Join the City of Salem in celebrating Juneteenth!
Charlotte Forten Park
Salem’s Juneteenth Jam Festival III will take place on Friday, June 19th at 11:30am, at Charlotte Forten Park at 289 Derby Street. The keynote will be delivered by History Alive’s Sarah Parker Remond.

“This year we are honoring Sarah Parker Remond on the anniversary of her 200th birthday,” said Mayor Pangallo. “She was a trailblazer and freedom fighter, with global impact, but roots here in Salem. We hope that by partnering with History Alive and bringing Sarah Parker Remond to our community, people will be able to learn more about her life and her legacy.”

Immediately following, attendees are invited to participate in a public reading and community discussion activity of Frederick Douglass’s famous speech The Meaning of The Fourth Of July for the Negro led by Michael Corley.

Following the conclusion of the public reading, Salem’s Juneteenth Jam will feature games, activities, crafts, face painting, music, free custom Salem 400+ bucket hats, free food from Butter Ur Biscuit, and Red Velvet Ice Cream from Holy Cow Ice Cream. There will also be a pop-up market featuring local Black-owned businesses and Black non-profits and service organizations. Community partners such as the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem, the Salem Public Library, the House of the Seven Gables, and more will also be attending with free activities and giveaways. Salem Historical Tours will offer a free hour-long Black history tour of Salem, which will start at 1:30pm from Charlotte Forten Park. Signs-ups for this tour will begin at 1:00pm, with a limit of 40 available spots.

The City of Salem is partnering with the Peabody Essex Museum to bring Jo-Mo-Mé Dance Arts to the Jam this year, with a contemporary ballet performance exploring connection, individuality, and human resilience through fluid movement and striking physicality. Featuring two dynamic duets and a powerful solo, the works blend athleticism with emotional depth, embodying the company’s bold artistic voice and commitment to storytelling through dance. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of The Real Pirate Museum, the Jam will also feature live music from Coco Brown and The Invitation, led by Nicole Harris. They will kick off their set at 2:30pm and wrap up at 4pm.

Peabody Essex Museum
Admission will be free to the Peabody Essex Museum on Juneteenth. Community members are invited to celebrate through art, music, and movement. At 11:30am and 1:00pm, artist-led community circles will invite participants into spaces of reflection, conversation, and collective expression, while live music fills the Museum’s Main Atrium with rhythms of joy and connection. In the afternoon, experience an electrifying outdoor drum and dance performance by Black Experimental Arts Theater, bringing powerful traditions of movement and cultural celebration to life. All are welcome to gather, celebrate, and reflect in this dynamic day of community-centered programming.

Armory Park
Stop by Armory Park at 4:30pm for a special performance by Black Experimental Arts Theater. This electrifying outdoor drum and dance performance brings together the powerful traditions of movement and cultural celebration to life. Thanks to the Peabody Essex Museum for sponsoring the performance.

Salem Common
Following a community-wide poll, residents have chosen to screen Pixar’s 2020 film “Soul” on Salem Common to wrap up the 2026 Juneteenth festivities. Free popcorn will be provided, thanks to the generosity of CinemaSalem. The movie is expected to start at 8:30pm and is approximately 101 minutes long.

All Juneteenth events in Salem are family-friendly, free, and open to anyone who wishes to attend.

The Frederick Douglass reading is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Mass Cultural Council.