Celebrate Juneteenth in Los Angeles

Also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day, Juneteenth is an annual celebration that commemorates the emancipation of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865 - two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been enacted - Union soldiers rode into Galveston, Texas and General Gordon Granger announced the news that the slaves in Texas were free. Juneteenth dates to 1866 in Galveston and is now celebrated across the country.
From neighborhood festivals to movie screenings and more, read on for highlights of Juneteenth events in Los Angeles. All events take place on Thursday, June 19 unless otherwise noted.

Repossessions & Reparations - CAAM (June 19, 2025)
Celebrate Juneteenth at CAAM and explore Repossessions, a group exhibition reflecting on reparations for descendants of enslaved African Americans. Exhibiting artists Chelle Barbour, Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle (Olomidara Yaya), Rodney Ewing, Curtis Patterson and Marcus Brown will speak about their work on a tour led by exhibition curator Bridget R. Cooks.
Afterwards, engage in an insightful panel discussion with representatives of The Reparations Project and Reparations4Slavery, organizations that support the descendant families of enslavers to pursue ancestral healing through repairing generational harm. Panelists include Lotte Lieb Dula and Briayna Cuffie of Reparations4Slavery, Sarah Eisner and Randy Quarterman of The Reparations Project, and moderator Bridget R. Cooks. Free with RSVP at the CAAM website.

Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride (June 19, 2025)
Since its inception, the Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride has been a celebration of liberation! All cyclists who resonate with this spirit are invited to pump up the tires on your bicycle and join us for an enjoyable ride that promotes Black excellence, Juneteenth, and safe cycling in historic Leimert Park.
The Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride brings cyclists from all over Southern California together to celebrate the holiday with a ride through central Los Angeles, showcasing historical African American sites. Bring out your road bike, fixie, mountain bike, hybrid, e-bike or anything in-between!

Los Angeles Public Library (June 2025)
Several branches of the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) are hosting in-person Juneteenth events. Located at Exposition Park, the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Regional Branch Library is hosting Freedom Day: A Juneteenth Storytelling Celebration on Saturday, June 7. Taking place from 1pm to 3pm, the free event will feature local storytellers, poets and music. For the full schedule of Juneteenth events, visit the LAPL website.

Rooftop Cinema Club - LEVEL (June 19, 2025)
Rooftop Cinema Club offers a premier outdoor movie experience at LEVEL in Downtown LA. To celebrate Juneteenth, RCC is screening Love Jones and Love & Basketball. Doors for Love Jones open at 7:35pm, event starts 8:35pm; and 10:40pm/11:10pm for Love & Basketball. Tickets are on sale at the RCC website, with options for Adirondack Chair, Adirondack Chair + Popcorn and Adirondack Love Seat + Popcorn.

Angel City FC vs NC Courage - BMO Stadium (June 14, 2025)
On Saturday, June 14, Angel City FC hosts the North Carolina Courage at BMO Stadium for a Juneteenth Celebration. The match will include a first-ever collab with the LA Chargers, featuring an ACFC x Chargers Silipint Cup.

Juneteenth Festival - LA Center Studios (June 15, 2025)
Black on the Block presents the fourth annual Juneteenth Festival, taking place from 1-8pm on Sunday, June 15 at Los Angeles Center Studios. The all-ages festival features live performances by Mario and THEY; 150+ Black-owned businesses, 40 food vendors, drinks, special guests, activations, giveaways, gaming and much more.
Tickets are on sale via the Black on the Block app. The VIP Experience (21+) includes access to the indoor-outdoor lounge overlooking the festival; separate VIP entrance to the festival, open wine bar (1-3pm), access to seating and cabanas (first-come, first-served), photobooth and VIP cash bars.

Juneteenth Improv Extravaganza - UCB (June 19, 2025)
One night, four teams, all Black improvisers at the famed Upright Citizens Brigade! On Juneteenth, come to UCB and enjoy four teams, featuring some of the funniest performers, doing exactly what the ancestors always wanted for the future - for Black people to do improv comedy! Hosted by Ronnie Adrian, tickets at the UCB website.

Black in Mayberry (June 19-28, 2025)
Black in Mayberry presents the 4th annual Juneteenth Festival, taking place at 910 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice; and El Segundo Recreation Park.
First up is FREEDOM: Juneteenth Exhibition & Celebration in Venice, featuring an Opening Reception on Juneteenth; the Freedom Exhibition (June 19-28), Family Art Day (June 20) and a Guided Tour & Panel Discussion on Saturday, June 28.
The South Bay edition will take place at El Segundo Recreation Park (401 Sheldon St) on Saturday, June 21, featuring live music and performances, interactive and visual arts, Kids Zone, Black-owned vendors, food trucks and community partners.

Juneteenth Ceremony & Celebration - Manhattan Beach (June 19 & 22, 2025)
The City of Manhattan Beach invites the community to celebrate Juneteenth with two events filled with reverence, education, entertainment and community engagement.
The Juneteenth Ceremony is taking place on June 19 from 10-11am at historic Bruce's Beach Park. The ceremony will include speakers from the community, special guests and poets from the Mira Costa Black Students Union. Free with RSVP at Eventbrite.
The second event is the family-friendly Juneteenth Celebration & Concert, which will be held from 11am to 3pm at Polliwog Park on Sunday, June 22. Shop Black-owned business vendors and enjoy food trucks, live music and special performances.

Juneteenth Celebration & Bell-Ringing - Korean Bell of Friendship
One of San Pedro's most famous landmarks, the Korean Bell of Friendship was presented by South Korea to the American people in 1976 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. and to symbolize the friendship between the two nations. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law to officially designate Juneteenth as an American federal holiday, and the Korean Friendship Bell was rung for the first time on June 19 in its commemoration.
Presented by the L.A. County African American Employees Association, the Juneteenth Celebration is taking place at the Korean Bell from 11am to 1pm. The festivities will include a bell ringing, music and light refreshments. Free with RSVP at Eventbrite.

Juneteenth Celebration - Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific presents the annual Juneteenth Celebration, taking place from 1-2pm on Thursday, June 19. Learn about the history of this holiday and its significance to the African American community and beyond. Discover the traditions of this annual celebration through music, storytelling and more. The Juneteenth Celebration is included with General Admission and will also be live streamed on the Aquarium’s YouTube page.