Celebrate Juneteenth in Saint Paul

Juneteenth Brunch
Image Credit: OMG Studios

Juneteenth 2024 in Saint Paul

Juneteenth Events

Juneteenth (short for June Nineteenth) was first celebrated on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, when General Gordon Granger—a U.S. Army Officer and Union General during the Civil War—and his troops arrived to the city to free 250,000 enslaved persons under the order of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The troops arrival to Galveston came two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863.

On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill declaring June 19th as a Federal holiday.

On February 3, 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed legislation declaring Juneteenth as a state holiday.

Events in the Capital City

Juneteenth Tours
Saturday, June 15 | Frogtown Farms A vibrant celebration of Juneteenth filled with fun, food and fellowship. Event attendees can venture on a foraging walk to learn about and gather local plants and herbs for the pizza-making session and Farm House Party! Learn More

Blackout Improv

Wednesday, June 19 | The Ordway

Blackout Improv is an all-Black, Minnesota-based improv troupe that has brought truth and laughter through improv to audiences since 2015. Celebrate Juneteenth at The Ordway through humor, music and swag!

Film Screening of ​“Juneteenth Reckoning with Slavery: MN African American History”
Wednesday, June 19 | OMG Studios Co-produced by OMG Studios and the Minnesota Humanities Center, this documentary challenges our understanding of slavery, its impact on Minnesota and how we reconcile our past by taking viewers on a present-day journey to Ghana. Learn More
Juneteenth Tours
Wednesday, June 19 | Historic Fort Snelling Learn about early Black communities in what would become the state of Minnesota, and about African Americans newly arriving to the area during the Civil War. Learn More
Juneteenth Brunch Featuring Bakari Sellers
Thursday, June 20 | St. Paul Event Center Join the Minnesota Humanities Center in an opportunity for the community to examine how we can work toward greater justice and equity together. The brunch will feature a keynote address and community conversation with Bakari Sellers on the thesis of his new book The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn't and How We All Can Move Forward Now Learn More
Juneteenth 2024: A Family Celebration
Saturday, June 22 | Minnesota State Capitol Head to the grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol for the 3rd Annual installment of this celebration, presented by the McKnight Foundation, Minnesota Department of Health, and Ramsey County Public Health. Visitors can enjoy live performances, music, food, a kids pavilion, a wealth-building pavilion, health and wellness resources, and more! https://www.facebook.com/events/3631382660512112

How are you celebrating Juneteenth 2024? Let us know on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter with #MYSAINTPAUL

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