MAH Pop-Up: Santa Cruz Juneteenth Celebration at Laurel Park
Saturday, June 13, 2026,
12pm - 6pm
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Free
Join the MAH in Laurel Park to celebrate Juneteenth!
Check out the MAH's pop-up booth at the Laurel Park Juneteenth Celebration! The MAH will be providing a free activity as well as museum information to the general community.
What is Juneteenth?
Artwork by Elijah Pfotenhauer of Painted Ladder
Juneteenth marks the day the last group of enslaved African Americans learned that they were free on June 19, 1865. That day is known as Juneteenth (“June” and “nineteenth”) and is African American Independence Day. Celebrations began in 1866 and have grown, with Juneteenth becoming a state holiday in Texas in 1980 and a U.S. federal holiday in 2021.
Since 1991, Santa Cruz Juneteenth has actively brought the community together to celebrate Black Liberation and Freedom through art, dance, and food! Juneteenth reminds us that it was not until 1865, 89 years after the first USA Independence Day, that the Black community could begin to celebrate their freedom.
Upcoming Pop-Up Exhibition
The museum will also be partnering with the London Nelson Center to present a temporary exhibition honoring Black Presence in Santa Cruz County on view from June 8 to July 3, 2026.
Support the MAH
Help fuel a strong and resilient MAH by becoming a MAH Member or making a donation. Your contribution directly supports the future of the museum and connecting our community through art, history, and culture.