Celebrate Juneteenth 2025: Festivals and arts events in the Bay Area
In 1863, President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was enacted, marking the official end of slavery in the United States. However, the news was slow to be communicated to the rest of the country. Reportedly, it was finally read to the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas — two years later — on June 19, 1865. The date was elevated to become the federal holiday dubbed Juneteenth in 2021, when former President Joe Biden signed it into law.
Check out the Chronicle's guide to the hippest Juneteenth events happening around the Bay Area in 2025.
San Francisco
'Black Gold: Stories Untold'
In partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, For-Site arts foundation offers a large-scale, site-specific group exhibition. It includes works from 17 contemporary artists that reflect upon the resilience and triumph of African Americans living in California, from the Gold Rush to the Reconstruction period after the Civil War. During this time, California, despite being a free state, was complicit in the enslavement of people of color. Docent-led tours available at noon.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Through Nov. 2. Fort Point National Historic Site, 201 Marine Drive, S.F. 415-561-4959. www.for-site.org
Late Night Editions: Isaac Julien
The de Young museum joins the Cal Academy and Exploratorium's Thursday museum after-hour party scene with its new 'Late Night Editions' evening series. Check out the museum's current 'Isaac Julien: I Dream a World' exhibition while enjoying cocktails, Off the Grid food trucks, a photo booth, live DJ sets and access to the permanent collection galleries.
'Co-Founders'
A world premiere hip-hop musical, created by Bay Area-based Ryan Nicole Austin, Beau Lewis and Adesha Adefela, tells the story of an underrated young Oakland coder and employs novel onstage visual technology.
See website for performance schedule. Through Sunday, July 6. $45-$108. American Conservatory Theater's Strand Theater, 1127 Market St., S.F. 415-749-2228. www.act-sf.org
San Francisco Jazz Festival
This year's revamped festival is set to include performances on multiple stages each day inside the jazz center and outside in a festival tent. There will also be live DJ sets, food trucks, beer and wine, art and vinyl merchants. Performers scheduled include Stanley Clarke and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Sullivan Fortner and Ambrose Akinmusire, Nicholas Payton, Idris Ackamoor, Patrice Rushen, and others.
2-9 p.m. Friday, June 13; 1-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15. $85 and up. SFJazz Center's Miner Auditorium and Joe Henderson Lab, 201 Franklin St.; festival tent and outdoor street market, 110 Franklin St., S.F. www.sfjazz.org
Celebrate family and freedom in the historic Fillmore Jazz District at an afternoon event featuring live music and entertainment on three stages, carnival games and rides, a marketplace, roller-skating rink, fashion show, food vendors and more.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Free, reservations recommended. Historic Fillmore District, Fillmore Street between Geary and Fulton streets, S.F. www.juneteenth-sf.org
International Queer Women of Color Film Fest: 'Fierce Determination'
The series will showcase 49 films that illuminate how communities that are LBTQIA+ and Black, Indigenous, and people of color persist, thrive, and imagine liberatory futures through radical artistry and collective care.
7 p.m. Friday, June 13. Noon, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15. Free. Presidio Theatre, 99 Moraga Ave., S.F. 415-960-3949. www.qwocff.org
Juneteenth Bayview Father's Day Festival
Celebrate Father's Day and Juneteenth with live music and entertainment, food vendors and marketplace, carnival rides, a car show and family-friendly activities.
Noon-6 p.m. Sunday, June 15. Free. Gilman Park, 903 Gilman Ave., S.F. 415-851-1752.
'We've Come This Far by Music: A Juneteenth Musical Spectacle'
AfroSolo Theatre Company and the San Francisco Commonwealth Club present a Juneteenth musical performance as part of its 'AfroSolo Arts Festival 31' programming. It will feature pianist and director Carl Blake, baritone Bradley Kynard, soprano Shawnette Sulker and flutist William Underwood.
5:30 p.m. Monday, June 16. $5-$22. Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, S.F. 415-771-2376. www.afrosolo.org
'Belonging Without Othering: How We Save Ourselves and the World'
Join authors john a. powell and Stephen Menendian in conversation. Co-sponsored by Mechanics' Institute, Museum of the African Diaspora and UC Berkeley's Othering & Belonging Institute.
