On Juneteenth, communities across the country come together to honor and celebrate Black heritage. The occasion is marked by jubilees, festivals, block parties, picnics and parades of all sizes. Juneteenth commemorates the 1865 enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas, where Union Major General Granger and 2,000 federal troops reinforced the freedom of all enslaved people.
The Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival
On June 19, 2025, and in the weeks preceding and following this national holiday, neighborhoods and cities plan moments for reflection, cultural pride and collective vision for the future. We’ve gathered 10 Juneteenth celebrations happening across the Commonwealth for you to enjoy:
Western PA Juneteenth & Black Music Celebration
Parade attendees at the WPA Juneteenth and Black Music Celebration
With expected attendance of about 70,000 in 2025, the Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth and Black Music Celebration is among the largest Juneteenth events in the nation. Put on by Stop the Violence PGH, the multi-day event features free live entertainment from acts like Morris Day, the Time, Dru Hill and Donnell Jones. Find YouthFEST and Youth-Fun-Zone activities for children daily, including various sport tournaments. There’s also 200+ vendors, healthy lifestyle programming and free medical screenings throughout the weekend.
It all kicks off on Thursday, June 19 in Mellon Park, with a ticketed boat party on the Gateway Clipper Fleet later that evening. The music and fun continues through Friday and culminates with the Juneteenth March & Parade in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Afterwards, head to the Kelly Strayhorn Theater for Juneteenth Freedom Talks and then back to Mellon Park for more live music. A gospel presentation and other activities close things out in Mellon Park on Sunday.
Young men at the WPA Juneteenth and Black Music Celebration
Erie & Northwestern PA Juneteenth Celebration
The Erie & Northwestern PA Juneteenth Celebration is a block party to remember in downtown Erie. You can start the weekend off in style with the Friday night Juneteenth Mix and Mingle evening cruise. This ticketed event aboard the Victorian Princess features Erie’s Black Wall Street for a night honoring Black excellence. Arrive by 6:30 p.m. for the two-hour cruise, launching at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, June 14, follow the music to Perry Square, where you’ll find lots of food, vendors live performances. It all starts at 10 a.m. and rolls into the night, wrapping up at 8 p.m. Soul and R&B recording artist Glenn Jones will take the stage, as well as local favorites like Lifethrumusic, Round Midnight and Reminiscent.
State College Celebration Weekend
Enjoy back-to-back events in State College the weekend before Juneteenth with the theme “Juneteenth: Our Freedom, Our Fight, Our Future.” On Friday, June 13, the Juneteenth Arts and Crafts Exhibition takes place at the Woskob Family Gallery at 6 p.m. The next day, head to the 100 block of S. Fraser Street for an all-day block party event. From noon to 6 p.m., find food trucks, live bands, poetry, dance, crafts for kids and Black vendors from across Pennsylvania. The events are free and open to the public.
City of York’s Juneteenth Celebration
The City of York Parks and Recreation present the Juneteenth “Lift Every Voice” Celebration on Saturday, June 21 from 12-3 p.m. Everyone is welcome at Campus Park, next to Voni Grimes gym, where there will be food and merchandise vendors, historical presentation, performances, music and a lot of family-friendly fun.
Juneteenth HBG
There’s a lot happening in the state capitol this Juneteenth as part of Young Professionals of Color’s Juneteenth HBG. The Juneteenth Parade debuts on Saturday, June 14 at 12 p.m., wrapping around the Capitol Complex and ending with a presentation on the Capitol Steps. On June 19 at 12 p.m., the Juneteenth Jubilee takes place at Soldier’s Grove behind the Capitol Building. Enjoy free food and activities as DJ Boc spins tunes. The next night, food trucks and live entertainment roll into the SOMA neighborhood from 6 – 9 p.m. for A Taste of Black Harrisburg, featuring dishes from local Black chefs and the city’s vibrant culinary scene. There’s also a summit, press conference and a ticketed musical event to check out in this week-long-plus celebration.
