Your guide to Juneteenth celebrations around Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh and Pitt are joining in the nationwide jubilation for Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S. Don’t miss these June events, where you can learn about the history of the holiday, celebrate freedom and serve the community.

A jubilant downtown festival

June 14-16

The Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Celebration, the largest in the region, is back, complete with the Grand Jubilee Juneteenth Parade, a voting rights forum and a salute to military service. The celebration also encompasses the Pittsburgh Black Music Festival, which will offer a vibrant mix of music across genres, including live jazz, gospel, hip-hop, RnB, funk, blues and soul performances.

Pitt departments can also table at the festival on Saturday and Sunday. Sign up, or contact Chance Wideman (chw246 [at] pitt.edu) or Keith Caldwell (keith.caldwell [at] pitt.edu) with questions.

Where: Market Square and Point State Park

Tickets: This is an unticketed event.

Family fun in Homewood

Friday, June 14, 3-6 p.m.

Join the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh and other community partners for the neighborhood’s Pre-Juneteenth Festival. The event will feature free food, live entertainment, a group fitness class, a kid's zone and special guest speakers, including Leon Ford, Jason Rivers and Rev. Cornell Jones.

Where: Homewood-Brushton YMCA, 7140 Bennett St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15208

Tickets: This is an unticketed event.

Glass creations in Bloomfield

Saturday, June 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Glass Center is holding a Juneteenth community open house in collaboration with Kelly Strayhorn Theater and the Legacy Arts Project. Enjoy glass-making demonstrations and explore a multimedia installation, “Myth-Science of the Gatekeepers,” which features life-size statues of Black queer Kemetic deities by Rainbow Serpent, a Black LGBTQ+ arts collective.

Where: Pittsburgh Glass Center, 5472 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15206

Tickets: Most activities are free and unticketed; register in advance to create your own glass sculpture.

Freedom festivities in Penn Hills

Saturday, June 15, 12-3 p.m.

Enjoy African dancing and drumming and honor unsung community heroes at this New Life Community Ministries event. The New Life Community Ministries festival will also feature arts and crafts, games, a scavenger hunt, free snacks and food trucks.

Where: Universal Park, 1 Memorial Park Lane, Penn Hills, PA, 15235

Tickets: This is an unticketed event.

Movie night in Oakland

Tuesday, June 18, 6:30 p.m.

Join members of Equipoise, Pitt’s community for African American and Black staff and faculty, for a screening of “American Fiction.” The film will be followed by a discussion and happy hour at Spirits and Tales. Refreshments will be served during the movie.

Where: William Pitt Union, Room 630, 3959 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213

Tickets: This is a free event, but registration is requested.

Community service in the Hill District

Friday, June 21, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Pitt Serves and the Engaged Campus will host a day of service in the Pittsburgh neighborhood. Volunteers will help with local projects, such as litter cleanup and grounds maintenance around the Hill, then join a lunch and learn session to discuss the impact of community engagement.

Where: Transportation will be provided from the Pittsburgh campus; register on the Pitt Serves portal for more information.

Cultural expression in Carnegie

Saturday, June 22, 2-4 p.m.

This Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall event combines cultural expression and historical education. Pitt Associate Professor Alaina Roberts is among the local experts who will speak at the festivities. The celebration will also include performances by local studio Dance INK and artwork displays.

Where: 300 Beechwood Ave., Carnegie, PA, 15106

Tickets: This is a free event, but registration is requested.

— Donovan Harrell