Celebrate freedom and Black resilience at Juneteenth celebrations and events across Pennsylvania.
Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday, marks the end of slavery in the United States by commemorating June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Texas learned they were free—the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier.
Juneteenth celebrates Black freedom, resilience, and resistance. We’ve put together a list of ways to recognize Juneteenth in Pennsylvania in 2026, whether you’re joining a community block party, attending a parade, learning about Black history at a museum, taking in a film that tells Black stories, or supporting Black civil rights by volunteering with or donating to a local advocacy group.
Juneteenth celebrations and festivals across the state
Many communities celebrate Juneteenth with large parades and festivals; others host smaller community gatherings.
Juneteenth Parade & Festival (Philadelphia)
Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026
In Philadelphia, the Juneteenth Parade & Festival is a large, citywide celebration featuring a parade and festival activities as well as live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, and a Black-owned business vendor market. More than 25,000 people are expected to attend!
The parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. and heads toward Malcolm X Park, where you’ll find the festival and market.
Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Celebration (Pittsburgh)
Dates: June 18-21, 2026
Pittsburgh’s Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Celebration is one of the largest in the country; in 2026, it will take over downtown Pittsburgh for four full days of community, music, family fun, great food, and wares from Black artists and Black-owned businesses. Music headliners include Fabolous, Musiq Soulchild, and Lloyd, alongside many more live acts.
Check the celebration’s Facebook page for schedule updates and info on more events.
Erie & Northwestern PA Juneteenth Celebration (Erie)
Dates: June 15-21, 2026
The Erie & Northwestern PA Juneteenth Celebration will mark Juneteenth with an entire week of events, including a large block party as well as smaller activities such as an art exhibition, a boat cruise, and a gospel celebration. The biggest event—the block party—will bring live music and a vendor market to downtown Erie’s Perry Square on Saturday, June 20.
Juneteenth HBG (Harrisburg)
Dates: June 14-20, 2026
Juneteenth HBG will celebrate Black freedom with a full week of family-friendly festivities in Harrisburg. The Juneteenth Jubilee, held at City Island on Friday, June 19, is the marquee event with live music, kids’ activities, food trucks, and a large vendor market. But the week will also include a concert, a Black arts expo, and a cultural celebration at the Narcisse Theatre, among other events you can learn about on the Juneteenth HBG website.
Juneteenth Open House & Look Back (Scranton)
Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
Rather than a large block party as the organization usually hosts on Juneteenth, this year the Black Scranton Project is marking the holiday with a Juneteenth Open House & Look Back. The more casual celebration invites guests to the project’s Center for Arts & Culture to explore the archive documenting past Juneteenth celebrations, listen to music, chat with others while partaking in snacks, and learn more about the Black Scranton Project and how you can get involved.
Juneteenth Lehigh Valley Celebration (Easton, Northampton County)
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
The Juneteenth Lehigh Valley Celebration will take place at Easton’s Riverside Park, with multiple music stages (including hip-hop, R&B, soul, jazz, and reggae), delicious eats, and a marketplace featuring Black makers.
Easton also hosts the Lehigh Valley’s Juneteenth Parade, which takes to Northampton Street at noon on June 20, just before the park festival.
Museum events and gatherings for Juneteenth
Dive into history and culture at Juneteenth events hosted by museums.
Juneteenth Celebration at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (Lancaster)
Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
Together with the civil rights organization the National Action Network, Lancaster’s Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum will hold a unique Juneteenth Celebration with historical interpreters and educational exhibits, live gospel performances, and plenty of family-friendly activities.
Highlights at the living history museum’s celebration include a reenactment of the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation as well as cultural performances featuring artists skilled in spoken word, step, and dance.
Juneteenth Jubilee and Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia
Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
The African American Museum in Philadelphia is hosting its Juneteenth Jubilee and Block Party on Juneteenth itself. Juneteenth happens to be Free Museum Day, courtesy of Wawa Welcome America, meaning visitors can explore museum exhibits such as “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” and “Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776 – 1876” at no cost.
