Juneteenth In Oceanside, San Diego With Week-Long Celebrations In 2024

OCEANSIDE, CA — Juneteenth observances in San Diego County kick off with numerous multicultural events from Oceanside to Chula Vista and beyond.

The Wednesday, June 19, federal holiday commemorates the day in 1865, more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, when word finally reached the last enslaved people in Texas that the Civil War had ended and they were free.

Also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Jubilee Day, Juneteenth is the oldest-known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making it a federal holiday, the first since the addition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

Because Juneteenth is an official U.S. holiday, banks, federal offices, and post offices in San Diego County, along with many state, county, and local government offices, will be closed on Wednesday. June 19 is also a paid holiday for San Diego city workers.

With events far and wide, here are a few special events in San Diego County For Juneteenth 2024, over the next week:

• Chula Vista: Juneteenth Jubilee on Friday, June 13: From noon to 1:30 p.m. at Southwestern College, located at 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista. Come for gospel music, dancing and reflection at the campus setting.
• Oceanside: June 15: from 10 to 4 p.m. at Oceanside Civic Center Plaza. Live entertainment, food, vendors, health screening, arts and crafts and more.
• La Jolla: Juneteenth Summer Barbecue, June 15: From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 8303 Camino del Oro, La Jolla. Come for free surf lessons, community yoga, live music and beach volleyball and organized beach clean-up.
• La Mesa: Juneteenth And Friends at MacArthur Park on Sunday, June 16: From noon to 4 p.m. The third annual event features the MLK Jr. Community Choir, music, African Drummers, Spoken Word Artists, Kidzone and more.
• Solana Beach: 4th Junteenth Charity Golf Tournament at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club on Monday, June 17: Dinner and Sponsorships still open. Learn more at Juneteenth Charity Golf Tournament 2024 (perfectgolfevent.com).
• San Diego: Juneteenth at Chollas Lake on Saturday, June 22: From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gloria's Mesa Amphitheater, located at 6350 College Grove Drive, San Diego. This in-person event will feature live performances, food vendors, and activities for all ages. Come together to honor this important day in history and celebrate freedom with us.
• For a full list of Juneteenth events for 2024, be sure to check out this list on San Diego Magazine.

When Is Juneteenth? What To Know About Holiday Marking Slavery’s End