Juneteenth events on Long Island
African drumming ensemble Sewa Folee, with Mark Rowser, left, of Deer Park and John Ward of Bay Shore, perform at the 2021 Juneteenth celebration at Wyandanch Library. Credit: Linda Rosier
Celebrate Juneteenth — the federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans — with events around Long Island, including a street festival, art displays and live music.
JUNE 13
FREEPORT
Author visit: Meet Kim Taylor, award-winning author of "A Flag for Juneteenth," which tells the story of a close-knit community of enslaved African Americans living and working on a plantation in Texas the day before the announcement ending slavery. Taylor discusses the story and hosts an activity for children, 7 p.m., Freeport Memorial Library, 144 W. Merrick Rd., free, register at freeportlibrary.info, 516-379-3274.
JUNE 15
AMITYVILLE
Presentation: Historian Martin H. Levinson discusses the history and importance of Juneteenth, 7 p.m. at the Amityville Library, 19 John St. The event is free, register by emailing adult@amityvillepubliclibrary.org, with "The Importance of Juneteenth" as the subject line, and include your full name in the body of the email, amityvillepubliclibrary.org, 631-264-0567.
JUNE 16
GARDEN CITY
Barbecue and program: Adelphi University's Juneteenth celebration, "Discovering Our Roots," features a program about the significance of June 19, 1865, and a barbecue. The program runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the Ruth S. Harley University Center at Adelphi University, 1 South Ave., in rooms 113-115. The event is free but registration is required at adelphi.edu/event-forms/register-juneteenth, 516-877-4980.
JUNE 17
ALBERTSON
Festival: Nassau Alumnae Chapter, along with local leaders and community members, presents a celebration of African American culture with food, music, performances, games and vendors. It runs from 2 to 6 p.m., at Clark Botanic Gardens, 193 I.U. Willets Rd. and is free. Bring blankets or chairs, facebook.com/NassauAlumnaeChapter, 516-571-6202.
GLEN COVE
Glen Cove Library, at 4 Glen Cove Ave., celebrates Juneteenth with a full day of events featuring lectures, artwork, a book signing, crafts, food and music, all the events are free; register at glencovelibrary.org, 516-676-2130.
- Exhibit "Journey and Celebration of Black Experience through Plants": Visit the seed library demo garden from 9:30 to 10 a.m. to learn more about the deep connections between plants and the Black community.
- Program "The Harlem Hellfighters: Bigotry, Bravery, and Jazz": Learn about the establishment of the African American 15th New York National Guard unit in 1916, as well as the men from Glen Cove and nearby areas who volunteered and became members, 10 to 11 a.m.
- Author visit Kim Taylor, a Long Island award-winning author, reads from her book "A Flag for Juneteenth" from 11 a.m. to noon in the children's room. For families with children of all ages; listeners can enter a raffle to win a copy of her book.
- Exhibit and craft See story quilts made by the Quilters of Color, a diverse group of men and women dedicated to the creative process of sewing historical and contemporary American quilts, and make a craft with a quilt maker; 11 a.m. to noon on the main floor
- Cookbook potluck Make a dish from Marcus Samuelsson's cookbook "The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food" at home and bring it to the library to share in a community potluck, 12:30 to 2 p.m.
- Presentation Learn about the life of William Joe Johnson, a Glen Cove native and member of the Tuskegee Airmen who flew more than 15,000 sorties in Europe and North Africa and earned more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
- Spiritual and choir music presentation Members of the Glen Cove High School Select Chorale and the Adult Choir from the First Baptist Church perform music and songs influenced by African and religious traditions from 2:30 to 3 p.m. in the community room.
- Musical performance The Carl Bartlett Jr. Jazz Trio performs a jazz concert from 3 to 4 p.m. on the main floor.
ELMONT
Live music performance: Jerome "City" Smith and the City Sounds Music Ensemble sing songs of freedom, fun, joy and jubilation. Wear your dancing shoes. This free event takes place at 2 p.m. in the theater at Elmont Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., and is first-come, first-seated, elmontlibrary.org, 516-354-5280.
HICKSVILLE
Cultural festival: Black Legacy Partners in partnership with NAACP branches of Nassau County celebrate culture, entrepreneurship, love, pride and community from noon to 6 p.m. at the Hicksville LIRR with vendors, food trucks, and entertainment, blacklegacypartnersllc.com/events.
HUNTINGTON
Celebration: Freedom Day takes place from 1 to 7 p.m. at Heckscher Park, NY-25A and Prime Avenue, and features historic reflections, music, dancing, a drum circle, food trucks, cultural experiences, raffles and more; free, bring lawn chairs, huntingtonny.gov.
WYANDANCH
Street festival: Wyandanch Library hosts this festival from noon to 5 p.m., and features a Gullah/Geechee cooking demo, African dance and drummers, heritage crafts and a StoryWalk, a Smithsonian poster exhibition and more. South 20th Street will be closed to parking and vehicle traffic between Jamaica Avenue and Straight Path Road. The event is free and is presented by the Barack H. Obama Cultural Center, facebook.com/WyandanchLibrary.
JUNE 18
NORTHPORT
Black History Walking Tour: Explore the area's history during Northport Historical Society's guided walking tour. The tour begins at Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and offers a new perspective on familiar locations, telling the stories of the generations of Black families who lived in and around Northport. Tickets are $10, reserve at northporthistorical.org/events.
JUNE 19-20
WAINSCOTT
Films, music and discussion: "Remembering Harry Belafonte" features films, music and conversation from 5 to 8 p.m. both days at LTV Studios, 75 Industrial Rd. There will be complimentary food, and beer and wine will be available for purchase ($5 a serving). "Carmen Jones" (1945, not rated) will be screened at 6 p.m. June 19, "Sing Your Song" will be shown at 6 p.m. June 20; both are followed by a discussion. To reserve a seat text LTVHARRY to 41444 or visit ltveh.org/juneteenthcelebration, 631-537-2777.
DIX HILLS
Musical performance: Join Bassist Dezron Douglas for an evening performance at 7 p.m. at Half Hollow Hills Community Library in Dix Hills. Cost $5-$20. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 55 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills. RSVP by emailing info@thecoltranehome.org.
JUNE 25
NORTHPORT
Author visit: Kim Taylor, a Long Island award-winning author, reads from her book "A Flag for Juneteenth" at 2 p.m. at Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St. A craf exercise inspired by the story follows. The event is free, and copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing, northporthistorical.org/events.
