Anacostia Community Museum Expanded Juneteenth Celebration #Juneteenth2026

The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum will host its largest-ever Juneteenth Freedom Celebration today from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Via Smithsonian

The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum will host its largest-ever Juneteenth Freedom Celebration Friday, June 19, anchored by a high-energy nighttime roller rink experience alongside live music and family activities. The free, full-day event, “Power in the Past, Strength in the Future,” runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and transforms the museum grounds into a vibrant, block party-style celebration with extended gallery hours.

While the museum has hosted Juneteenth events since 1989, this year’s expanded program introduces a signature “Juneteenth Late Skate,” connecting the cultural legacy of Black roller skating traditions with a contemporary, community-centered experience.

The celebration is presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage’s “Spotlight 250 Programs” and the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 campaign.

“The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum is excited to continue our long-standing tradition of commemorating Juneteenth with the local community,” said Katelynd Anderson, the museum’s interim director. “Our theme this year, ‘Power in the Past, Strength in the Future,’ invites visitors to connect with each other and celebrate our shared history as we all look forward to the nation’s Semiquincentennial in July.”

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