San Diegans can listen to live jazz music, hear poetry and learn about Black history in San Diego County this year to honor and celebrate Juneteenth.
Here is a list of various events in chronological order.
Jazz performance: The Oak Park Library is celebrating Juneteenth with a live jazz concert. The Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, by maestro Gilbert Castellanos, will perform for one hour. The event will also include book readings, light refreshments and activities for children. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 14. 2802 54th St., San Diego, Free. 619-527-3406, sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/oak-park-library
Juneteenth Jubilee: Live music and poetry are the focal point of the San Diego Central Library’s Juneteenth Jubilee. The event will feature San Diego Poet Laureate Paola Capó-García and the Back-Alley Poetry Club, with poetry readings throughout the day. Plus, the Dennis Gittens Jazz Duo will play live music and professor King Britt will talk about electronic music in Black and African culture. The event will take place in the courtyard. Noon to 5 p.m. June 14. 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. 619-236-5800, sandiego.gov/public-library/central-library
Kinfolk Fest 2025: Waterfront Park is being turned into a celebration of Black culture and community at the SD Melanin Kinfolk Fest 2025. This seven-hour festival brings together live music, DJs, Black-owned vendors, a spades card game tournament, food and drinks. Some of the live performers include Ainjo, Clay Dub, Deleon Nox and Dina Maeva. Ramel J. Wallace and Tha Speakerboxx are hosting the event. 2 to 9 p.m. June 14. 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego. $39.19-$81.88. sdmelanin.com
African American genealogy: Learn about family history at a special African American genealogy workshop at the Skyline Hills Library. The San Diego African American Genealogy Research Group will teach the public about research strategies and present resources for those exploring their family roots. There will also be free research material handouts for first-timers looking into their family tree, a story time, book gs and drawings. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 14. 7900 Paradise Valley Road, San Diego. Free. 619-527-3485, sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/skyline-hills-library
Documentary screening: The San Diego Central Library is hosting a screening of the 1989 documentary “Tongues United” by Marlon Riggs. This film combines poetry with personal s to document the gay Black men’s community. The screening will also feature guest speakers from The San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. 6 to 8 p.m. June 16. 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. 619-236-5800, sandiego.gov/public-library/central-library
Juneteenth Story Time: The Carmel Mountain Ranch Library is hosting a Juneteenth story time, curated for toddlers. Children ages 2 to 4 and their parents are invited to a 30-minute event to hear stories honoring June 19. 10 to 10:30 a.m. June 18. 12095 World Trade Drive, San Diego. Free. 858-538-8181, sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/carmel-mountain-ranch-library
Financial literacy pancake breakfast: The La Mesa Juneteenth Foundation is hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser. The organization is launching a financial literacy education program for La Mesa, Spring Valley and Lemon Grove. A minimum $5 donation is suggested for this pancake breakfast, which is open to children and adults. 9 a.m. to noon. June 19. 4900 Memorial Drive, La Mesa. $5. lamesajuneteenth.org
Night at the Black Museum: The Casa Del Rey Moro African Latin Museum in Old Town is hosting a fundraiser to honor Juneteenth. The Night at the Black Museum: A Community Celebration entails music, food, a private museum tour and talks from the museum’s founder, Chuck Ambers. Event organizers say proceeds from the event will go to the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association and the museum. 5 to 8 p.m. June 19. 2471 Congress St., San Diego. $44.52. eventbrite.com/e/night-at-the-black-museum-a-community-celebration-tickets
Afro-Indigenous celebration: Learn more about the Black Seminoles, John Horse and other Afro-Indigenous history at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park on Juneteenth. This event recognizes the legacy of the Maroon societies, which includes the Black Seminoles, the Mascogos of Mexico and their leader John Horse. There will be a keynote presentation, a meet and greet with Chief Thomi Perryman and a live performance by Ibrahima Ba. 5 to 8 p.m. June 19. 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. 619-230-1190, worldbeatcenter.org
Black Arts Festival: For four days, Black art and culture are being showcased at the 2025 Juneteenth Black Arts Festival. This ticketed event, hosted by San Diego Black Artist Collective and held at the Diversionary Theatre, spotlights Black excellence across visual art, music, dance and acting. The festival starts with an evening of spoken word and music, followed by a reading series and poetry on day two, a multidisciplinary showcase of dance, music, poetry and more on day three and gospel brunch on day four. 7:30 p.m. June 19 and 20. 2 p.m. June 21. 11 a.m. June 22. 4545 Park Blvd., San Diego. 619-220-0097, $25-$80 sdbac.org
Comedy night: Black comics take the stage for a special Juneteenth show at National Lampoon: The Yellow Door. The night will feature headliner Mal Hall, Mark Christopher Lawrence and opener Fatimah Taliah. Before the show, guests with tickets can get happy hour specials on drinks and appetizers. 8 to 10 p.m. June 19. 701 Fifth Ave., San Diego. $7.18-$12.51. nlyellowdoor.com/sandiego
Harriet Tubman Freedom Birdwatch: Stories on how barred owls and other birds were used as code signals to help guide enslaved people to freedom will be one of the many highlights at the third annual Harriet Tubman Freedom Birdwatch. The World Beat Center is hosting this year’s event in its Ethnobotany Garden. The public can learn about guided birdwatching, communication tools such as quilts and stories of Harriet Tubman, who used the call of the barred owl as a secret calling during the Underground Railroad. The event will also have an augmented reality presentation where guests can follow a simulation of the Underground Railroad. 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 21. 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. 619-230-1190, worldbeatcenter.org
Oceanside Juneteenth observance: The North San Diego County NAA is hosting its annual Juneteenth Multicultural Celebration in downtown Oceanside this year. This free public event brings a vendor market, informational and health awareness booths, live performances and a youth zone with face painting, games and arts and crafts. 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. June 21. 311 North Tremont St., Oceanside. Free. visitoceanside.org/events/juneteenth-celebration
Cooper Family Foundation: In memory of Sidney and Thelma Cooper, the Cooper Family Foundation celebrates Juneteenth annually with educational programs, live music, family-oriented activities, local vendors, performances and food and more. 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. June 21. Memorial Park, 2975 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego. Free. cfjuneteenth.com
