Alliance Wire

Juneteenth Events Going on in South Jersey

By: Tania Qurashi

June 16, 2023

Juneteenth is an annual holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when the last slaves in Galveston, Texas, were freed two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 was issued. To celebrate freedom, we celebrate Juneteenth throughout the region.

There are many exciting events happening throughout the weekend in South Jersey!

• Camden County:
  • Motown Review live performances in Sicklerville at New Brooklyn Park on Saturday, June 17th, at 7 pm.
  • Juneteenth Independence Day Celebration at Wiggins Waterfront Park on June 17th from 1 pm-7 pm.

• Burlington County:
  • Burlington Freedom Day 2023: A Juneteenth Celebration on June 18th from 2 pm-7 pm.
  • Burlington Juneteenth Celebration at Riverfront Promenade on Saturday and Sunday, June 17th and 18th, from 2 pm-7 pm.

• Gloucester County:
  • Stewart Park in Woodbury, NJ, will host a two-day event with live music, line dancing, food, vendors, games, and free water ice from 12 pm-4 pm.
  • Juneteenth 117K Populaire 2023, a long-distance cycling event, will take place in Gibbstown, NJ, on Saturday, June 17th

• Salem County:
  • Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Salem, NJ, is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration with a freedom walk on Friday, June 16th, at MLK Park on Market Street in Salem, NJ, and on Saturday, June 17th at 437 Grieves Parkway Salem, NJ 08079

• Cumberland County:
  • Cumberland County Library will host a free, family-friendly event with food, arts and crafts, and storytelling on Saturday, June 17th, from 11 am to 2 pm.

• Atlantic County:
  • Black Excellence Festival will occur at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City from Friday, June 16th to Sunday, June 18th.

• Cape May County:
  • Ocean City will have a Juneteenth event on June 17th from 1 pm to 5 pm, featuring music, entertainment, family-friendly activities, and guest speakers.
  • The Harriet Tubman Museum of New Jersey will host the Harriet Tubman Juneteenth Weekend Celebration in Cape May, offering special tours.

• Ocean County:
  • The Ocean County Library will present a live program called "When the Cavalry Came to Call" by storyteller Michelle Washington Wilson in honor of Juneteenth.