6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 18. $15. Mechanics' Institute, 57 Post St., S.F. 415-393-0116. www.milibrary.org
Sundra Manning Organ Quartet
The Oakland native is set to perform a jazz concert as part of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival series.
12:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19. Free. Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission Street between Third and Fourth streets, S.F. 415-543-1718. www.ybgfestival.org
San Francisco Black Film Festival
Celebrate African American cinema with films representing the diverse nature of the African cultural diaspora. Jump-start the weekend with an opening-night party featuring a meet-and-greet with actor Danny Glover and filmmaker Kevin Epps, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Various times and locations. Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22. Free-$80. At Delancey Street Screening Room, 600 The Embarcadero, African American Art & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton St. and the S.F. Public Library, 100 Larkin St., S.F. www.sfbff.org
'The Bronx Revolution and the Birth of Hip Hop'
Zaccho Dance Theatre and YBCA present a multimedia performance that brings the origins of hip-hop to life through dance, storytelling, visual arts and live DJs. Friday's show includes a moderated post-show conversation with the performers, followed by a community cypher and after-party with guest DJ QBert.
7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 20-21. $30-$56. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission St., S.F. 415-978-2787. www.ybca.org
Laugh Therapy: Juneteenth Comedy Show and Fundraiser
Support the Ruth Williams Opera house by attending an evening featuring stand-up comedy, live DJ sets, with a full bar and food trucks.
8 p.m. Saturday, June 21. $20-$108.55. Ruth Williams Memorial Theater, Bayview Opera House, 4705 Third St., S.F. 415-824-0386. www.rwoh.org/upcoming-events
'Sistah Friend'
A staged reading of Phaedra Tillery-Boughton's debut play, a dramatic comedy offering a heartfelt and honest exploration of Black womanhood through the lens of three best friends in their 40s.
7 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Zaccho Studio, 1777 Yosemite Ave., S.F. 415-822-6744. www.zaccho.org
San Francisco Juneteenth Parade
Enjoy a parade and celebration in the heart of the city meant to inspire and highlight unified Black joy and vibrancy.
11 a.m. Sunday, June 22. Free. Begins at Market and Spear streets, proceeds on Market Street to Eighth Street, S.F. 415-344-0489.
Kenneth Whalum
Saxophonist-vocalist Kenneth Whalum returns to the Black Cat stage for a one-night-only trio performance with drummer Thomas Pridgen and guitarist Brad Williams.
7 and 9:15 p.m. Sunday, June 22. $50-$65.50. Black Cat, 400 Eddy St., S.F. 415-358-1999. www.blackcatsf.com
East Bay
'Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California'
More than 100 African American quilts and artworks, many of them by women with ties to the Bay Area, illuminate the relationship between quilt-making traditions and the history of Black migration to California from the Southern United States from the 1940s through the 1970s. Also featured in the exhibition are recent artworks by Bay Area Black textile artists.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Through Nov. 30. Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2155 Center St., Berkeley. 510-642-0808. www.bampfa.org
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus
Terrance Kelly will conduct the vocal ensembles in a combined Juneteenth and Pride program titled 'Juneteenth: Pride, Protest and Praise,' featuring Black gospel music and freedom songs from the Civil Rights movement era to today. The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir will also perform as part of the Livermore Valley Arts Juneteenth celebration on June 21.
8 p.m. Saturday, June 14. $22-$35. Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. 510-644-2020. www.thefreight.org
Berkeley Juneteenth Festival: 'What We Gonna Do?'
Held along five blocks in the South Berkeley Alcatraz-Adeline corridor, the annual celebration is set to feature family-friendly entertainment, including live music, African drumming, spoken word, fashion and community performers on multiple stages. There will be a local exhibitors marketplace, a children's area, food vendors and more.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, June 15. Free. Adeline Sreet and Alcatraz Avenue, Berkeley. 510-524-8804. www.berkeleyjuneteenth.org
East Bay Regional Parks Juneteenth Hikes and Celebration
The Park District will celebrate with free naturalist-led programs, including hikes at Coyote Hills Regional Park and nature walks at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park. Tilden Park will host a family-friendly Juneteenth open house in its Brazilian Room.
