Howard County Juneteenth Community Day & Block Party

Join Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity, the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, and the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks for our annual Juneteenth Block Party & Community Day. This vibrant celebration honors the richness of Black culture, the power of community connection, the importance of telling our stories in our own voices, and the history and ongoing significance of Juneteenth. Featuring food, music, dance, movement, storytelling, interactive exhibits, community resources, and engaging workshops, this event is geared towards the whole family.

More than a celebration, this event is an opportunity to connect, to learn, and to uplift the voices and experiences that have too often been overlooked or misunderstood. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not just a moment in history, but a lived experience that continues to evolve. As we gather, we celebrate how far we’ve come, strengthen the bonds within our community, and reaffirm the importance of centering our stories as we move forward together.

All ages welcome! See agenda below for a selected listing of activities, classes, and workshops (a full program will be provided to all registrants).

Info: Shop amazing deals from our community yard sale vendors, enjoy music from C. James the DJ, savor delicious food, and play exciting games for all ages. Bring the whole family and connect with neighbors!

Info: This class will examine partner dancing as a counter strategy in the wake of Jim Crow and beyond. Join us for discussion, music and movement.

Info: Spoken word as a key ingredient in the fight for Civil Rights is as old as this nation. In this hour, participants will engage in exercises to create some meaningful rhymes of their own.

Info: In a historical survey through movement, this class will begin in 1930’s Harlem Renaissance, and end with the 1970’s Bronx Breaking culture making its way through Rock and Roll, and Funk and Soul along the way.

Info: What better way to kick off the summer than with a little refresher of the Cha-Cha Slide? Grab a fan and learn the newest dances, or jump in to participate in your favorites in this family-friendly lesson.

Info: This drop-in class will invite participants to practice cornrows, Bantu knots, and other braiding designs which are both artistic elements of culture, and part of a legacy of the fight for freedom among Black Americans.

Info: “Say, say oh Playmate! Come out and play with me!” From Ms. Mary Mack to Down Down Baby, practice your speed, coordination and rhythm in this space dedicated to lessons learned on the playground.

Info: This hand percussion class will connect ancient instruments to our present context by playing sounds that stretch across time and space.

Info: Using swatches of dyed cloth, and distinctive fabrics from across the Diaspora, participants will learn to connect fabrics with geography, as they practice their embroidery skills.

Info: Join the Harriet Tubman Foundation for selected readings from 1986 publication 'History of Blacks in Howard County, MD', detailing the early history of African Americans in Howard County Maryland. These stories are documented from oral history, education and community/society issues throughout the years and published by the NAACP Howard County Branch.

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