing Education celebrates Juneteenth in Mountain View with a theatrical performance of “Jazzetry” by Calvin Manson. The event will feature musical guest Brittany Taylor and traditional West African drumming by Dramane Kone. The event will be held on the outdoor patio between buildings B&C. 12-1:30 p.m., Educational Cultural Complex, 4343 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego, CA 92113
June 19
San Diego County Fair: Make a trip to the San Diego County Fair by taking advantage of its Juneteenth holiday special. On Thursday, there is a $5 discount on the fair tripper special, which includes fair admission plus a round trip public transit ride on MTS trolleys or buses and NCTD Coaster, Sprinter or Breeze. Fair Tripper is $15 for general admission or $12 for seniors and youth. 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014
WorldBeat Cultural Center: In Balboa Park, the WorldBeat Cultural Center hosts an evening honoring the legacy of Afro-Indigenous resistance. The night will honor the Mascogos of Mexico, Black Seminoles and the legacy of Maroon societies, communities of formerly enslaved Africans who escaped captivity to secluded regions for protection.
The event features a live performance by Ibrahima Ba and keynote presentation by Chief Thomi Perryman from the United Warrior Band of the Seminole Nation/John Horse Band, a community descended from both Black and Indigenous ancestors. 5-8 p.m. WorldBeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
“Sun Goin’ Down”: In his first solo exhibit of the year, UC San Diego MFA painter John Singletary explores biblical themes, his family lineage and Southern Black life and folklore in “Sun Goin’ Down.” Singletary will spin classic records during the evening, which will also feature a projection of documentarian Les Blank's 1968 short film “The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins.” 6-9 p.m. Oolong Gallery, 6030 La Flecha, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
“Beyond the Line”: Filmmaker and real estate agent Rose Sanchez debuts her new short film to close her residency with the San Diego Made Factory. The night will include live music from the film’s composer, poetry by Ashley Nicole and a post-screening artist panel. 6-9 p.m. 2031 Commercial St., San Diego, CA 92113
June 21
Juneteenth BBQ and Summer Kick Off: Join Paddle for Peace in an all-day, family friendly Juneteenth celebration at La Jolla Shores Beach. The day will celebrate Black joy and culture with a BBQ, live music, drum circle, group run, beach clean up, kids corner and surf lessons.
The event is free to attend, but food tickets are $8 each. RSVP online. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. La Jolla Shores Beach, 8246 La Vereda, La Jolla, CA 92037
North San Diego County NAACP: In Oceanside, join the North San Diego County NAACP for its annual Juneteenth celebration. This year’s event features a cosplay runway show where models will dress up in costumes inspired by characters from anime, comic books, video games or Afro-futurism.
The day includes food and retail vendors, a job fair, a blood drive and health screenings. There are also plenty of activities for kids, including face painting and games. 10 a.m., Pier View Way and Freeman St., Oceanside, CA 92054
Cooper Family Foundation Juneteenth Celebration: Started more than 50 years ago by Sidney Cooper Sr. and Thelma Cooper, this annual Juneteenth celebration is a mainstay of the southeastern San Diego community. The free event features live music, educational programming, a Black history wall, vendors and a kids zone with carnival rides. 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Memorial Park, 2975 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego, CA 92113