4-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, at Tilden Park, Wildcat Canyon Road at Shasta Road, Berkeley. Free. 10 a.m. Thursday, June 19, at Coyote Hills Regional Park, 8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont. Free. 10 a.m. Thursday, June 19, at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park, south of Bailey Road, Concord. 888-327-2757. www.ebparks.org
W. Kamau Bell: 'Who's With Me?'
The award-winning comedian, filmmaker and author returns to the Berkeley Repertory Theatre stage for a series of encore performances, with proceeds set to benefit Bay Area arts organizations affected by recent National Endowment for the Arts grant terminations, including American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Magic Theatre, Marin Shakespeare Company, New Conservatory Theatre Center, Children's Fairyland, Theatre Bay Area, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and Zaccho Dance Theatre.
7 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, June 17-18, and Sunday, June 22; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, June19-21; 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Roda Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. 415-826-4441. www.dancemissiontheater.org
Fairyland Juneteenth Celebration
Pack a picnic for a day of cultural activities, arts and crafts, live performances, Juneteenth storytime, and an appearance from Bay Area radio star Chuy Gomez.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, June 19. $17-$20.14. Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. www.fairyland.org
Oakland Museum of California's Hella Juneteenth Festival
The afternoon event will feature a culinary collaboration by Bay Area Black chefs and Black-owned restaurants, live music on two stages, Black-owned vending marketplace, lawn games, line dancing and more. Attend an official, Hella Juneteenth-sponsored Golden State Valkyries watch party that begins at 5:30 p.m.
On Friday, June 20, the museum's free Friday Night programming continues the celebration with live music from Astu, art activities from BIPOC figure drawing collective, Sketchboard Co. and more.
Noon-5 p.m. Thursday, June 19. $20-$95. Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 510-318-8400. www.museumca.org
Newark Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
Celebrate the holiday with live entertainment, a cultural exhibition, food trucks, giveaways, family-friendly activities and more.
1-5 p.m. Thursday, June 19. Free. Silliman Center, 6800 Mowry Ave., Newark. 510-578-4000. www.newarkca.gov
Grown Women Dance Collective: Juneteenth
'Surviving Long Covid. I'm Still Here' is a site-specific, immersive program celebrating the Black legacy of resistance, resilience, empowerment and joy.
11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 21-22; 7 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Free. GWDC Studio, 494 Ninth St., Oakland. 925-680-4400. www.grownwomendance.org
Oakland Juneteenth Festival: 'Sankofa — Learn From the Past'
The family-friendly celebration offers live music and DJ sets, Black cowboys, food and merchandise vendors, a quilting exhibition, youth activities, and more.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Free. Brockhurst Street between Market Street and San Pablo Avenue, Oakland. 510-290-0811. www.bhbrilliantminds.org
City of Richmond Juneteenth Parade and Festival
A 10 a.m. parade kicks off from Kennedy High School and heads to the community celebration, featuring a marketplace, live music and dance, cultural displays, family-friendly activities, food vendors and more.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Free. Nicholl Park, 3230 Macdonald Ave., Richmond. www.ci.richmond.ca.us
LakeFest Oakland: 'It Takes a Village'
A daytime summer festival with an emphasis on community and culture celebrates Juneteenth. Set to take place along the nature-rich shoreline of Lake Merritt, it's scheduled to include live music and entertainment, a fashion show, an artisan marketplace, food vendors, children's area, a beer garden, wellness zone and more.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, June 21. $5-$10; 5 and under free. Lake Merritt, 568 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. www.lakefestoakland.com
Hayward Juneteenth Celebration
West Coast Blues Society and the City of Hayward present an annual festival, set to include live blues music from Leo Oliver and the Blues Knockouts, the West Coast Caravan of All-Stars and others. Enjoy soul food trucks, children's activities, Black cowboys, an alcoholic slushy bar and local vendors.
2-6 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Free. Heritage Park, 835 C St., Hayward. 510-583-4000. www.hayward-ca.gov
Levitt Vibe Oakland Music Series and Juneteenth Celebration
Enjoy an outdoor evening concert in the park with live music from Kyaira, Bianca 'bb' Brown and DJ Blackwoman; food vendors and an Akoma Grand Market with local, Black-owned vendors.
3-6 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Free. Liberation Park, 6955 Foothill Blvd., Oakland. 510-470-0183. www.blackculturalzone.org
Chief Adjuah
Enjoy a jazz performance from the award-winning trumpeter (formerly Christian Scott) and his all-star ensemble.
