San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed, along with City and community leaders, will commemorate Juneteenth throughout June with a series of events that celebrate Black freedom, resilience, and culture. Today, the second annual Parade down Market Street will feature festive floats, live music, classic cars, marching bands, and many special guests.
“Juneteenth in San Francisco is a time for unity, joy, celebration, but also a time to reflect on all the things that Black people have had to endure throughout generations. As a City that represents many communities and cultures, it’s important that we share and learn from one another’s experiences and history,” said Mayor London Breed. “We look forward to welcoming the second annual Juneteenth Parade and the thousands of residents and visitors to enjoy our Downtown. San Francisco is a world-class destination, and this Juneteenth offers all of us the opportunity to honor the strength, spirit, and love that defines the spirit of our Black community.”
The parade, San Francisco’s landmark event, will start at Market and Spear streets at 11:00 a.m. today and continue 13 blocks west along Market Street toward Civic Center Plaza. Community organizations, including GLIDE, Homeless Children’s Network, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, Collective Impact, and the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation, will serve as block captains creating mini-celebrations and destination points along the nearly two-mile parade route.
The all-day family-friendly festival runs from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Civic Center Plaza and will feature musical performances by beloved local artists representing multiple genres, including Larry June, Rapsody, Goapele, D’Wayne Wiggins, Stunnaman02, Martin Luther, and many more. Food and drink, games, community resources, and fun for attendees of all ages will be on hand at the festival.
“To have this parade extend right through the heart of the City makes it clear that San Francisco is a place where Black people are celebrated, seen, and can experience joy,” said Sheryl Davis, Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, the lead City department working to coordinate community-led Juneteenth events. “San Francisco can offer space for everyone to experience this. I am grateful to all who have been working for many months to plan and deliver this year’s Juneteenth events and create welcoming and dynamic experiences for all. Special thanks to the teams at Silverback events production, for partnering with community to elevate Juneteenth as one of San Francisco’s most beloved and notable events like Pride and Bay to Breakers, for sharing their expertise and talent to designing tomorrow’s parade and festival, along with the team at Livable City. Appreciation also to all the community organizations and leaders who have lent their know-how, spirit, and energy to these efforts, and to the staff team at the Dream Keeper Initiative for their support.”
During the month of June, San Francisco commemorates Juneteenth with celebrations citywide featuring local Black-owned restaurants and Black artists. Each week, the Bayview Opera House will host events highlighting Black arts and culture in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood. Additionally, Mayor Breed will host her annual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 14th at 12:00 p.m. at San Francisco City Hall. The event will feature music, dance, and spoken word performances. More information about Juneteenth events can be found at this link.
“This is an opportunity for all of San Francisco to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of our city's Black community," said Supervisor Shamann Walton, who has championed the Dream Keeper Initiative from its inception and supported the funding of its community-led programming, including all of this year’s Juneteenth celebrations. "It is also a time for joy. We are in our second year hosting a parade of this scale, thanks to the dedication and hard work of so many to bring it to life – and with the addition this year of the festival, providing an incredible lineup of musical performances and fun for all ages, Juneteenth in San Francisco is only growing. I know many from all over the Bay Area will be coming to celebrate with us in the City for the second annual parade along Market Street and festival in Civic Center Plaza. Everyone lining the parade route and attending the festival should expect a vibrant and exciting day.”
The committee planning this month’s events, including Saturday’s parade and festival, has dedicated many months of work to these efforts. The group is led by community members with collaborative support from private sector and City partners. “Juneteenth in San Francisco has always been a celebration," said Rev. Ishmael Burch, longtime community organizer and a member of the SFC Juneteenth events planning committee. "As a holiday, it has always been organized for the community, by the community, and for the enjoyment of all. I am especially pleased to see so many of our young people involved in this year's Juneteenth parade and festival. Parades especially are a joyful way for us to lift up and celebrate community, as they bring out the kid in all of us.”
“We are honored to have our grandfather Wesley Johnson remembered for the love he showed his community. His personal calling was to make San Francisco a welcoming haven for Black folks seeking a better life in the 1940s and 1950s. The fact that his unique contributions are being recognized by the city he called home is a welcomed acknowledgement of the impact he’s made,” said Dr. Kevin Johnson and Holly Johnson Friar, grandchildren of Wesley Johnson. “Our family looks forward to continuing to contribute and to enjoy future celebrations of Wesley Johnson and Juneteenth. We thank the event organizers for putting respect on his name.”
Tickets for today’s events, along with the lineup of the festival’s musical performances, can be found at www.SFCJuneteenth.org. Black owned businesses and entrepreneurs are highlighted via ShopDineSF at www.sf.gov/shop-dine-sf and www.sf.gov/1865-til-infinity all through the month of June.
Planning partners include Sounds Bazaar, San Francisco Housing Development Corporation, OMI Cultural Preseveration Project, Afatasi the Artist, SF Black Wall Street Foundation, Black Community Equity Group, and BlaCOEUR.
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