Juneteenth, a federal holiday on Monday, June 19 commemorates the end of slavery. A variety of celebratory events will be held in the City of St. Augustine’s historic Lincolnville neighborhood and local venues with a series of culturally enriching and educational events hosted by the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, and the St. Augustine Music Festival. Lincolnville, a central location in the city’s history of emancipation and civil rights, was established after emancipation by freedmen and served as a major site of the civil rights movement, where demonstrations were organized that directly led to the passing of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. The neighborhood, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will be the backdrop for many of the Juneteenth events in the city.
“St. Augustine’s history of emancipation spans from its founding during the Spanish colonial era as the first free Black community to the Civil War era, and when the historic Lincolnville neighborhood was founded. As America’s oldest city, this is an ideal place to celebrate the holiday,” said Christina Parrish Stone, executive director of the St. Johns Cultural Council. “We will present a variety of events with music, food, art, and culture to celebrate Black heritage and the history of emancipation in St. Augustine.”
Calendar of events from June 15 – 19:
“Respect: Soul Music and the Civil Rights Movement,” on Thursday, June 15 from 4 p.m. until 5:30 PM –
The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center will kick off a weekend of Juneteenth celebrations with a screening of a lecture from John Capouya, author of the award-winning book Florida Soul, on the inspiring soul artists who assisted in the civil rights movement. Capouya’s lecture will cover soul artists like Aretha Franklin, Florida’s own Sam and Dave, Timmy Thomas, Sam Cooke, and Curtis Mayfield, whose music in the 60s and 70s became anthems of the civil rights movement. The event is free and open to the public and advance registration is required at https://bit.ly/40MZKH2.
Marcus Click Live, on Thursday, June 15 from 7 p.m. until 9 PM –
Award-winning saxophonist and smooth jazz performer Marcus Click will perform live in the Excelsior Room at the Lincolnville Museum. Inspired by jazz greats such as Kirk Whalum, Grover Washington, Jr., and George Howard, Marcus Click will perform his award-winning smooth jazz in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/3oNRg56.
The Mahøgånëë Xperīence, on Friday, June 16 from 7-9 PM –
The Juneteenth celebration will include music, art, and a Gullah Geechee cultural experience from Mahøgånëë at the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center. Mahøgånëë is a Gullah Geechee Lowcountry creative, renowned vocal artist, recording artist, songwriter, mixed media visual artist, and poet. Her unique style of indigenous soul music is a blend of multiple genres including Southern soul, funk, jazz, blues and hip-hop with African, Native American, and Caribbean influences. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3AGFsV2.
Gamble Rogers Concert Series: Grammy Winner Dom Flemons Live from The Waterworks on Saturday, June 17 from 7 – 9 PM –
Known as “The American Songster” for his repertoire of music covering over 100 years of American roots music, Dom Flemons will perform with the band Bad Dog Mama live at The Waterworks. Flemons is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and co-founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a Grammy Award-winning old-time string band. He is considered an expert player on the banjo, guitar, harmonica, jug, percussion, quills, fife, and rhythm bones. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/42ns43W.
Heritage Brunch featuring Longineu Parsons on Sunday, June 18 from 11:30 AM until 2 PM –
International trumpeter and musician Dr. Longineu Parsons II will perform during a brunch in the historic Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center. Guests will experience downhome delicacies catered by Heart & SoulFood, a food truck serving Southern soul food inspired by family recipes with a Caribbean flair. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/40YVbJD.
St. Augustine Music Festival’s Juneteenth Celebration on Monday, June 19 at 7:30 PM –
In collaboration with the Ritz Chamber Players, the St. Augustine Music Festival presents the third annual Juneteenth Celebration at the historic Cathedral Basilica, the oldest Catholic Church in St. Augustine with outstanding acoustics. The concert will showcase works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a British mixed-race composer, with pianist Yukino Miyake and featured vocalist Ann Marie McPhail. The celebration of freedom is free and open to the public. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3oYnlYb.
Many events are sponsored by the St. Johns Cultural Council, which promotes arts, culture, and heritage programming and events in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and the Beaches. For more information about Black history in St. Augustine, visit the St. Johns Cultural Council’s website: www.historiccoastculture.com.