7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21; 7 p.m. Sunday, June 22. $36-$84. Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. 510-238-9200. www.yoshis.com
The Music of a Jazz Revolutionary: Ornette Coleman Ancestor Celebration
Step into the universe of Ornette Coleman during an afternoon of live boundary-pushing music. Led by Coleman scholar, saxophonist Nora Free, the program brings together some of the Bay Area's most fearless experimental improvisors.
3 p.m. Sunday, June 22. Wyldflowr Arts, 809 37th St., Emeryville. www.wyldflowrarts.com
North Bay
Sonoma County MLK/Juneteenth Celebration
March at 9 a.m. from Santa Rosa's downtown Juilliard Park to a festival at Old Courthouse Square. Enjoy live music and entertainment, family-friendly activities, speakers, food vendors and more.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Free. 69 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa. 707-623-2701. www.sonomacountyjuneteenth.com
Mill Valley Juneteenth Freedom Festival
Celebrate African-American Independence Day with live performances, family-friendly activities, an outdoor marketplace, food and drinks.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Free. Mill Valley Downtown Plaza, 87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. www.cityofmillvalley.gov
Healdsburg Jazz Festival: Juneteenth Celebration on the Plaza
Enjoy an outdoor festival featuring live jazz, Juneteenth activities and exhibits, an Afro-Cuban dance workshop, pop-up gallery space, vending marketplace, food and drinks. Performers scheduled include the Dynamic Miss Faye Carol and drummer Marvin 'Smitty' Smith, pianist Orrin Evans, vocalist Tyreek McDole, poet Enid Pickett and KCSM host Greg Bridges.
The event is part of the 27th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival, which runs from June 13-22, and includes performances from Kenny Barron, Destiny Muhammad, Dianne Reeves, Terri Lyne Carrington and others.
2-8 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Free. Healdsburg Plaza, Healdsburg Ave. and Matheson St., Healdsburg. 707-433-4633. www.healdsburgjazz.org
American Canyon Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom
Enjoy an afternoon of live entertainment, speakers, food trucks, vendors, a children's area and more.
1-6 p.m. Sunday, June 15. Free-$30. Main Street Park, 5500 Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon. 707-319-4773. www.amcanart.org/juneteenth-2
Vallejo Juneteenth Celebration: 'Remember. Create. Act.'
The festive afternoon event is set to include live music from vocalist Tony Lindsay, the Soul Soldiers, Oakland Rising and Yaboi Nilo. Also on the schedule will be spoken word and dance, along with food and merchandise vendors. A downtown parade precedes the festival at 9 a.m.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Free. Waterfront Green, 301 Mare Island Way, Vallejo. www.vallejojuneteenth.com
Marin City Juneteenth Festival: 'Kuumba'
The annual community festival is set to feature an African Marketplace, live performances, supervised children's area, arts and craft activities, horse rides, food vendors, and more.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Free. Rocky Graham Park, 800 Drake Ave., Sausalito. 844-862-2787. www.juneteenthcommunityfestival.info
South Bay
Justice Vanguard Juneteenth Festival: 'Know Justice, Know Peace'
Celebrate the holiday at a community festival set to include an auction, poetry readings, live music, a marketplace, barbecue and drinks.
11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Free. Hillview Park, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. www.justicevanguard.org
San Jose Juneteenth in the Streets: '1865 Code — Freedom'
An outdoor afternoon festival in downtown San Jose is set to include live entertainment, vending marketplace, community booths, family-friendly activities, food and drinks.
Noon-7 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Free. SoFa District at South First Street, downtown San Jose. 408-292-3157. www.sjaacsa.org/juneteenth/home
Juneteenth Community Celebration
Explore African art and culture at a family-focused event that's set to include a West African drumming workshop with Pope Flyne, a percussion instrument-making activity and more.
