Juneteenth celebrations are happening across Inglewood and South LA: Here’s where to join in
Juneteenth celebrations are underway across Inglewood and South Los Angeles this weekend. The lineup includes family-friendly gatherings, arts events, outdoor activities and one of the area’s biggest annual community festivals.
The holiday falls on Friday, June 19, and is widely recognized as the nation’s second Independence Day. In communities across South LA, local organizers are marking the day with events that center Black culture, history and neighborhood connection.
Inglewood plans include skating and an Afrofuturist art fair
In Inglewood, Sunshine Skate Center is hosting a Juneteenth Skate Day and Night on Friday at 1130 S. Prairie Ave. According to event details shared by organizers, daytime admission is $5 for sessions running from 12 to 2:30 p.m. and at 5 p.m. Adult nighttime admission for the 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. session is $8 per person. Rental skates are not included in the ticket price.
The event gives residents a lower-cost way to celebrate the holiday close to home. In a city where many Juneteenth gatherings are centered on music and food, the skating sessions add a more casual option for families, teens and adults looking for something active.
On Saturday, Stonehaven Studios is set to hold its second annual Afrofuturist Art Fair from 12 to 4 p.m. The event will take place at Willie Agee Playhouse, 714 Warren Lane, and is free to attend. Registration is encouraged, organizers said.
South LA events focus on culture, history and movement
In Exposition Park, the California African American Museum will host a Juneteenth Scavenger Hunt on Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. at 600 State Drive. Participants will move through museum galleries using prompts tied to the exhibits, and RSVP is encouraged.
Leimert Park Village, long regarded as a center of Black culture in Los Angeles, is also set for its annual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday. Organizers say the event runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering a full day for residents and visitors to gather in one of South LA’s best-known cultural hubs.
Another event on Friday puts the focus on cycling and community. Black Folk, an event planning group, is organizing a Juneteenth Freedom Ride that starts at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza at 8 a.m. and ends at the Leimert Park celebration at 12 p.m.
What to know before heading out this weekend
The Freedom Ride includes three route options aimed at different experience levels. Organizers list a 9-mile route for beginners, a 14-mile route for intermediate riders and a 19-mile route for more experienced cyclists, giving participants several ways to join.
For people looking for music and food later in the day, promoters The Rehearsal are hosting a Juneteenth BBQ Bash from 3 to 8 p.m. Organizers say the event will feature live performances, a DJ, custom merchandise, food and drinks. The location is shared only after a ticket is secured.
Taken together, the events show the range of how Juneteenth is being observed across Inglewood and South LA this year. Some gatherings are free, some have small admission costs, and most encourage advance registration or RSVP, making it a good idea to check event details before heading out.