Black Scranton Project’s Juneteenth Jubilee Block Party
Scranton, get ready for a weekend full of celebration put on by Black Scranton Project at this year’s Juneteenth Jubilee Block Party. It’s the fourth largest Juneteenth celebration in the state and features free roller skating, live music, cultural performances and food vendors. It’s all held at the Black Scranton Project Center for Arts and Culture at 1902 N. Main Ave. kicking off at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 with live music, followed by the Black Scranton Punk Fest Friday evening. There’s a Juneteenth service held at Bethel AME before the jubilee closes out with Sunday brunch at 1 p.m.
Juneteenth Lehigh Valley
Juneteenth Lehigh Valley spans over a week, with a great variety of events for those in the Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown areas. On Saturday, June 14 there’s a special Juneteenth tasting with live jazz and poetry at the Lehigh Valley. Tickets are only $5 for this one hour (3 – 4 p.m.) menu tasting, featuring GT3 Jazz Band and sampling of traditional soul food. That same day, head to the Bethlehem Steel Stacks (Arts Quest) for seven hours of musical expression across three stages at the Juneteenth Festival, as live R&B, soul, jazz, reggae and hip-hop acts perform from 2 – 9 p.m. Dine on cultural foods and shop 40+ Black-owned business booths.
On Juneteenth, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs will host a special Juneteenth game event, with a tribute to the National Negro Baseball League and spectacular post-game fireworks. Last, but not least, the Easton Juneteenth Parade takes place on Northampton Street from 3 – 5 p.m., full of colorful floats and vibrant performances.
Sherman Theater Juneteenth Freedom Festival
Stroudsburg is “Getting Fired-Up for Freedom” at the 23rd annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival, held in the Courthouse Square, downtown at 38 N. 7th Street. Network and enjoy live music, food and vendors from 2 – 6:30 p.m. This event, sponsored by the African American Network of the Pocono’s and Sherman Theater is free and open to the community.
Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival
A group of participants in the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival
Among the many wonderful Juneteenth celebrations happening across the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival shines bright. Tap into the power and joy of community on Sunday, June 22 as a parade, marketplace and music festival take place in Fairmount Park and West Philadelphia.
The Juneteenth Marketplace and Art in the Park is free and kicks off at 10 a.m., running all day until 8 p.m. in Malcolm X Park (52nd and Pine St.). Shop 250+ diverse small business vendors, try community dance lessons, dine at the food trucks and Everybody Eats Family Cookout and peruse other useful and interesting resources. There’s a youth pavilion with lots of games and fun for the kids, open all day, too.
The one and a half mile, huge (2,000+ participant) Juneteenth Parade runs from 12:30 – 2 p.m., launching near The Mann Center on S. Concourse Drive and floating down 52nd Streeet to land in Malcolm X Park. Later, get ready to groove at the Juneteenth Music Festival, featuring line dancing and performances from Nailah Blackman, Ria4Reel, Dono and others from 5 p.m. and on.
A woman attending the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival.
Norristown Juneteenth Jubilee Street Festival
Enjoy a dynamic mix of music, art and culture at the 4th annual Norristown Juneteenth Jubilee Street Festival, held this year on June 19th frmo 12 – 6 p.m. Catch live performances from the likes of DJ Diamond Kuts, Kenya Vaun and the Kulu Mele African Dance Ensemble, plus an expansive vendor market, food and drink, facepainting, games and line dancing. You can head inside Centre Theater for immersive cultural experiences, art and historical portrayals. Everything is free and found at the intersection of Dekalb and Main Streets.
Juneteenth in Norristown.
Do you have a favorite Juneteenth celebration in Pennsylvania? We’d love to hear about it. Let us know in the comments below, or join the conversation on the PA Eats Facebook and Instagram pages!
- Feature, first and Philadelphia parade photos: Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival
- WPA Juneteenth & Black Music Celebration photos: Stop the Violence Pittsburgh
- Juneteenth in Erie photo: Cook/Media
- Girl with flag photo and Juneteenth LV photos: Juneteenth Lehigh Valley
- Juneteenth HBG: Young Professionals of Color Greater Harrisburg
- Juneteenth Freedom Festival photo: Sherman Theater
- Norristown Juneteenth Jubilee Street Festival photos: Municipality of Norristown