9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19. Included with museum admission, indoor masks and reservations required. Children's Discovery Museum, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. www.cdm.org
Celebrate with an outdoor film night beginning with a selection of BraveMaker shorts by Black independent filmmakers, followed by a screening of 'Bob Marley: One Love.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Beyoncé delivers on Night 1 in Paris: Miley Cyrus surprise, fans honor Juneteenth, more
PARIS — Beyoncé Knowles-Carter debuted her her first 'Cowboy Carter' concert in Paris, and the night turned out to be another spectacle filled with special surprises, new outfits and high energy. The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her show on June 19 at Stade de Frances around 8:56 p.m local time. The show marked the first show at the stadium on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. She is set to hit the stage again on June 21 and 22. 'Paris, France, I have to say I'm very grateful to be on the stage. We have a very special show for y'all," Beyoncé said as she opened the show. Prior to the June 19 concert, a group of France-based fans planned a powerful display at her concert to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday, which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. "This day is very important for Beyoncé, and the 'Cowboy Carter' tour. It's a day when the last enslaved Back people in the U.S. learned they were free. It was 1865, on 19th of June," says Sarah Farajaoui who was behind the fan-led project. "This is a way to celebrate freedom. This is a way to celebrate justice and to say, 'Beyoncé we understood the assignment and we're here to celebrate with this day.'" For the project, she and other friends distributed thousands of Juneteenth flags for fans to hold up as Beyoncé performed her song "Freedom." "The atmosphere was fantastic," says Jazmine Goodwine, who flew to Paris from the U.S. for the occasion. "To be here on freedom day was out of this world. To see people pay homage to her roots on Juneteenth was something spectacular, and it fulfilled me in ways I didn't know was possible." One of the biggest highlights of the evening came when Beyoncé brought out Miley Cryus and the two women sang their beloved duet "II Most Wanted." Dressed in all gold, the Grammy-winning singers held hands and the crowd went wild as Cryus approached the stage. 'I love y'all so much. I'm super excited because I wanted to do something very special for your guys," Beyoncé said. "Give it up. I'm so grateful to sing with you Ms. Miley Cyrus." At the 2025 Grammy awards, the women took home the award for best country duo/group performance for "II Most Wanted." Of course, Beyoncé's tour has been a huge showcase of fashion and creativity. Each night, Beyoncé continues to blend high fashion and cowboy couture, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as they anticipate a new look. There's been many looks incorporating Western-glam: sparkly chaps, cowboy hats, boots and lots of fringe. 🚨 NEW OUTFIT! — Beyoncé Press. (@beyoncepress) June 19, 2025 Thursday's show was no different. Bey opened her Paris stint with all-new outfits, and fans took note of the head-turning looks. As fans know, Beyoncé first debuted her "Cowboy Carter" tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with 39 songs on the set list. Her shows have been filled with family, fashion, different music genres, and most notably country music and cultural commentary. The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finale taking place in Las Vegas on July 26. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Beyoncé launches tour in Paris with Miley Cyrus surprise, more
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert Mock Trump for Complaining on Juneteenth About ‘Too Many Non-Working Holidays': ‘Juneteenth Is a Day of Joy — So Donald Trump Doesn't Like It'
President Trump did not issue any direct public comments about or host any events commemorating Juneteenth, the federal holiday that marks the official end of the United States' enslavement of people. But the president alluded to Juneteenth in a post on social media, claiming that there are 'Too many non-working holidays in America' and that 'It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Late-night TV hosts skewered Trump's non-observance of the holiday. More from Variety Trump Is 'Flouting the Law' in Delaying Enforcement of TikTok Ban, a Top Senate Democrat Says Trump Says David Ellison Is 'Great, He'll Do a Great Job' Running Merged Skydance-Paramount, as FCC Deal Approval Is Still Pending Mark Ruffalo Slams 'Grifter' Trump and Says 'Billionaires Are the Problem, Not Immigrants': They're 'Stealing You Blind' While 'Immigrants Add to the Economy' 'You might find this hard to believe, from a president who's done more for Blacks than Abraham Lincoln, but Trump is not a fan' of Juneteenth, Jimmy Kimmel said on his ABC show — referring to a comment Trump actually once made. Said Kimmel, 'If Trump were to acknowledge Juneteenth, he would risk upsetting his not-at-all-racist-and-how-dare-you-say-we-are base. They're like, 'We're the ones who stopped enslaving — they should have a holiday for us!'' About his comment about the U.S. having 'too many non-working holidays,' Kimmel commented: 'Says the guy who just had a birthday parade for himself. Says the guy who has been in office for 150 days and has golfed 37 times that we know of.' 