Houston First Corporation is gearing up this month for a major event celebrating Juneteenth.

Juneteenth – A Celebration of Freedom will take place Sunday June 18 at Avenida Houston and Discovery Green. The free event will feature live music, 100 vendors from Houston’s BLCK Market, food trucks, art and much more. Festivities kickoff at 2 pm and will run until 9 pm.

The concert lineup includes:

Avenida Stage
2:30 pm Soultre ft. Kollett
4:00 pm The Goodfellaz
5:30 pm Matthew Hartnett and The Gumbo Allstars
7:00 pm Anthony Hall / Mario / Kai Hicks / Jennie P

Discovery Green Transier Bandstand
2:00 pm DJ Chilly Bill Smith
5:00 pm DJ Thundacat

Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the U.S. that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The name combines the two words June and nineteenth, which marks the day in 1865 when the order freeing slaves in Texas was issued. Through the years, the holiday spread from Texas across the nation and became a federal holiday in 2021.

Juneteenth events are taking place across the Houston metro area this month. Click here to see a list of celebrations.

(Photo: artist Anthony Hall)