Celebrate Juneteenth in Santa Monica

May 21, 2026 1:33 PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 21, 2026) - The city of Santa Monica celebrates Juneteenth, America's second Independence Day, with a weekend of vibrant events.

The inaugural Juneteenth Gathering centers wellness and community through music, film, and the healing arts. Led by the Recreation & Arts Department (RAD) in collaboration with producing partners Go As If Productions and christy roberts berkowitz, the debut event will take place at Christine Emerson Reed Park and the Miles Memorial Playhouse on Friday, June 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. and will feature sound immersion, live music, an art workshop, and DJ sets by Linafornia and Black Girls Love Vinyl.

Attend a special film screening inside Miles Playhouse of "BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions," a cinematic project created by visual artist and filmmaker Kahlil Joseph, that Sundance Institute calls "a massive, hypnotic tapestry of the Black experience across the diaspora, inspired heavily by the intellectual legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois and his vision for the Africana encyclopedia." y

The 34th Annual Juneteenth Celebration will take place the following day, June 20, at Virginia Avenue Park from 1 to 7 p.m. This year's theme, "A Legacy of Liberation: Honoring our Resistance and Resilience," represents the past and ongoing fight for equity and justice for Black Americans.

"By expanding our Juneteenth offerings, we hope to welcome even more people to celebrate in Santa Monica and experience the rich music, art, and cultural opportunities," Mayor Caroline Torosis said. "Whether you prefer a cozier gathering or a more robust community festival - or both - there is something for everyone as we honor this important holiday."

This annual community-based celebration has a rich history at Virgina Avenue Park, founded by Santa Monica community activist LaVerne Ross and presented by RAD and Housing & Human Services, with support from BroadStage.

Santa Monica launched the first city-funded Juneteenth event three decades before Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday. Ross is still an active member of the Juneteenth Celebration in Santa Monica Committee, which organizes the annual festival in partnership with the city.

This year's celebration will showcase a rich mosaic of Black musical genres, including an interactive drum workshop with Project KnuckleHead, and soul, funk and jazz performances. There will also be community resource booths, food trucks including The Patty Wagon, John Que's Smokeout, and Cakes By Chanté, local Black-owned small businesses and vendors, and all-ages art activities celebrating Santa Monica's Belmar history - all intended to uplift and celebrate the brilliance of the Black community.

34th Annual Juneteenth Celebration featured performers:

ADAAWE, presented in partnership with BroadStage: Mixing West African roots, Gospel harmonies and American funk, this women-led ensemble brews up a contemporary global fusion, bringing their diverse percussive and harmonic flavors to the stage.

Kobie Dozier Quintet: Rising young saxophonist and composer Kobie Dozier presents music that celebrates the roots of jazz, rap, R&B and funk, with a message of self-determination and unity.

Nichelle Monroe with Butterfly: A proud descendant of Santa Monica's first Black family, Nichelle brings her unique "Gourmet Soul" sound to the stage - infused with opera, soul and jazz influences, wrapped in legacy and love.

The Gumbo Brothers: This Los Angeles-based live music group founded in 2002 by guitarist and vocalist Johann Stein is known for high-energy fusion of hip-hop, New Orleans funk, soul, and traditional brass jazz.

The Santa Monica Area Interfaith Council will present an invocation, along with special Juneteenth Celebration honors to respected community members.

"You won't want to miss this year's Juneteenth invocation," said Kathleen Benjamin, president of the Santa Monica Area Interfaith Council. "It will be a powerful reflection of our shared history, resilience, and faith, and an opportunity to come together in remembrance, celebration, and hope for the future. All are warmly welcome to join us."

All are invited to join in honoring ancestors, connecting with community, and cultivating joy as the journey of unity, healing and restoration continues.

Media Contact

Lauren Howland
Communications and public information manager
[email protected]

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Arts, Culture & Fun, Community Events, The Arts

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Recreation and Arts

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