National Museum of African American History and Culture Honors Juneteenth With Special Community Day June 15

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) celebrates the Juneteenth holiday early with a special Community Day and “A Seat at the Table” evening program Saturday, June 15. The public is invited to join the museum’s Juneteenth celebration—during the entire month of June—and embrace the rich history of Freedom Day each week.

“Juneteenth is a time to celebrate freedom—both its promise and the enduring legacy of those who valiantly sought to realize it,” said Kevin Young, NMAAHC’s director. “As we look to this form of living history, this now-federal holiday reminds us of the joy and struggle of the past as well as the possibilities of the future.” 

The public is invited to learn more about the history and legacy of Juneteenth, download a free digital toolkit and check out the museum’s Juneteenth reading list and other resources.

Juneteenth Programming Schedule 

Juneteenth Community Day Celebration

Saturday, June 15; 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Visitors can join the museum for its Juneteenth Community Day, themed “Freedom, Movement, and Migration,” Saturday, June 15. This special day is designed to engage people of all ages in a meaningful celebration of freedom and cultural evolution, commemorating Juneteenth’s significance in the journey toward equality and recognition in American history. The museum will celebrate Juneteenth early with a day filled with educational, cultural and dynamic programs that enrich understanding and honor the legacy of freedom, movement and migration. Juneteenth Community Day promises an unforgettable experience, blending history, culture and celebration.

Full schedule for Saturday, June 15:

Juneteenth Storytime
11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Visitors can delight their little ones with engaging story sessions and introduce them to diverse perspectives, fostering a love for reading. The museum will feature Tami Charles reading her latest book, We Are Here. 

Crafts of Juneteenth
12 p.m.–2 p.m.
Participants can design their own Juneteenth flag and create art based on the life and works of artist, veteran and fish pepper seed enthusiast, Horace Pippin. All ages are welcome. 

Presenting the Buffalo Soldiers
11 a.m.–1 p.m.; 2 p.m.–4 p.m. 
Visitors can learn about the 19th- and 20th-century all-Black regiments’ pivotal role in supporting the nation’s westward expansion, presented by representatives from the U.S. Forest Service and the Buffalo Soldiers, Greater Washington DC Chapter, 9th and 10th Cavalry Association. 

Juneteenth Chef’s Table and Book Signing
12 p.m.–2 p.m.
A special plant-based menu will be curated by renowned vegan chef and food activist Bryant Terry at the museum’s Sweet Home Café. Books by Terry, such as Afro-Vegan, Vegetable Kingdom and Black Food, will be signed by him and available for purchase. 

Mixology of Juneteenth
12 p.m.–2 p.m. 
Participants can join the Sweet Home Café for an exciting mocktail workshop. Denise Jones, the café’s general manager, will demonstrate how to make traditional Juneteenth mocktails, including hibiscus “Red Drink,” mint lemonade and other delicious drinks using fresh ingredients from NMAAHC’s Pippin Garden.

Juneteenth Soundstage
3 p.m.
Visitors can experience soul-stirring live jazz performances by Alphonso Horne and the Gotham. Kings in Heritage Hall. They can dive into the evolution of jazz, celebrating its diverse regional styles and role as a symbol of movement, migration and resilience. 

A Seat at the Table: A Juneteenth Conversation with Bryant Terry and Kevin Young 
Saturday, June 15; 6:45 p.m.
Heritage Hall
$40. Registration is required.
The museum will present a special edition of a signature program that brings together two remarkable voices in a dynamic dialogue about food, culture and social justice. Bryant Terry, the James Beard Award-winning chef, food activist and author of the acclaimed Black Food, will sit down with NMAAHC’s director Kevin Young to explore the rich tapestry of African American cuisine and its evolution through the lens of migration, identity and resilience. Terry will also discuss his groundbreaking approach to veganism, challenging stereotypes of African American cuisine and promoting healthy eating as a form of social justice activism.  

During this event, attendees can indulge in a special plant-based meal curated by Terry, designed to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of African American cuisine and Juneteenth. They can also participate in a small discussion at their tables about healthier ways of eating, explore ancestral forms of cooking and learn how to share these time-honored meals and practices with their families and communities. 

The Sweet Home Café

The Sweet Home Café will feature a special menu collaboration with Executive Chef Ramin Coles and vegan chef, activist and author Bryant Terry. The menu will be available beginning Saturday, June 15, and offered through the weekend. More details are available on the Sweet Home Café’s webpage. Entry to the museum includes access to the café.

New Exhibition To Open in December

The museum will open “In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World” in the Bank of America Special Exhibitions Gallery Dec. 13. This international exhibition explores, interrogates and reframes the history and legacies of slavery, colonialism and freedom on a global scale using historic artifacts and contemporary artworks from collections around the world. More information is available on the museum’s website at nmaahc.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/in-slaverys-wake.

About the Museum

Since opening Sept. 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed 10 million in-person visitors and millions more through its digital presence. Occupying a prominent location next to the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the nearly 400,000-square-foot museum is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. The museum has also launched and is continually expanding its reach with the Searchable Museum portal and other efforts to bring African American history into the world’s hands and homes. For more information about the museum, visit nmaahc.si.edu, follow @NMAAHC on X, Facebook and Instagram or call Smithsonian information at (202) 633-1000.

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