GETTYSBURG – Gettysburg Juneteenth Committee members are offering a pop-up market, jazz music featuring a famed vocalist and more events scheduled for this year’s Juneteenth Weekend celebration June 19-20 at various locations throughout the borough.
The celebration of culture, creativity and connection kicks off on Friday, June 19, at Gettysburg Rec Park and Lincoln Cemetery and continues Saturday, June 20, with events at Seminary Ridge Museum, Christ Lutheran Church and Majestic Theater.
All events are free and open to the public.
“This multi-day commemoration is built through collaboration among local organizations, historians, artists and community members,” said Moellyn Ramos Yetsko, committee member and senior marketing manager for Destination Gettysburg. “Together, these partners have created a weekend that honors the legacy of emancipation while uplifting the voices, culture and history of the Black community, both locally and nationally.”
Friday’s events include:
- Pop Up Market, 4-6 p.m., Rec Park – Local vendors, artisans and community organizations in an open-air market.
- Lincoln Cemetery Program, 6:30-8 p.m. – Reflections, historic recognition, candlelight illumination and playing of taps in honor of the Black community.
- Cinema Under the Stars, 8:15 p.m., Rec Park – Outdoor screening of “Glory,” which tells the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first all-Black regiment in the Civil War.
Saturday’s events include:
- Black History Walking Tour, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Seminary Ridge Museum – A guided walking tour explores Gettysburg’s Black history with first-person storytelling by historical interpreters.
- Emancipation Proclamation, 3-4 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church – Music, readings and historical reflections on the meaning of freedom and the legacy of the Emancipation Proclamation.
- Black-Owned Business Pop Up, 5 p.m., Majestic Theater – Black vendors, artisans, and community organizations celebrate their entrepreneurship by selling their unique work to audience members, visitors and passersby.
- From Spirituals to Soul: 250 Years of Black Music, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Majestic Theater – A celebration of 250 years of Black music, featuring local artists and acclaimed jazz vocalist Allan Harris. Though admission is free, tickets are required and can be obtained through the theater’s website (www.gettysburgmajestic.org) or picked up at the box office before or on the day of the event.
Additionally, as part of America’s 250th commemoration, attendees throughout the weekend will be invited to participate in a Juneteenth Time Capsule project, contributing written reflections on the meaning of freedom today. These messages will be preserved for future generations, creating a lasting connection between past, present, and future voices.
“As Gettysburg continues to tell the story of America, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to deepen that story, one that acknowledges the past, engages the present and helps shape a more connected and informed future,” said Ross Hetrick, chair of the Gettysburg Juneteenth Committee.
Donations and sponsorships are being accepted to help fund this year’s program and to ensure all events remain free and accessible to the public. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to contribute, potential sponsors may visit https://www.thaddeusstevenssociety.com/juneteenth.
Other community organizations also have planned events and activities to celebrate Juneteenth. For full event details and updates, readers may visit https://destinationgettysburg.com/juneteenth-gettysburg.
