City of West Hollywood to Host Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 20 at 3 p.m.

The City of West Hollywood and its Social Justice Advisory Board invite the community to attend a free Juneteenth Celebration in recognition of Juneteenth on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at West Hollywood Park, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The celebratory event will feature vendor booths, a speaker stage, live entertainment, and more - and it will highlight local Black-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations. Attendees are highly encouraged to RSVP for the event via Eventbrite.

The Juneteenth Celebration will commemorate and honor the historical significance of Juneteenth, which is also called Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, and/or Black Independence Day - and is recognized on June 19 of each year. This marks the date when some of the last enslaved people in the Confederacy were notified of their freedom: June 19, 1865. Juneteenth is recognized annually to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States and represents a special day of reflection.

In June 2020, the West Hollywood City Council established Juneteenth as an observed holiday in West Hollywood. In June 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday. In January 2022, the West Hollywood City Council approved direction to initiate steps to recognize Juneteenth as an official City holiday. On June 19, 2022, the City held its first Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony and invited residents, members of the community, and elected and appointed officials to share their perspectives and stories about the significance of Juneteenth and the importance of recognizing the holiday.

In 2024, the City recognized Juneteenth by hosting an Author Talk in collaboration with an independently Queer, Black woman-owned bookshop and creative space, the Reparations Club. Last year, the City held an event at West Hollywood Park highlighting BIPOC/Black-owned businesses, artists, and organizations along with featured speakers, tabling opportunities for organizations and businesses, and live entertainment. This year, the City aims to build on the success of past gatherings and invites the community to join this vibrant, family-friendly community event.

Juneteenth is not only a reminder of a painful chapter in American history, but it also serves as an opportunity for people to recommit to combat all forms of modern-day slavery, human trafficking, and racial injustice.

The City of West Hollywood has a decades-long commitment to promoting social justice and equal rights and works diligently to advocate for the fundamental rights of community members. The City of West Hollywood has a legacy of supporting initiatives that highlight inclusivity and equality, including hosting panels about racial equity, police violence, and criminal justice reform. The City prides itself on being a safe and affirming space for everyone, recognizing one of the City's core values : respect and support for people.

For more information, please contact Jasmine Duckworth, City of West Hollywood Community Programs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6559 or at [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City's calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting "WeHo" to (323) 848-5000. Read feature articles about people, places, and City events at www.helloweho.com. City Hall programs and services information is available at www.weho.org.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood's Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or [email protected].