Prince William County’s second annual Juneteenth & Me Festival comes to Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge this Thursday, June 19. Last year’s inaugural event drew between 4,000 and 5,000 neighbors despite a heavy rainstorm — this year organizers are expecting even more, with more than 100 vendors, live performances, food trucks, wellness resources, and family-friendly activities planned throughout the day.

This year’s theme is Black Renaissance: Leading the Path Forward.

Photo: The Juneteenth flag weaves the Stars and Stripes together with the red, black, and green of the Pan-African flag — a visual symbol of freedom both American and ancestral. Photo by Vitalii Abakumov on Unsplash.

📅 Thursday, June 19, 2026

🕛 Noon – 9 p.m.

📍 Pfitzner Stadium, 7 County Complex Ct, Woodbridge, VA

Free and open to all. Full schedule and updates at pwcva.gov/juneteenth-me-festival.

Want to volunteer? Equality Prince William is staffing a booth and needs help in shifts throughout the day. Sign up at signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4EAFAD2BA02-64519431-epwatthe. Dress for the heat and bring sunscreen.

Juneteenth celebrations are happening across the Commonwealth this year. If you’d like to extend the day with a drive to another part of Virginia, here are a few notable observances worth the trip.

June 18–20 | Fairfax County, VA

Closest to home among Virginia’s broader Juneteenth observances, the historic Laurel Grove School Museum in Fairfax County hosts three days of hands-on activities, creativity, and learning. The museum preserves the legacy of one of Virginia’s earliest schools for African American children, and this inaugural Juneteenth celebration invites families to drop in for storytelling, exhibits, and community programming rooted in local Black history. Details at va250.org/juneteenth.

Richmond, VA | June 2026 (date to be announced)

First presented in 1996, this is Virginia’s flagship Juneteenth holiday commemoration — and given Richmond’s central place in the nation’s history of slavery and emancipation, it carries a depth of meaning few other observances can match. Presented by the Elegba Folklore Society, the celebration features a signature riverfront ceremony, performances, vendors, and ancestry tributes along Richmond’s Trail of Enslaved Africans. Details at visitrichmondva.com.

June 19 | Richmond, VA

Dogwood Dell’s beloved outdoor amphitheater opens its summer season with a free Juneteenth celebration featuring a special performance from the Elegba Folklore Society, acknowledging the history of Juneteenth, African American heritage, and Virginia’s newest state holiday. A lovely option for families who want their celebration paired with an evening of music under the trees. Details at juneteenthevents.us.

June 19 | Henrico County, VA

Henrico County’s annual Juneteenth Celebration is a full evening of music, food, and family fun — with gates opening at 4 p.m., a vendor fair and kids zone running through the early evening, live entertainment until 10 p.m., and a fireworks finale at 9:45 p.m. A polished, well-organized community event with strong programming and a memorable closing note. Details at henrico.gov.

June 19 | Williamsburg, VA

This Juneteenth, Williamsburg launches a new African American Heritage Trail acknowledging the significant Black population that lived, worked, and shaped the city throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. For history-minded families looking to combine a Juneteenth observance with a meaningful day trip, this is one of the more substantive new initiatives in the state. Details at va250.org/juneteenth.

If you’re willing to head north across the Potomac, the wider DC and Maryland region offers some of the largest and most established Juneteenth events on the East Coast.

June 19 | National Harbor, MD

Just across the Potomac in Prince George’s County, National Harbor hosts one of the region’s most accessible Juneteenth celebrations — a free, all-day event set against the river and the National Harbor waterfront. The celebration features a Black-Owned Marketplace showcasing dozens of small businesses, vendors, and artisans, alongside live entertainment, cultural programming, and family-friendly activities throughout the day. The setting itself is part of the appeal: open-air, walkable, with the Capital Wheel and waterfront promenade just steps from the celebration. Details at nationalharbor.com.

June 19 | Washington, DC

The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum holds a special place in American cultural history as the first Smithsonian museum established in an urban neighborhood, founded in 1967 to document and celebrate the experiences of historically underrepresented communities. Its Juneteenth programming reflects that mission — a thoughtful blend of Black history, culture, wellness, and community engagement, with educational and cultural activities designed for all ages. The museum sits in the heart of historic Anacostia, a neighborhood deeply tied to the legacy of Frederick Douglass, whose home is just a short walk away. Details at anacostia.si.edu/juneteenth.

June 21 | Anacostia Skating Pavilion, Washington, DC

For a quieter, more reflective Juneteenth experience, the National Park Service hosts a community celebration at the Anacostia Skating Pavilion along the Anacostia River. The focus here is on freedom, culture, storytelling, and family — with educational programs, artistic experiences, and community engagement activities designed to help visitors connect with the history and enduring significance of Juneteenth. The park setting offers space to walk, picnic, and gather, and the programming tends to skew thoughtful and intergenerational. Details at nps.gov.

June 20 | BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD

Montgomery County’s flagship Juneteenth celebration takes place at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown — a fitting venue for a day that highlights the arts as a vehicle for freedom, expression, and resilience. Freedom at the Rock combines live entertainment, local vendors, food, community organizations, and family activities throughout the day, all anchored by BlackRock’s commitment to making the arts accessible to its community. Expect a polished, well-organized event with strong programming, ample parking, and a comfortable indoor-outdoor setup. Details at blackrockcenter.org.

June 19–21 | Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD

AFRAM is one of the largest African American cultural festivals on the entire East Coast — a three-day celebration that takes over Druid Hill Park in Baltimore all Juneteenth weekend. While not officially branded as a Juneteenth festival, the timing has long been intentional: AFRAM has been a cornerstone of Baltimore’s Black cultural life for more than four decades, drawing tens of thousands of attendees each year for major musical performances, a massive vendor marketplace, soul food, family programming, and community pride. If you’re looking for the biggest, most ambitious Juneteenth weekend experience in the region, AFRAM is the answer. Details at aframbaltimore.com.

Marie Clementi is the Publisher and Editor of The Woodbridge Gazette, a free weekly local news publication covering Woodbridge, Occoquan, Manassas, Gainesville, Dumfries, and surrounding Prince William County communities. Written by neighbors, for neighbors.

Have a story tip, event, or community update? Reach Marie at [email protected].

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