Texas was the first state to officially recognize, the now federal holiday, Juneteenth. As a result, traditional celebrations often reflect a Texas influence. While the people of Texas tend to celebrate with barbecues and rodeos, here in Minnesota, Juneteenth celebrations are heavy on food trucks and music festivals with a focus on African American history, culture and civil rights. Family-friendly festivals abound in Minnesota this year. We’ve gathered up some of our favorites below.
Note: Now that Juneteenth is an officially recognized federal and state holiday, many places may be closed on Thursday, June 19th. We recommend calling ahead to avoid disappointment on all special holidays.
A Short History of Juneteenth:
In 2021, President Biden declared June 19th a National Holiday, making Juneteenth an official holiday. Also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day, the holiday has been a grassroots celebration for over 150 years, since June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger read the General Order Number 3 and enslaved people were declared free in Galveston, Texas. This event happened two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring the end of slavery in the United States on January 1, 1863.
General Order Number 3:
“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”
Minneapolis & Saint Paul Juneteenth Celebrations
Juneteenth Celebrating Freedom Day
Date: 06/13/2026 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Bethune Park, 1304 N 10th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55411
Bethune Park in Minneapolis observes Juneteenth with family-friendly activities, food vendors, music and entertainment. Admission is free.
Loring Pre-Juneteenth Celebration (FREE)
Date: 06/18/2026 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Loring Park, 1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55403
Activities include spoken word poetry performances and collaborative mural art.
Juneteenth at the Fort
Date: 06/19/2026 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Ave, Saint Paul, MN , 55111
Historic Fort Snelling will be open on Juneteenth for self-guided exploration and special one-hour tours focusing on African American history at Fort Snelling. Included with site admission of $8-$12/person.
Soul of the Southside
Date: 06/19/2026 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Soul of the Southside Festival, E Lake St & Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55406
Celebrate Juneteenth with your southside neighbors, Family activities include bounce house, face painting, local DJs, hands-on pottery activities, wellness zone, community market, short film screenings, storytelling and local authors at Moon Palace Books, food and beverages for sale. FREE. All Ages. Drop In.
Juneteeth Celebration
Date: 06/20/2026 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Location: Midtown Global Market, 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN , 55407
Celebrate Juneteenth Freedom Day at Midtown Global Market.
Northeast Metro Juneteenth Celebrations
Roseville Juneteenth Celebration
Date: 06/13/2026 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Roseville Central Park, 2540 Lexington Ave, Roseville, MN, 55113
Do Good Roseville has planned a festival in Central Park that will include music, food and vendors to browse in honor of the Juneteenth holiday. Admission is free.
Silverwood Juneteenth Celebration
Date: 06/17/2026 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Silverwood Park, 2500 County Road E, St. Anthony, MN, 55421
Celebrate Juneteenth with artmaking activities, festive music from Obi Original and the Black Atlantics, a local market and a food truck. FREE. All Ages. Drop In.
Vadnais Heights Freedom Day Festival
Date: 06/20/2026 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Kohler Meadows Park, 365 County Rd F E, Vadnais Heights, MN, 55127
Vadnais Heights offers an all ages, family-friendly Juneteenth event packed with live music, free food, an interactive graffiti art project, history and resource center and much more! Admission is free.
Northwest Metro Juneteenth Celebrations
Maple Grove Juneteenth Celebration
Date: 06/19/2026 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Town Green Park, 7991 Main Street North, Maple Grove, MN, 55369
Family fun starts at 5pm with a musical entertainment and kids’ activities, a vendor fair and food trucks.
Brooklyn Park Juneteenth Celebration (FREE)
Date: 06/20/2026 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: North Hennepin Community College, 7411 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55445
This combined community Juneteenth celebration for Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park includes entertainment, food trucks, a community resource fair, a bouncy house and activities for all ages. This is an outdoor program. Bring lawn chairs or blanket seating.
Southeast Metro Juneteenth Celebrations
Burnsville Juneteenth Celebration
Date: 06/20/2026 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Location: Nicollet Commons Park, 12550 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN, 55337
Burnsville’s Juneteenth celebration includes music, dancing, crafts, food trucks, and henna. FREE. Drop In. All Ages.
Eagan Juneteenth Celebration (FREE)
Date: 06/21/2026 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Viking Lakes, 2685 Vikings Circle, Eagan, MN, 55121
Celebrate Juneteenth in Eagan with live music, a DJ, vendors, food trucks and games for the whole family.
Southwest Metro Juneteenth Celebrations
Juneteenth Storytelling (FREE)
Date: 06/16/2026 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: St. Louis Park Library, 3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park, MN, 55426
Join the Black Storytellers Alliance for traditional folktales and storytelling at the St Louis Park Library.
Rollin' at the ROC Juneteenth Skate (FREE)
Date: 06/18/2026 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: St Louis Park Rec Center & ROC, 3700 Monterey Dr, St Louis Park, MN , 55416
June’s Rollin’ at the ROC event is a FREE Juneteenth skate and includes free roller-skating lessons! Drop in to celebrate on wheels. FREE plus free skate rental. All Ages. Drop In.
Edina Juneteenth Celebration
Date: 06/19/2026 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave S, Edina, MN, 55435
Celebrate Juneteenth at Home:
At home family fun: Juneteenth is the celebration of the end of slavery in the U.S. While slavery was never legal in the State of Minnesota, it was a reality in the territory until the landmark Dred Scott decision. Learn more at the MNHS website.
Craft: Make or color a Juneteenth Flag. Homeschool Superfreak offers a free printable flag.
Read aloud: Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford. There are several books about the Dred Scott case for grade school and up kids. I, Dred Scott: A Fictional Slave Narrative Based on the Life and Legal Precedent of Dred Scott can even be added to Kindle. For younger kids, Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine. Other topics to read about could include:
- President Abraham Lincoln
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or the
- Civil War between the Confederate States and the Union Army.
Meal Idea: Traditionally families barbecue in the backyard and serve strawberry pop on Juneteenth.
Dinner Conversation Starter: Do you see injustice around you now? What can we do as a family to make a change?
Learn More: at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture. Thank you to Washington County Library for this suggestion.
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It’s not on the actual day, but Mounds View is holding a Juneteenth celebration on June 22nd at the Mounds View Community Center from 1-3 pm. There will be ice cream, music and bounce houses and at 1:30 pm the Mayor will present a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth as an important day of celebration and reflection.
Thank you, Hope. I’ve added this event to the list.