Honoring Juneteenth in Downtown Tempe
Category Events
Juneteenth is the day when freedom from slavery became a reality for all African Americans. In 2021, President Biden declared Juneteenth a national holiday, and Tempe was the first city in the Valley to officially deem Juneteenth a paid holiday on an annual basis. Making Juneteenth a holiday is just one way to draw awareness to the importance of this holiday. This year, Downtown Tempe honors Juneteenth through an annual Juneteenth Event that invites people of all races to share in and witness black joy.
Events may seem, on the surface, as if they are superficial … some fun with games, food, and music. But they are so much more than that. For ages, events have allowed groups large and small to come together and celebrate life and culture. Festivals and events have commemorated seasons and victories, created togetherness after wars and hardships, and celebrated life with all its joy and trauma - through art, music and the breaking of bread. As humans, we crave community and moments to embrace culture. And we need to commemorate our most inspiring moments in history, so that the learning continues and struggles are never forgotten.
For Downtown Tempe's Juneteenth, we are bringing the block party to Mill Avenue! The Juneteenth Block Party is a FREE event that welcomes all ages to join in the celebration under the banner of Freedom of Expression, commemorating the strides made in the ongoing quest for racial equality and justice.
The event will feature DJs, musical, dance and spoken word performances, hip-hop dance battles, live interactive art installations, soul food vendors, an old-skool ice cream truck, on-site bar, a retro roller skating rink, a hip-hop barber battle, a mobile cigar lounge, a free photo booth, immersive learning experiences and much more!
For more information on this event, please go to the Juneteenth Block Party webpage.
Juneteenth Flags on Mill Avenue
Downtown Tempe is also honoring Juneteenth through Juneteenth flags displayed proudly through the streets of Downtown Tempe during the month of June. This is just another way to draw awareness to the importance of this holiday to our residents and visitors.
Share your moments with us on social media! Tag @downtowntempe and use hashtag #tempejuneteenth