The nation’s capital features a variety of activities to honor the holiday
Juneteenth (June 19), also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day or Liberation Day, marks the emancipation of Black people who had been enslaved in the United States. Not until recently did this historically significant and culturally relevant holiday begin to gain the notice that it deserves. In the nation’s capital, where Juneteenth has been recognized as an official holiday since 2004, you will find plenty of ways to celebrate Black history, freedom and expression from now through Juneteenth.
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations – June 17-22
If you think the music of The Temptations is fantastic, just wait until you hear their story. The National Theatre hosts the Broadway smash Ain’t Too Proud, a musical that will make you want to dance in the aisles. Five kids from Detroit are discovered by the legendary Berry Gordy, then signed to Motown, then launched into an unforgettable career filled with chart-topping hits. Along the way, both friendship and betrayal enter the story, in addition to civil rights struggles in the country at-large. Don’t miss this Tony Award-winning song-and-dance extravaganza that also offers a captivating tale.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
We Gather at the Edge: Contemporary Quilts by Black Women Artists – Through June 22
Two years ago, the Smithsonian American Art Museum acquired 35 quilts from Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, who holds a doctorate in aerospace engineering and is also a prolific artist, curator and scholar. The scope of the quilts featured is remarkable and groundbreaking in its representation of Black history and culture.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist – Through July 6
Through singular and daring prints and sculptures, Elizabeth Catlett became of the defining artist-activists of her day. Catlett has roots in DC, Chicago and New York but spent 60 years in Mexico, where she created art “for the people.” U.S. and Mexican injustices resonate throughout her work. The National Gallery of Art will display more than 150 of her creations, including rarely seen paintings and drawings.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
The Artist’s Experience: From Brotherman to Batman – Through July 24
Visit Phillips@THEARC for a distinctive exhibition of the vitality of comic book art. From Brotherman to Batman focuses on 20 Black artists from across the spectrum of comic books, including Dawud Anyabwile (creator of Brotherman), Denys Cowan (co-founder of Milestone Media and legendary Batman illustrator for DC Comics) and many others. Dive deep into how each panel of a comic book page tells a story as well as how these fascinating creatives break the confines of the art form.
Wednesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
Phillips@THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020
In the Tower: Chakaia Booker – Treading New Ground – Through Aug. 3
The National Gallery of Art presents three extraordinary sculptures from visionary artist Chakaia Booker in its East Building this spring. Booker transforms tires – cutting, coiling and contorting them – to sculpt industrial waste into awe-inspiring abstract forms. The environmentally conscious work inspires visitors to ponder the effect of materials on the natural world.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
Essex Hemphill: Take Care of Your Blessings – Through Aug. 31
The Phillips Collection showcases the relationship between the trailblazing work of poet and activist Essex Hemphill and contemporary visual art in a new exhibit. Hemphill was born in Chicago and raised in DC, where he became one of the most outspoken LGBTQ+ advocates of his time, both through his poetry and the spoken word. Hemphill tragically died of an AIDS-related illness in 1995 at the age of 38, but his work powerfully lives on, as can be observed in Take Care of Your Blessings, which puts him in dialogue with artists of his time and the present.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture – Through Sept. 14
The Smithsonian American Museum’s new exhibit examines sculpture’s role in understanding and constructing race in the United States. Across 82 sculptures created between 1792 and 2023 by 70 different artists, visitors can observe historical and modern works that inspire conversation and reflections on how power, identity and race are intertwined.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art – Through Summer 2026
The National Museum of African Art has assembled a powerful showcase of works that marks the first continental and diasporic survey of its scale outside of Africa. LGBTQ+ identities and experiences are the focus of the exhibit, with many of the pieces serving as challenges to legacies of homophobia and bigotry.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
See the Emancipation Proclamation at the National Archives
Each year, the National Archives displays the original Emancipation Proclamation and its companion document, General Order No. 3, which granted freedom to the last enslaved people in Galveston, Tx. three years after the Proclamation was issued. Note that because of its fragility, the Emancipation Proclamation can only see 36 hours of sunlight per year, so the display is rare. Stay tuned for confirmed exhibition dates. The Proclamation will be permanently displayed at the Archives beginning in 2026.
More Information
National Archives, 700 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20408
Home Rule Music Festival – June 21
Now a city tradition, the Home Rule Music Festival celebrates the rich music and cultural scene of DC. Plan for a full summer day of performances at The Parks at Walter Reed on June 21. The festival then hosts a second installment on Oct. 4 at Alethia Tanner Park.
Tickets
The Parks at Walter Reed, 1010 Butternut Street, NW, Washington, DC
Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way, NW, Washington, DC
Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is a state-of-the-art building that addresses nearly every aspect of the African American experience, covering the arts, slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, athletics and much more. For more information regarding hours and timed passes, visit the museum's website.
10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily | Free Admission | Timed Passes
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Continue your experience by checking out Black-owned restaurants in DC.
