On Juneteenth, African American history, heritage and influence take center stage. Orlando is celebrating with a host of unique events in 2022 — and you are invited to join the festivities (Hannibal Square Heritage Center pictured).

Established as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth National Independence Day, aka Juneteenth, has grown in popularity in recent years, and Orlando is proud to host numerous celebrations and commemorations related to this important holiday.

Discover: African American History & Culture in Orlando

Also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Liberation Day, Juneteenth — a portmanteau of “June” and “Nineteenth” — marks the final emancipation of African Americans who suffered through slavery, with the last announcement being made in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Here’s your guide to Juneteenth events in Orlando for 2022, including cultural expositions, high-energy parties and much more, plus other unforgettable ways to honor this important day.

Juneteenth Events in Orlando for 2022

See how Orlando is marking Juneteenth in 2022 with options throughout the destination. More events will be added as they’re announced, so check back in the lead up to June 19.

Discover: Orlando Events

‘Traditions’ Weekend: Middle School and High School Students Celebrate Black Music Month (June 17, 2022)

Part of the 2022 ZORA!® Festival Season, “Traditions” Weekend will feature middle school and high school jazz bands, marching bands, brass ensembles, drum & bugle corps, singers, and dancers. The free event is hosted by Valencia College, School of Arts and Entertainment, east of downtown Orlando.

Discover: Orlando Arts & Culture

Black Friday Orlando: Scavenger Hunt + City Skip Day (June 17 – 18, 2022)

Celebrating African American excellence, Black Friday Orlando invites you to explore all of the Black-owned businesses our city has to offer. Then, join the concluding Juneteenth Block Party at downtown Orlando’s Orange County Regional History Center from 1 – 6 p.m. on June 18. Participation is free.

Discover: Downtown Orlando

Retro Happy Hour: Black in the Day (June 17, 2022)

Actually the first stop in the aforementioned Black Friday Orlando Scavenger Hunt, Retro Happy Hour: Black in the Day will take over two venues in downtown Orlando’s Parramore District, including The District Gastrobar and Night Shade Lounge. Pricing: Free (Individuals), $50 (Four-Person Table), $75 (Six-Person Table).

Discover: Orlando History

MAC Boys Entertainment Presents The Colored Museum (June 17 – 20, 2022)

Presented at the Orlando Repertory Theatre (aka Orlando Rep) in Loch Haven Park, The Colored Museum has electrified, discomforted and delighted audiences of all colors while redefining what it means to be Black in contemporary America. Home to numerous Orlando cultural venues, Loch Haven Park is adjacent to the Audubon Park and Mills 50 districts north of downtown Orlando. Pricing: $20.

Discover: Orlando Neighborhoods

7th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Historic Hannibal Square (June 18, 2022)

Hosted by the Hannibal Square Heritage Center in partnership with the city of Winter Park, just north of downtown Orlando, the Juneteenth Celebration in Historic Hannibal Square will feature guest speakers, live performances, a complimentary Father’s Day Community Breakfast, local vendors, and more. Hannibal Square was one of Central Florida’s first self-governing African American communities. The event is free to attend.

Discover: Hannibal Square Heritage Center

Black Wall Street Juneteenth Block Party (June 18, 2022)

Paying homage to the original “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Black Wall Street Juneteenth Block Party will include a day party (1 – 5 p.m.) with DJs, guest hosts, a kids zone, food trucks and vendors, followed by an afterparty (5 – 10 p.m.) with even more DJs and vendors. Both sets will take place at Wall St. Plaza in downtown Orlando. Pricing: Free (Day Party), $15 (Afterparty).

R&Bingo (June 18, 2022)

Held at the brand-new Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando, this special Juneteenth edition of R&Bingo presents a musical spin on the classic game of bingo. Participation is free but registration is required.

Discover: Steinmetz Hall

The Art of Brunch at The Hall on the Yard (June 19, 2022)

From 12 – 4 p.m., enjoy a chef-inspired brunch menu, unlimited mimosas and an open bar at one of the hottest new outdoor venues in Orlando. The Art of Brunch at The Hall on the Yard takes place in the Ivanhoe Village Main Street district, adjacent to downtown Orlando.

Discover: Ivanhoe Village Main Street

More Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth in Orlando

It’s not just commemorative events that make Orlando an ideal destination for Juneteenth celebrations — you can also explore African American history, culture and businesses while you’re here.

Discover: Diversity & Inclusion in Orlando

Throughout the destination, you’ll find historic African American districts and venues with deep ties to the American Civil Rights movement. About 30 minutes north of our main tourism areas, Eatonville is the country’s oldest self-governing African American community still in existence today. It’s also the childhood home of author Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God), who takes center stage at Eatonville’s Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts and annual ZORA! Festival.

You’ll also want to visit downtown Orlando’s Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture, which is based inside the legendary Wells’Built Hotel. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the museum features memorabilia of Orlando’s African American community, displays of the Civil Rights movement, and African art and artifacts.

Discover: Wells’Built Museum

Tinker Field, the site of a historic speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is another reason to visit downtown. And in nearby Winter Park, the Hannibal Square Historic District originally consisted of African Americans who worked for the South Florida Railroad. It was also the site of one of the country’s earliest Civil Rights marches in 1887.

While attending this year’s Juneteenth celebrations and exploring African American history in Orlando, make time for our Black-owned businesses, too. They include attractions like Bronze Kingdom African Art Gallery on International Drive, as well as restaurants, retailers and more, many of which are affiliated with the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida. Show your support on Juneteenth or your next visit!

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