From Parades to House Music: How Austin Is Marking Juneteenth This Year

Central Texas will pay tribute to Juneteenth this Thursday, June 19, with a comprehensive lineup of events honoring the day in 1865 when enslaved individuals in Texas were finally notified of their freedom, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Throughout the region, communities will commemorate the historic milestone with parades, remembrance ceremonies, music, and cultural events that aim to honor the past and uplift the present.

The Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival will be set for 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Rosewood Park in Austin. The celebration features a parade with vibrant floats, local performers, and food vendors, complemented by afternoon and evening activities that extend into the nearby Boggy Creek Park. The celebrations will culminate in a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

At 2 p.m., a Juneteenth Remembrance Ceremony will be held at the George Washington Carver Museum to honor our ancestors and promote reflection and solidarity within the community. Earlier in the day, Georgetown will hold a Citizens Memorial Cemetery Dedication at 10 a.m., unveiling a new historical marker at one of the city’s historically African American and Hispanic cemeteries.

Evening events will showcase the rich cultural heritage of Juneteenth through music and community gatherings. "Hella Free: The Juneteenth Function" is set to take place at the Empire Control Room on E. 7th Street from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., with Cat Records and the Austin Justice Coalition serving as hosts. Central Machine Works Brewery will host “Together Vol 5: Juneteenth House Music Boogie,” a complimentary event showcasing DJs Shani, Matthieu Robert, and Zero G from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Hotel Vegas and The Volstead Lounge on East 6th Street will host a celebration starting at 6 p.m., featuring live performances from artists such as Nubia Emmon, The Teeta, and Kydd Jones.

Juneteenth, a fusion of "June" and "nineteenth," marks the significant occasion on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger reached Galveston, Texas, to declare that all enslaved individuals were liberated. 

Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, its enforcement was sluggish and frequently met with resistance, particularly in Texas. The federally recognized holiday continues to expand as a day dedicated to education, reflection, and the celebration of freedom and the resilience of African Americans.