2022 Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration - June 18

Founded in 2021 by Carl Kemp and quickly becoming one of the region’s signature annual summer events, the Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration returns on June 18, 2022 with a full day of performances, activities, art, dancing, and special activations that commemorate the end of slavery in the United States while honoring and celebrating Black history and culture.

Performances, Activities and Events

The centerpiece of the festival will be a main stage featuring live music, choir, dance, and other performances by local musicians, DJs and other performers. Headlined by singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius of the R&B duo Floetry, look for performances throughout the day by R&B and jazz artists including Rahsaan Patterson, Katalyst Jazz, and Gee Mack and Asia Raye.

Three step dancers dance on the stage at the Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration

In addition to musical acts, the main stage will also host traditional African drum performances, a moving concert by the Antioch mass gospel choir, a riveting step show by members of Black sororities and fraternities of California State University Long Beach, a drum line and more.

Beyond the stage, festival goers can partake in family activities at a Kings & Queens Village, including face paint, arts and crafts and engaging community discussions, or view historic artifacts at an interactive display presented by traveling Black history museum, Forgotten Images. Local food trucks will be on-site, allowing attendees to refuel with Cajun food, chicken and waffles, desserts and other cuisine.

For more information and updates on the 2022 festival, consult the Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration’s official website and social media channels: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau is a proud sponsor of the 2022 Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2022 Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration?

The 2022 Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration will be hosted on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Where will the 2022 Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration be held?

The 2022 event will be hosted in the heart of Long Beach’s lively Waterfront, at Rainbow Lagoon Park (400 E. Shoreline Dr.).

How do I get tickets to the 2022 Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration?

Admission to the 2022 Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration is free, however tickets are required for entry into the festival. Complimentary tickets are available online via Eventbrite.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is the oldest national holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, which officially ended on June 19, 1865 — two and a half years following President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclomation — when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the enslaved that the Civil War had ended and they were now free. Juneteenth was declared a national holiday in 2021 and the first large-scale Juneteenth celebration was hosted in Long Beach on June 19, 2021, however smaller community celebrations had occurred for years prior.