Carlee WrightJuneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, culture, and community. Across Salem this year, local organizations are offering opportunities to learn, reflect, laugh, connect, and celebrate.
The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved African Americans in Texas learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Today, it serves as both a celebration of Black freedom and a reminder of the ongoing fight for equity and justice.
At the heart of Salem’s observance is the annual Salem-Keizer NAACP Juneteenth Festival, taking place from 12 to 6 p.m. June 19 at Riverfront Park. This year’s theme, “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future,” reflects the festival’s dual purpose: recognizing history while investing in future generations.
The free community celebration will feature live performances, food vendors, cultural crafts and activities, community organizations, local businesses, and Black-owned vendors and artisans. The event creates space for education, connection, and celebration while highlighting Black culture, excellence, and leadership.
“Honoring the past, embracing the future means recognizing that Juneteenth is not only a celebration of freedom delayed, but a call to continue the work of justice, equity, and community healing,” said Ashley Dunn, vice president of the Salem-Keizer NAACP. “It means carrying forward the resilience, sacrifice, and brilliance of those who came before us while creating spaces where future generations can belong, thrive, and lead unapologetically.”
The festival is one of several Juneteenth events happening in Salem.
Earlier in the day, the Willamette Heritage Center, Oregon Black Pioneers, and Just Walk Salem Keizer host In Freedom’s Footsteps: Juneteenth Community Walking Tour, an annual event exploring the story of a local family whose lives were shaped by slavery and emancipation. This year’s walk focuses on the Johnson Family.
Guided walks depart throughout the morning from the Willamette Heritage Center. Participants can also complete the route independently using a self-guided brochure. The 2.25-mile walk offers an opportunity to learn about local Black history while reflecting on the significance of Juneteenth in Oregon.
In the evening, Salem Cinema will host free screenings of two films tied to Black history and culture: Talk to Me, the story of radio personality and activist Ralph “Petey” Greene, and The Blackening, a comedy-horror satire that puts a fresh, funny spin on a familiar genre. Click here for tickets.
At Salem’s Historic Grand Ballroom, see the Juneteenth Gemini Comedy Show featuring Courtney “Goldie” Jackson, known to many from Flavor of Love, alongside a lineup of regional comedians, 8 p.m. June 19. Click here for tickets.
Whether gathering at Riverfront Park, attending a walking tour, taking in a film, or sharing a laugh at a comedy show, Salem’s Juneteenth events offer multiple ways to engage with the holiday’s meaning while honoring the past and embracing the future.
Quick Reference
Salem-Keizer NAACP 2026 Juneteenth Festival
“Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future”
12 to 6 p.m. June 19
Riverfront Park
Freedom’s Footsteps: Juneteenth Community Walking Tour
9, 10, 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. June 19 (arrive 15 mins early)
Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St SE
Juneteenth Gemini Comedy Show
Hosted by Courtney “Goldie” Jackson from VH1’s Flavor of Love (season 1)
8 p.m. June 19
Salem’s Historic Grand Ballroom
Click here for tickets
Salem Cinema presents Talk to Me
5:30 p.m. June 19
Salem Cinema
Click here for free tickets
Salem Cinema presents The Blackening
8:30 p.m. June 19
Salem Cinema
Click here for free tickets
Author: Carlee Wright
Carlee Wright is a community instigator with a grand love for Salem and notably fashionable shoes (Hello, John Fluevog!) who turns waste into wearable art in her "spare" time.
