There might not be a better city to celebrate Juneteenth in than Baltimore — just take a look at all of this weekend’s events, including the beloved AFRAM festival on Saturday and Sunday.
Thursday, Juneteenth
Jubilee
This celebration of 20 years of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture features live music, food trucks, film screenings, a collaborative mural activity and more — all in the name of Black history and joy.
Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Price: Free
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Location: The Reginald F. Lewis Museum (830 E. Pratt St.)
Family friendly? Yes
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Rhythm Liberation Fest
The second edition of this Juneteenth festival includes the BLK ASS FLEA MKT (with 50 Black-owned businesses), yoga, food vendors and a DJ set from Grammy-nominated artist Durand Bernarr, who will be performing as his alter ego DJ TBD a.k.a. Bra Coley.
Time: Noon-6 p.m.
Price: Free
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Location: Baltimore Museum of Industry (1415 Key Highway)
Family friendly? Yes
East Baltimore Juneteenth Celebration
Hosted by the East Baltimore Historical Library, this event will have cultural storytelling from community leaders, Black-owned food and goods vendors, family-friendly activities such as pony rides and more.
Time: 3-7 p.m.
Price: Free
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Location: Eager Park (900 N. Wolfe St.)
Family friendly? Yes
Exalted!
Performers for this Juneteenth jazz and gospel festival include Grammy Award winner Bilal, Chicago-born producer and multi-instrumentalist Phoelix and gospel singer Callie Day.
Time: 6 p.m.
Price: $55
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Location: M&T Bank Exchange (401 W. Fayette St.)
Family friendly? All ages, but the post-performance after party is 21+
Blaxploitation
This burlesque revue pays tribute to Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree and other unforgettable movie stars from the Blaxploitation era.
Time: 7:15-10 p.m.
Price: $23.18-$44.52
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Location: Mobtown Ballroom (30 W. North Ave.)
Family friendly? 21+
Freedom to Feel
Tap into your artistic and expressive side at this Juneteenth celebration with a poetry slam, open mic, journaling and more.
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Price: Free
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Location: Harp Vision (406 S. Conkling St.)
Family friendly? Yes
Friday, June 20
‘Stars & Portals’ opens
Inspired by Yoruba spirituality and Afrocentric futurism, this new art exhibit unites Baltimore-via-Nigeria artists Adewale Alli and VILLAGER “in a transcendent visual dialogue between cosmos and spirit,” according to the Creative Alliance. Runs through July 19.
Time: 6 p.m.
Price: Free
Location: Creative Alliance (3134 Eastern Ave.)
Family friendly? Yes
Josh Gates
The host of Discovery Channel’s “Expedition Unknown” tells stories from his thrilling travels around the world.
Time: 7 p.m.
Price: $49.65- $72.65
Location: The Lyric (140 W. Mount Royal Ave.)
Family friendly? All ages
Flatland Cavalry & Ian Munsick
The country acts’ co-headlining tour visits Pier Six Pavilion on Friday. If Japanese kawaii metal is more your thing, the Tokyo trio BABYMETAL stops by the waterfront venue on Saturday night.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Price: $40.50-$94.50
Location: Pier Six Pavilion (731 Eastern Ave.)
Family friendly? All ages
Leather Dyke Pride
Pride celebrations continue with pole dancing and leather fashion at the Ottobar. Masks are encouraged.
Time: 10 p.m.
Price: $28.37
Location: The Ottobar (2549 N. Howard St.)
Family friendly? 21+
Chelsey Green & The Green Project
This Houston-born violinist has spent her career defying genres and expectations on the biggest stages, from the Grammy Awards with Lizzo to “The Late Show” and NPR’s “Tiny Desk.” On Friday, she returns to Baltimore, where Green earned her master’s at the Peabody Conservatory, for two performances at Keystone Korner.
Time: 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Price: $40
Location: Keystone Korner Baltimore (1350 Lancaster St.)
Family friendly? All ages; bar seating is 21+
Saturday, June 21
AFRAM
The two-day festival, an annual city highlight and one of the largest African American festivals on the East Coast, returns to Druid Hill Park with a stacked lineup. Highlights include rappers Saweetie and Juvenile with the 400 Degreez Band on Saturday, along with R&B singer Teedra Moses and the legendary Patti LaBelle on Sunday.
Word to the wise: Don’t miss Saturday’s Baltimore club music extravaganza with Rye Rye, Blaqstarr, Rod Lee, DJ Class and more.
Time: Noon-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Price: Free
Location: Druid Hill Park (900 Druid Park Lake Drive)
Family friendly? Yes
‘Justice and Reconciliation’ film screening
This new documentary by Xavier Frink focuses on the lives of two important Marylanders: Henry Highland Garnet, an abolitionist who became the first African American to give a sermon to Congress, and Harvey Johnson, leader of the National Texas Purchase Movement after Reconstruction.
Time: 2-3:30 p.m.
Price: Free
Location: Enoch Pratt Free Library (400 Cathedral St.)
Family friendly? All ages
Harbor Splash
While this organized leap into the Baltimore Harbor is sold-out, you can still cheer on the 200 participants by the Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point.
But keep an eye on the forecast: Rain could postpone the event until sometime next month, per the Waterfront Partnership.
Time: 9 a.m.
Price: Free
Location: Bond Street Wharf (901 S. Bond St.)
Family friendly? Yes
48th Annual Solstice Gala
This dress-to-impress fundraiser for the Maryland Science Center will include a DJ dance party on the rooftop patio, live music on the atrium stage, hands-on science demonstrations and open bars and food stations.
Time: 8 p.m.-midnight
Price: $103.22
Location: Maryland Science Center (601 Light St.)
Family friendly? 21+
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat
The veteran duo of Ed Schrader and bassist Devlin Rice, touring in support of last year’s “Orchestra Hits,” tops this all-Baltimore bill, which also includes Tomato Flower, Mowder Oyal and Baltimore Club DJ/producer Mighty Mark.
Time: 7 p.m.
Price: $25.75
Location: Metro Baltimore (1700 N. Charles St.)
Family friendly? All-ages show
Sunday, June 22
Big3
Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, which includes former NBA players like Joe Johnson and Michael Beasley, brings the action (and potential drama) to CFG Bank Arena.
Of Sunday’s four scheduled games, be sure to catch the DMV Trilogy — featuring McDonogh School alum DaJuan Summers — versus the Boston Ball Hogs, which will also air on CBS at 2 p.m.
Time: Noon
Price: $21.35-$1246
Location: CFG Bank Arena (201 W. Baltimore St.)
Family friendly? All ages
Just announced
Violent Femmes will headline the Lyric on Oct. 5. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
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