#GWtoDo: Juneteenth 2026

At the age of 89, retired teacher and counselor Opal Lee started walking from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. Her goal was to raise awareness for federal recognition of Juneteenth, also known as Black Independence Day and Jubilee Day, which celebrates the day Union troops arrived in Texas in 1865.

In 2021, Lee was present when Juneteenth became a federal holiday. In 2026, the "grandmother of Juneteenth" turns 100. With schools-including the George Washington University-and many businesses closed this Friday, community members in D.C. have plenty of opportunities to celebrate the holiday she helped make possible. Explore a selection of local block parties, concerts and exhibitions below.

June 19 & 20 at 9 a.m. Visit the Frederick Douglass National Historical Site
1411 W St. SE
Free

June 19 at 10 a.m. Anacostia Community Museum Juneteenth Celebration
Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Place SE
Free

June 19 at noon Juneteenth for the City D.C. Block Party
Michelle Obama Southeast Center of Bread for the City
1700 Marion Barry Ave SE
Free

June 19 at noon A Juneteenth Joint
Transit Pier at The Wharf
970 Wharf St. SW
Free

June 19 at noon Live at Union Market: A Juneteenth Block Party
1309 5th St. NE
Free, registration requested

June 19 at 7:30 p.m. Juneteenth Celebration with Tank and the Bangas
Lincoln Theatre
1215 U St. NW
$45

June 20 at 10 a.m. Juneteenth Literary Jubilee & Black Author Book Fest
Planet Word Museum
925 13th St. NW
$15 suggested

June 20 Home Rule Music Festival
Parks at Walter Reed
1010 Butternut St. NW
Free, registration requested

June 21 Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture
1400 Constitution Ave. NW
Free, timed pass required; Friday and Saturday are fully booked, but admission is still available for Sunday afternoon.