Join the community in downtown Easton for the annual Juneteenth Celebration at the Academy Art Museum, a vibrant block-party style event honoring freedom, heritage, and the enduring power of storytelling.
What to Expect
The Juneteenth celebration is a free event, taking place at the Academy Art Museum on Saturday, June 20 from Noon to 4 p.m. The event features activities for children, guided tours of the Hill Community, a teen essay showcase in partnership with Shore Lit, and a showcase of regional partners. A special installation inside the museum will display artifacts from the site of the future Freeman Annex & Hormel Research Center. From 3-4 p.m. photographic artists Tawny Chatmon will speak.
The Theme
The festival traditionally adopts a theme each year, and in 2026, it will focus on the Hill Community. The people, places, and stories of this community, which is one of the oldest free Black neighborhoods in the United States, are weaved into this year’s program.
What is Juneteenth
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX. This was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. In 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act officially recognized the day as a federal holiday.
Make a Weekend of It
The Academy Art Museum is located just steps from Easton’s shops, restaurants, and historic downtown streets—making it easy to turn your visit into a long weekend exploring Talbot County.
Presented by: Academy Art Museum
Location: 106 South St. Easton, MD 21601
Website: https://academyartmuseum.org
