Juneteenth Events

Celebrate Juneteenth in the 757!!!

Norfolk Events:

• Waterways to Freedom Tour: Underground Railroad Sites in Norfolk: Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander will lead a walking tour of sites throughout Norfolk that where thousands of African-Americans escaped via boat to the north.
  • Date: June 19
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • Location: 500 E Main Street
• Family Day: A Juneteenth Celebration: Families will be able to attend this event to learn more about Juneteenth. There will be performances by the Virginia African American Cultural Center, as well as the Hot Gumbo Brass Band. There will be crafts and a scavenger hunt, as well.
  • Date: June 19
  • Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Location: Chrysler Hall
• Juneteenth Storytelling Celebration with Carol Moore: An award-winning slam poet and comedian will host a storytelling celebration.
  • Date: June 19
  • Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Location: via Zoom
• Norfolk Public Library Juneteenth Trivia: NPL hosts a trivia on social media for special prizes!
  • Date: June 19
  • Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Location: Online

Virginia Beach Events:

• June 17:
  • Thoroughgood House Expanded Tour Hours; Special Juneteenth-related Tourwill take place at the Thoroughgood Housewhich will be open for free tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
  • Virginia Beach Public Art Walk: “Portraits from a Place of Grace”Cultural Affairs will host a FREE Public Art Walk at the future home of the Virginia African American Cultural Center (VAACC)to view the public art installation “Portraits from a Place of Grace.”
• June 18:
  • #VBArts on Tour Pop Up Performance in the ViBe Creative Districtwill be a series of joint pop-up musical and poetry performances featuring the Virginia African American Cultural Center,Tidewater Bluegrass Music Association/St. Juliens Creek Revival and Teens With a Purpose.
  • VBGIGS Presents “Hidden History: The Banjo”which is a 60-minute performance that includes an array of music, dance, and spoken word poetry from talented local artists including Rita Cohen fromTidewater African Cultural Alliance, Corey and LaQuita Staten from Atumpan Edutainment, Bill Armstrong from Tidewater Bluegrass Music Association, Kanya Edmonds and Author Kween Yakini. The performance will begin at 2:30 p.m. on June 19 at the Sandler Center for the Performing ArtsMiller Studio Theatre
• June 19:
  • African American Music Month Celebrationwill be held June 20 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Renaissance Academy grounds and feature TFC Band, with their signature musical blend of Classic Soul, Motown, Funk and more. The event will also feature Becky Livas and a Hampton Roads Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador from Teens With a Purpose.

Newport News Events:

• Expressions (Drive-through, in-person)
  • Saturday, June 12, 2021
  • 12 PM – 2 PM
  • Denbigh Community Center-15198 Warwick Blvd.
  • Brittingham-Midtown Community Center- 570 McLawhorne Dr.
  • Doris Miller Community Center- 2814 Wickham Ave.
  • Drive-thru giveaways at the community centers and Instagrammable moments. Food vendors: Denbigh Community Center- Jessie Lou's, Ben & Jerry’s; Brittingham-Midtown Community Center-El Coqui Empanada Workshop, PA Dutch Funnel Cake of VA; and Doris Miller Community Center-The Black Pearl Food Truck, Kona Ice of Hampton.

• Newport News Public Library to Celebrate Juneteenth
  • Newport News Public Library is celebrating Juneteenth with a special exhibit and program. On Saturday, June 19 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., visit the Main Street Library, 110 Main St., for the unveiling of a new exhibit: Until Freedom Comes: The African American Experience in Newport News. This exhibit chronicles the history of African Americans in the city from 1623 to present day. The project was partially supported by grants from the Virginia Humanities and the Junior League of Hampton Roads.