Juneteenth Jubilee
51³Ô¹ÏÍø will commemorate Juneteenth with a community celebration that combines the rich history of Black Americans with an assortment of festivities.
Juneteenth Jubilee will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 11 a.m– 1 p.m. on the Kent Campus, Student Green/Risman Plaza. Enjoy live performances, music, great food, vendors and more. This event is free and open to the public. .
ABOUT
On June 19, Americans across the country celebrate Juneteenth, the commemoration of the day in 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, got the news that the Civil War had ended, and they were now free. Slavery in states engaged in rebellion against the Union had ended a full two years before, when President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became official on Jan. 1, 1863. And it wasn’t long before Black Americans began to celebrate Juneteenth, the name derived from combining June and 19th.
In 1980, Texas began recognizing Juneteenth as an official state holiday, and in 2020, a total of 47 states and the District of Columbia recognizes the date as well. In 2021, the U.S. Senate and House passed measures to recognize Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday. President Joe Biden signed the legislation on June 17, 2021.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Student Multicultural Center hosted the 2021 Juneteenth Jubilee and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students were integral in planning the event.
PERFORMANCES
Event details are being finalized. Check back soon for a list of performers.
VENDORS
Check back soon for a list of vendors and organizations at the event.
Contact Us
email: people@kent.edu