Per Montgomery County via Eventbrite:
County Executive Marc Elrich in coordination with the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights is hosting the 25th Juneteenth Celebration will be held at the BlackRock Center for the Arts located at 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown on Saturday June 18th.

This is a free family-friendly event and all are encouraged to “share the event” on their social media pages. Please RSVP to receive a day of reminder email with the direct link to the event and any additional announcements. Although not necessary, we encourage you to RSVP for the total number of expected attendees.

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Arts, Food, Music, Film Festival, Games and More!

Come enjoy a free public event filled with activities for the whole family the ENTIRE day! From dance classes to films, from art exhibits to paint and sips, from The Living Legends awards to a full day of concerts you won’t want to miss!

Join Us as We Acknowledge, Educate and Celebrate!

Event Food

Taste of Soul Food Bistro – starting at noon

Enjoy the taste of Caribbean, African, and Soul Food. Don’t forget your flavored ice!

Event Arts and Crafts

Trail of Knowledge Passport

Come get a passport to travel the BlackRock campus to obtain educational clues. Families can participate in cultural crafts and activities that tells a story – a story of where it came from, who made it, the culture and heritage of place, and Why Juneteenth exist! Get Your Passport Stamped!

Event Performances, Workshops, and More

Visual and Performing Arts + Freedom Talks

Experience and learn about the African American culture and history through dance performances, monologues, educational panels, workshops, and more!

Visual Arts by Alonzo Davis | All Day

While he was inspired by travel to Africa, the Caribbean and American Southwest—the colors and patterns of the Pacific Rim cultures also seeped into Davis’ artwork.

Slave Museum Display | All Day

The Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery is located in the historic freeman’s village of Sandy Spring founded in 1728. Learn about the heritage of Blacks through the middle passage building America, salvation of the Underground Railroad, the struggle for civil rights and more.

Freedom Talk: Youth + Civic Engagement | To Be Determined

Come learn how your young adults can get involved in civic engagement activities to make a difference in the world and make an impact.

Freedom Talk: Powerful Era for Women of Color | To Be Determined

Come listen to the story of some of the most powerful women of color in the Washington Metropolitan Era as they speak about their success and challenges that brought them where they are in top executive and corporate roles.

MORE TO COME!

Event Pavilion Concert Series

Music at the Pavilion + BlackBox

Bring Your Own Chair (BYOC) and enjoy the sounds of Soul, Jazz, and Caribbean music.

Crush Funk Brass Band | 11 am

Enjoy a group of passionate young musicians that enjoy performing and playing a little bit of a lot of the music you like through-out the DMV.

Langston Hughes II | 12:30 pm

Come listen to a young saxophonist, flutist, bandleader, and composer with a dynamic, emotive style.

Pan Lara | 2 pm

Enjoy the African Caribbean sounds of Pan Lara as they entertain us with rhythmic sounds of steel pan music.

Rare Essence | 5:30 pm

Washington’s premier Go‑Go band for more than four decades is a DC institution that has built a devoted fan base that spans multiple generations, drawn to the indigenous funk sired in the mid ‘70s by the late Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown.

Earth, Wind, and Fire Tribute Band | 8 pm

End Juneteenth with music of Earth, Wind, and Fire. A band comprised of talented musicians who are also huge Earth, Wind & Fire fans and are passionate about accurately re-creating those iconic sounds. From the soulful vocals to the dynamic horns and funky rhythm section.

Black Broadway On U | 8 pm

Summertime and the living is easy! Sway, bop, and shake a tail feather to the sounds of Pearl Bailey and Ella Fitzgerald presented by Black Broadway on U. Black Broadway on U is a digital cultural storytelling project chronicling and preserving the hidden black history and cultural legacy of U Street, D.C., circa 1900-1960s for generations to come.

Event Films and Documentaries

Docs, Films, and Poets

Come enjoy a series of films and documentaries that focuses primarily on black film, honoring accomplishments and successors.

Josiah Henson Monologue | 10:15 am

A monologue documenting the little-known Josiah Henson, the escaped slave who inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” (1 hr)

Summer of Soul | 11:00 am

Documenting the summer of 1969, thousands of people attend the Harlem Cultural Festival to celebrate Black history, culture, music and fashion. (1 hr 58 mins)

Soul | 1:00 pm

Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn’t quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz — and he’s good. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul. (1 hr 40 mins)

ACT-SO | 3:00 pm

Montgomery County’s ACT-SO celebrates Juneteenth with a variety of acts, including dancing, poetry, and Song! (1 hr )

BLACK PANTHER | 7:30 pm

Black Panther’s mettle as king gets tested when an old enemy draws him into a conflict that puts his nation and the world at risk. The king must soon rally his allies and release his full power to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people. (2 hr 14 mins)

Give Honor Where Honor Is Due at The Living Legends Awards

“Only by acknowledging the success and sacrifice made by those who came before us, can we fully understand what we must do to ensure the liberty of those who will succeed us.” – Yvette Clarke . Join us as we celebrate our County’s Living Legends on Black Rock’s main stage. The program will include music, honoree videos and a presentation by The Buffalo Soldiers.

MORE ACTIVITES …

Exhibits and Vendors | 10 AM – 5PM

Stop by our exhibit area on the lawn for free resources and information provided by the County and City departments, partners and friends. And visit vendors that will be selling everything from artwork to jewelry.

African American Diaspora Family Village | 10 AM – 5 PM

Have fun challenging your friends, family and neighbors at the giant World of Sports and Basketball Connect Four.

Special Event Parking

Parking available at the Upper County Regional Services Center.

Offsite Parking available at Montgomery College and Seneca Valley High School from 12:00 noon to 11:30 pm with shuttles to BlackRock. Shuttles leaving every 15 minutes.

Limited parking will be available for handicap parking.

COVID 19 Safety Protocols

• Face Coverings (Masks) Are Not Required, But Are Recommended. In accordance with CDC guidelines, masks are not required but recommended. If you are not fully vaccinated, we ask that you continue to wear a mask in public areas where close contact is unavoidable unless actively enjoying food or drinks. They must cover the mouth and nose.
• Practicing Social Distancing. Protect yourself and others against the infection and maintain a 6′ distance from others.
• Capacity Measures. We will enforce capacity for all activities and sections throughout the event for the safety of all attendees.
• No Entry with Symptoms. Temperatures will be monitored at check-in of the event.
• Hand Sanitization. Stations of hand sanitizer will be located throughout the premises.