After uncertainty over whether the celebration would happen this year, the Annapolis Juneteenth celebration is moving forward with a message centered on healing, history and community.
Now in its sixth year, the Annapolis Juneteenth celebration will bring residents together to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States while celebrating freedom, unity and Black culture. This year’s theme, “Healing Ourselves,” highlights the ongoing journey toward true freedom through emotional, spiritual, social and community healing.
“The celebration acknowledges the lasting impact of post-slavery oppression, community violence, family disruption, and the displacement caused by urban renewal—challenges that have affected generations of Black families and communities,” said Craig Coates, CEO of the Celebrate Annapolis Juneteenth Corporation. “Through education, engagement, and cultural expression, we seek to foster healing, empowerment, and renewed hope.”
Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation at the end of the Civil War. The name Juneteenth dates back to the 1890s and combines “June” and “nineteenth.” The day became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.
The Annapolis festival was originally canceled after a letter, cited by Celebrate Annapolis Juneteenth, raised concerns about environmental toxins on the property and questioned the city’s ability to properly support the festival. After further discussions with city officials, festival sponsors deemed it safe to continue, with proper precautions and treatment in place.
The parade kicks off at noon with the festival beginning at 1 PM and running until 9 PM, followed by a fireworks display at 9:15 PM. Food vendors and live entertainment lineups have not yet been released, but the festival reached capacity for vendor applications, promising plenty of food, music and community activities throughout the day.
The parade and festival are free to the public. Coolers and outside alcohol are not permitted. Parking will be available at the festival grounds at Bates Sports Complex, with additional parking near the parade at Annapolis Garage and West Gate Circle.
Project Reconciliation 2026, sponsored by the event organizers, will take place June 20. The event invites participants to “stand in the gap” for ancestors, families and future generations by joining guided dialogue and community connection focused on truth, healing, restoration and unity. Participants can sign up online to join a healing circle.
The Juneteenth celebration will also include a concert at Elktonia-Carr’s Beach Heritage Park, off Bembe Beach Road, on June 19 from 3 to 7 PM. The musical afternoon and evening will also take place on the Annapolis Maritime Museum Park and Pavilion grounds at Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park, just off Edgewood Road. The two sites are adjacent to each other, giving attendees easy access to both locations.
Those interested in participating in the parade can still register their interest online. Residents with artifacts, photos, stories, memories or family connections to Annapolis can also submit them for a chance to be featured on the “Freedom Way” trail during the festival.
“As a celebration of freedom, resilience, and cultural pride, this year’s Juneteenth event invites the community to come together—not only to commemorate history, but to actively participate in the work of healing and building a brighter future,” Coates said.
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