'I don't know, to me, it seems like a holiday that celebrates the end of slavery is one we should all be for,' Kimmel remarked. Stephen Colbert opened 'The Late Show' on CBS by wishing his audience a happy Juneteenth. 'It's a great day, a day to celebrate freedom,' he said. Colbert continued, 'Juneteenth is a day of joy — so Donald Trump doesn't like it.' Colbert pointed out that on Trump's first day back in the White House, Jan. 20, the president signed an executive order requiring the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government. In response, the Defense Intelligence Agency ordered a pause of all activities and events related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and other 'special observances' to comply with the anti-DEI direction, NBC News reported. 'So [Trump] wants celebrating Juneteenth to be controversial now,' Colbert said. But, he said, 'You cannot stop people from celebrating freedom. You can't make them turn down their joy,' before playing a clip of DJ Snake and Lil John's 'Turn Down for What.' On Thursday, Trump posted a complaint on Truth Social about there being 'Too many non-working holidays in America.' 'Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don't want it either!' Trump wrote. 'Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' At a White House press briefing Thursday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if Trump was commemorating Juneteenth in any way. 'I'm not tracking his signature on a proclamation today,' Leavitt said. 'I know this is a federal holiday. I want to thank all of you for showing up to work. We are certainly here. We're working 24-7 right now.' President Biden in 2021 signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, establishing a federal holiday on the date. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom from slavery in the state of Texas, nearly two years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Supermarket chain slammed for ‘unacceptable' Juneteenth cakes that angered shoppers: ‘This is a mockery'
Kroger is being called out by shoppers for its 'disrespectful' Juneteenth cake designs. A Kroger location in Atlanta, Georgia, is going viral after a video posted to TikTok showed the cakes that 'lack creativity' for the holiday in the bakery section of the supermarket. 'This is some bulls—,' TikTok user @ said in the video, which has garnered 10.3 million views and 1.2 million likes as of Friday morning. 'Who the hell made this ugly-ass s—?' Advertisement 'This is unacceptable,' she goes on to say. 3 A Juneteenth cake at Kroger's read 'Free @ Last.' TikTok / @ The video shows beautifully decorated birthday cakes and treats before panning back to the table with Juneteenth-themed cookie cakes that are haphazardly decorated. Advertisement A few cakes are shown, one with a printed design and others with phrases sloppily put onto the cakes such as 'FREE,' 'June 19 Free,' 'Congratulations' and 'Free @ Last.' 'Y'all decorate everything else around here cute, everything else around here cute,' the TikToker said. 'But for Juneteenth, you wanna just throw something on a freaking cookie cake and expect someone to buy it.' Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. 'Kroger count your days,' they added in the caption. 'Why even bother if you're going to lack creativity … This is a mockery!' Advertisement WARNING: VIDEO INCLUDES GRAPHIC LANGUAGE @ Kroger count your days. Why even bother if you're going to lack creativity. This is Kroger on Howell mill rd, Atlanta Ga. This is a mockery! Am I tripping, someone let me know! ♬ original sound – blaq monalisa People in the comments agreed, shocked by the cake offerings. ''Free @ last' is diabolical,' one said. Advertisement 'Gurl! Not the last one saying Congratulations. Like, 'Congratulations, you're free!',' a user commented with the face palm emoji. 'Take the 'free' cookie home. Walk out with it. It says free,' someone jokingly suggested. 3 Kroger's Juneteenth cake with an underwhelming design. TikTok / @ 'This is funny but NOT funny,' one said. 'I'm highly disappointed in Kroger.' 'You should've just flipped the table over,' another added. 'I thought this was a joke until you showed the store,' someone else said. Kroger told Newsweek in a statement that 'the cakes and cookies that were featured in the video were inconsistent with our provided guidance and not of the quality we would expect to see from our stores.' 'The products have been removed, and we've addressed this directly with the store teams and the customer who took the initial video,' the spokesperson continued. Advertisement 3 A Kroger location is going viral for the Juneteenth cakes in the bakery section of the supermarket. Bloomberg via Getty Images Meanwhile, TikTok user @ went back to the Kroger store in a follow-up video and confirmed the removal of the cakes. 'I still feel some type of way that they didn't replace them with better Juneteenth cakes,' she shared.
