Juneteenth

Juneteenth-webpage-banner

Join us for our week-long celebration starting on June 12, 2021!
Hosted by the Downtown Newport News Merchants & Neighbors Association, Inc.

Download the Newport News Juneteenth Poster: 
24" x 36"

Download the Newport News Juneteenth Flyer:
8 1/2" x 11"

Celebrate Juneteenth on social media and during your next virtual meeting! Download these frames and backgrounds for your Facebook profile and Zoom meetings.  

 Newport News Juneteenth 2021 Events/Activities:

Note: Virtual and Recorded Programs can be viewed at-
YouTube: youtube.com/NewportNewsTV
Facebook: facebook.com/NewportNewsTV/
nnva.gov/nntv
TV Channels: Cox Channel 48 or Verizon Channel 19

Juneteenth Essay & Spoken Word Contest for grades 6 - 12
Submission Deadline June 4, 2021, see here for contest information and entry
See here to download half page flyer with contest information.

Juneteenth Poster Contest for grades 3 - 5
Submission Deadline June 4, 2021,
See here to download 11" x 17" poster with contest information 

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.

Concert 
In-person event
Sunday, June 13, 2021
5 PM – 7 PM
King-Lincoln Park- 600 Jefferson Ave.
5:10 PM Calvary Chapel Praise Singers
5:45 PM Brothers
6:15 PM UNIFICS
Guests should bring their own chairs. Food vendors- Pops Kettle Corn, The Black Pearl Food Truck, Atomic Dogg Mobile Catering.

Raising of the Flag 
In-person event and streamed at facebook.com/NewportNewsTV
Monday, June 14, 2021
1 PM
City Hall- 2400 Washington Ave.
Ceremony with the raising of the Juneteenth flag, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, music, and remarks.

Bingo
In-person event
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Brittingham-Midtown Community Center- 570 McLawhorne Dr.
Outdoor BINGO game with food, drinks, and giveaways. Click here to register for Bingo.

Conversation 
In-person event and recorded and shown on YouTube: youtube.com/NewportNewsTV
Facebook: facebook.com/NewportNewsTV
nnva.gov/nntv
TV Channels: Cox Channel 48 or Verizon Channel 19
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
6:30 PM – 8 PM
Denbigh Community Center- 15198 Warwick Blvd.
A live interview by contemporary historian (Dr. Eric Claville) with Frederick Douglass (Nathan Richardson) about the Emancipation Proclamation and the meaning of Juneteenth. Following the interview, the audience may ask questions of Mr. Douglass. Click here to register.

Rally
Recorded and shown on YouTube: youtube.com/NewportNewsTV
Facebook: facebook.com/NewportNewsTV
nnva.gov/nntv
TV Channels: Cox Channel 48 or Verizon Channel 19
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Thursday, June 17, 2021
5 PM
This virtual program features performances of melodic slave music and the rally of slave guardians as they gather the children to a place of rest after a full day of picking cotton. The program interprets the experience of slaves that had not heard of their freedom when President Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. There is excitement and jubilation when a soldier, through General Order No. 3, reads the Emancipation Proclamation to them on June 19, 1865, announcing that all slaves were free.

Newsome House Tour & Storytime
Recorded and shown on YouTube: youtube.com/NewportNewsTV
Facebook: facebook.com/NewportNewsTV
nnva.gov/nntv
TV Channels: Cox Channel 48 or Verizon Channel 19
Thursday, June 17, 2021
6 PM– 7:30 PM
Enjoy a virtual tour of the beautiful home of J. Thomas Newsome, an African-American attorney, who was a pioneer of prosperity post-Civil War. He became a respected journalist, churchman and civic leader. Watch a story-time for children and discover the story of slavery and the celebration of Juneteenth. Led by a powerful storyteller, our children will learn about the different names given to Juneteenth and why we celebrate the holiday today. 

A Journey to Freedom:  A Juneteenth Production 
In-person event and recorded and shown on YouTube: youtube.com/NewportNewsTV
Facebook: facebook.com/NewportNewsTV
nnva.gov/nntv
TV Channels: Cox Channel 48 or Verizon Channel 19
Friday, June 18, 2021
7 PM – 9 PM
Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center- 2410 Wickham Ave.
Screening of an original theatrical Juneteenth production (Winners of the Poster Contest will be announced before the production). Click here to register.

Freedom Festival 
In-person event and recorded and shown on YouTube: youtube.com/NewportNewsTV
Facebook: facebook.com/NewportNewsTV
nnva.gov/nntv
TV Channels: Cox Channel 48 or Verizon Channel 19
Saturday, June 19, 2021
12 PM – 4 PM
King-Lincoln Park- 600 Jefferson Ave.
12:10 PM Special Blends Jazz Band
12:50 PM Queen Esther Marrow
1:20 PM K’bana Black
2:15 PM Fuzz Band
3:10 PM Dominic Dixon
3:25 PM Peter Person
3:40 PM Community Awards Presentations
This is a fun-filled event culminating the City's week-long Juneteenth celebration. The celebration includes live entertainment, food and craft vendors, exhibitors, children’s pony rides, and glitter tattoos. Vendors will sell their products and exhibitors will share the services and opportunities that are available to residents in the community. Registration is required for vendors and exhibitors. Winners of the Spoken Word and Essay Contests announced. Please click here for more information.               

Other Juneteenth Events

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. Click here for a sneak peek of the exhibit.

Prior to the unveiling, the program is being kicked off with:
-A re-enactment/reading of the Emancipation Proclamation
-Spiritual selections from the Norfolk State Concert Choir
-Message of Hope delivered by Marcia C. Price, Virginia Delegate
-Musical concert featuring Freedom/Protest songs from the Civil Rights Movement and Motown.

For more information about the exhibit, call 757-592-4858 or follow the Instagram page @SayItLoud_NN. 

Juneteenth Block Party
Saturday, June 19, 2021
12 PM – 10:30 PM
Contemporary Arts Network- 9601 Warwick Blvd.
Live musical performances, outdoor boxing showcase in collaboration with Gladiator School Boxing, Buy Black Pop-Up vendors, Juneteenth Next Up at the CAN, opening of the CANTemporaries collaborative exhibition. For more information: https://thecontemporaryartsnetwork.com