4 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth with Your Kids 2022

Juneteenth is a celebration of the day in 1865 when word of Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation — which had been signed two years prior and freed all enslaved people — made its way to Texas.

*Featured image from the annual Juneteenth celebration at the Eiteljorg.

A combination of the words “June” and “Nineteenth,” Juneteenth was first made an official Texas state holiday in 1979, but since then, people have begun to honor the day (also called Emancipation Day) all around the United States.

Juneteenth is a day for African Americans to honor their culture and history, as well as a day for non-Blacks to learn more about this significant day in our country, including why it took over two years for the news to get to Texas and how freed slaves were treated as a result. Above all, it’s a day meant for self-reflection, understanding the truths of the past and the realities of the present.

Here are some ideas for ways to celebrate Juneteenth with your family:

Read and Learn About Juneteenth as a Family

Celebrating this holiday is only meaningful if you understand what’s being celebrated. Start off by checking out some of the many books that have been written about this holiday and discuss them as a family! If you can’t get your hands on these before June 19, there’s a good chance you can listen to readalongs of some of these on YouTube.

Picture Books & Young Readers

• All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom
  By Angela Johnson
• Freedom’s Gifts
  By Valerie Wesley
• Juneteenth Jamboree
  By Carole Boston Weatherford
• Juneteenth for Mazie
  By Floyd Cooper

Chapter Books / Teens

• Come Juneteenth
  By Ann Rinaldi
• Juneteenth
  By Rachel Koestler-Grack
• Juneteenth
  By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
• Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom
  By Charles Taylor
• Juneteenth: Freedom Day
  By Muriel Miller Branch
• Let’s Celebrate Emancipation Day & Juneteenth
  By Barbara deRubertis
• The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure
  By Steven Otfinoski
• Tiny’s Emancipation
  By Linda Baten Johnson

Related: 40 Books to Help You Talk to Your Kids About Racism

Create a Juneteenth Feast

Red foods — a symbol of the resilience and ingenuity of enslaved people — are customary on a Juneteenth table. Strawberries, watermelon, red-colored juice, cherry pie, red velvet cake, sausages, hot dogs and barbecue are just some of the red-hued foods you can include in your feast. And don’t forget the soul food: fried chicken, collard greens, mac & cheese. Is your mouth watering yet? Let your kids help you make the menu and decorate the table, and then discuss the significance and history behind the meal you’re sharing.

Make Juneteenth Decorations

You can honor and learn more about this holiday through decor! Do research into where enslaved Blacks came from and honor those places by making a banner of African flags at home with construction paper. Or make your very own Juneteenth flag.

Juneteenth Celebration around Indianapolis

Indy Juneteenth Celebration at White River State Park

Date: June 18, 2022   

With Celebrations since 2016 all over Indianapolis, in 2022 we are excited to announce that our next festival will take place at WHITE RIVER STATE PARK at Celebration Plaza on June 18, 2022, downtown Indianapolis. Not only will there be a festival with live music, food trucks, DJs, games, education stations, and more; but there will also be a parade full of local businesses and community organizations bringing our community together to celebrate Juneteenth in the name of Freedom, diversity, and inclusion. 

Juneteeth at the Indiana State Museum + Free Admission

Date: June 18, 2022

The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites invite you to celebrate Juneteenth – which commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States – with free admission to the Indiana State Museum and at the historic sites (excluding New Harmony). 

Juneteenth & Jazz Community Celebration at the Eiteljorg museum 

Date: June 18, 2022

Celebrate Juneteenth at the Eiteljorg with performances, art making activities, and FREE admission for all.

Juneteenth Jamboree at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Date: June 19, 2022

Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.”

Check out the official Juneteenth website for more resources, history, ideas and more!