The museum’s block party starts behind the museum at noon and will feature a variety of performers, including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, and Leah Jenea.
Juneteenth at the Museum of the American Revolution (Philadelphia)
Date: June 19-21, 2026
Juneteenth at the Museum of the American Revolution includes a number of engaging events and activities that explore the struggle for Black freedom against the backdrop of a burgeoning United States. Take in a performance depicting the life of Elizabeth Freeman, who was enslaved in Massachusetts until she sued for her freedom and won; a talk by Frederick Douglass’ great-great-grandson on Douglass’ work and legacy; and a guided tour of the museum’s galleries with a focus on the stories of Black Americans.
Black History Walking Tour and Living Portraits of Freedom (Gettysburg)
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
The Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center will host two events as part of Gettysburg’s Juneteenth celebration: a Black History Walking Tour and a Living Portraits of Freedom event. The walking tour will take visitors across the Seminary Ridge grounds in an exploration of Black history, while Living Portraits of Freedom features living history interpreters sharing the stories of historical figures.
Film screenings for Juneteenth
Check out the films, both educational and otherwise, screening across the state in honor of Juneteenth. Many screenings include community discussions either preceding or following the films.
Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: “The Wiz” and “Creed” (Pittsburgh)
Dates: Select dates, June 15-20, 2026
Pittsburgh’s Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park, the free outdoor movie series, will screen two movies in celebration of Juneteenth: “The Wiz,” a take on “The Wizard of Oz” with an all-Black cast, and “Creed,” the seventh movie in the “Rocky” franchise, which stars Michael B. Jordan.
“The Wiz” will be screened four times at different area parks (Banksville Park, Ormsby Park, Brookline Memorial Park, and Grandview Park) while “Creed” will be shown twice (at Flagstaff Hill and Riverview Park).
Free Community Screening of “Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story” (Philadelphia)
Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
The Philadelphia Film Society is hosting a free screening of “Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story,” a film that explores the nation’s founding through the lens of Philadelphians, including Black Philadelphians. A Q&A will follow.
You can reserve free tickets in advance.
Cinema Under the Stars: “Glory” (Gettysburg, Adams County)
Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
Gettysburg’s outdoor film program, Cinema Under the Stars, will present “Glory” at Gettysburg Rec Park on Juneteenth. The movie follows the Union Army’s 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, one of the Civil War’s first African American regiments.
Juneteenth Commemoration: “Glory” Screening (Wrightsville, York County)
Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
Check out a free screening of “Glory” at Mifflin Farm in Wrightsville. The movie follows the Civil War’s 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, one of the Union Army’s first African American regiments.
Local historians will begin the evening with a discussion about Pennsylvanians who fought with the 54th, and the Mifflin Farm staff will share how the farm was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The movie will follow as dusk falls.
Movie Day at the Lansdowne Public Library: “Harriet” (Lansdowne, Delaware County)
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
The Lansdowne Public Library will present a free showing of “Harriet,” a biopic about Harriet Tubman, famed conductor of the Underground Railroad. A community conversation will follow the movie.
More ways to recognize Juneteenth
In addition to attending a local Juneteenth event or celebration, here are more ways to commemorate the holiday and fight for racial justice.
- Support Black-owned businesses by spending money on goods from Black makers and Black entrepreneurs, whether at local vendor markets during Juneteenth celebrations or online.
- Learn about local Black history by visiting a museum with exhibits on Black history or by checking out a new book from your local library.
- Volunteer or donate to local organizations that celebrate the Black community and work against racism. Don’t know where to start? Many of the Juneteenth celebrations we’ve listed are hosted by organizations that build Black community and advocate for civil rights, such as the Black Scranton Project, Young Professionals of Color – Greater Harrisburg, and the National Action Network.
