Juneteenth National Independence Day honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. Juneteenth can also be referred to as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Liberation Day and Jubilee Day. Our team members are looking forward to attending Juneteenth events this weekend and reflecting and rejoicing together as a community. Whether it’s celebrating at an event or supporting local Black-owned businesses, there are tons of ways to get involved. Check out a few ideas below:

Attend a cultural celebration

We want to share some various fun and educational Juneteenth events happening around Tampa Bay and in Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina, in case you’d like to participate with your friends and family.

Tampa Bay Juneteenth Festival
4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, FL 33607
Saturday, June 18, 3 pm – 9 pm
Don’t miss the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Festival at Raymond James Stadium. According to the event organizers, attendees will “enjoy a block party atmosphere of live music from DJs, amazing food trucks, retail shopping, a job fair, a free health clinic, and much more fun for the whole Community!” Learn more.

City of Tampa’s Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony & Festival
315 East Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33602
Friday, June 17, 10:30 am
Join Mayor Jane Castor, her staff and members of the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition for the City of Tampa’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony and Festival. Watch the Juneteenth flag raised on top of Old City Hall while the official City proclamation is read. This cultural event will also include music and other activities highlighting the importance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. Learn more.

Juneteenth Business Expo
642 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Saturday, June 18, 10 am – 4 pm
Support local Tampa Bay Black-owned businesses. Event organizers are planning an unforgettable experience as successful Black entrepreneurs bring together other African American businesses to network, sell and showcase local and global brands. Learn more.

Second Annual Juneteenth Family Fest
1061 Everglades Ave., North Charleston, SC 29405
Saturday, June 18, 3 pm – 10 pm
This family-friendly event will take place at the Riverfront Park in North Charleston, SC, and is free to the public. Doors will open at 2 pm, and festivities will begin at 3 pm. This day-long celebration will be packed with activities including live performances, Black art displays, games for children, and delicious cultural food! There will also be non-profit organizations, local community service vendors, as well as historically black colleges and universities on site. Learn more.

Sixth Annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival
1920 Two Notch Rd., Columbia, SC 29201
Saturday, June 18, 1 pm – 9 pm, and Sunday, June 19, 10 am – 7 pm
This amazing event will have vendors, bounce houses, fire trucks, EMS, police cars, food trucks, national recording artists, local talent, a fashion show, a carnival and a job fair. Check out Juneteenth events all week in the area! Learn more.

Shop locally at Black-owned businesses

In addition to attending a cultural celebration event, another way to recognize Juneteenth is to support local Black-owned businesses. Through our involvement as a local credit union from Grow On Us and beyond, we’ve had the chance to connect with several such businesses that we highly recommend checking out this month — Hogg Batch, 7th and Grove, Craving Donuts, Swank Desserts and Augustine’s Cheesecakes, just to mention a few.

Alysia Augustine, owner of Augustine’s Cheesecakes, shared this message with us: “On Juneteenth, we remember Black History and celebrate our freedom! We can do anything, be anything and go anywhere! Taste victory in every bite of cheesecake today!” Make sure to stop by and try out the incredible cheesecake from Augustine’s storefront or their exciting new dessert vending machine. We encourage everyone to support Black-owned businesses that contribute to our wonderfully diverse community, on Juneteenth and throughout the calendar year.

Grow Financial is not affiliated with these events, and the information above is subject to change. Please review individual event websites for official information, including location, date and time, and potential costs associated with attendance.

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