The New Mexico Black Leadership Council has the rundown on 2023 Juneteenth events in New Mexico.
It’s time for 2023 Juneteenth celebrations! Juneteenth events by various community members and organizations are happening all around New Mexico. Whether you’re joining the crowds at Albuquerque Civic Plaza, heading to the Jazz Festival in Las Cruces, giving thanks at church, or hanging out with your family and friends at the backyard cookout, you’ll be commemorating something special on June 19.
Also referred to as “Jubilee Day,” Juneteenth memorializes the month and day when enslaved people in Texas were finally informed that the Civil War was over and that they had, in fact, been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation two years prior. African Americans have been commemorating the postbellum era ever since, even though Juneteenth’s only been considered official since 2021, when congress made it the first federal holiday added to the list since Dr. King’s birthday in 1983.
As the Black communities have been saying since the Albuquerque Journal featured the Summer of Resistance 2020, Juneteenth is another sign to America that African Americans are deserving of the freedoms afforded everyone else. Our work toward equity and healthfulness in body, mind, and spirit is not about a mere moment, but is part of an enduring movement.
The NMBLC events calendar has a wealth of community Juneteenth celebrations hosted by groups throughout New Mexico. Keep scrolling for the Juneteenth events rundown. NMBLC will have a table at the NM Juneteenth at Civic Plaza on Saturday, June 17 with activities for everyone (more information below). Keep checking back here or at our events calendar as more 2023 Juneteenth celebrations get added.
2023 Juneteenth Events in New Mexico
Albuquerque/Rio Rancho
Juneteenth Women & Wealth Wednesday: My Way to Financial Freedom
When: Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 6pm
Where: Hollow Spirits, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/juneteenth-women-wealth-wednesday-my-way-to-financial-freedom/
Rio Rancho Juneteenth Freedom Day
When: Friday, June 16, 2023, 5:30pm
Where: Campus Park, Rio Rancho NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/rio-rancho-juneteenth-freedom-day/
NM Juneteenth 2023
When: Friday, June 16, — Sunday, June 18, 2023.
Where: Civic Plaza, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/nm-juneteenth-celebration/
Juneteenth Black Embodied Healing Space
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023 9:30am – 2:30pm
Where: Civic Plaza, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/juneteenth-black-embodied-healing-space/
NMBLC Activities Table at NM Juneteenth 2023
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 12-7pm.
Where: Civic Plaza, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/nmblc-activities-table-at-nm-juneteenth-2023/
Juneteenth Test ‘n’ Rest
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 12-5pm.
Where: Civic Plaza, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/juneteenth-test-n-rest/
Rayos del Sol Juneteenth Mercado
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 3:30pm.
Where: Los Ranchos, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/rayos-del-sol-juneteenth-mercado/
Juneteenth Chocolate Factory Preview Performance
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 3:30pm.
Where: Civic Plaza, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/juneteenth-chocolate-factory-preview-performance/
The Baylor Project at Juneteenth
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 7pm.
Where: Civic Plaza, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/the-baylor-project-at-juneteenth/
Blaq Out Game Night
When: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 7pm
Where: Albuquerque Social Club, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/blaq-out-game-night/
NM Juneteenth Saturday Afterparty
When: Saturday, June 18, 2023, 7pm
Where: Studio 303, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/nm-juneteenth-saturday-afterparty/
Juneteenth Showing of “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins”
When: Monday, June 19, 2023, 5pm
Where: Guild Cinema, Albuquerque NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/juneteenth-showing-of-welcome-home-roscoe-jenkins/
Santa Fe
Santa Fe Juneteenth Celebration
When: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 3—9pm
Where: Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/santa-fe-juneteenth-celebration/
Santa Fe Library Juneteenth Celebration
When: Tuesday, June 20, 2023, 1—3pm (Library closed on June 19)
Where: Southside Library, Santa Fe NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/santa-fe-library-juneteenth-celebration/
Las Cruces
Juneteenth Jazz Arts Festival
When: Thursday, June 15 — Monday, June 19, 2023
Where: Various Venues, Las Cruces NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/juneteenth-jazz-arts-festival/
Dona Ana NAACP Juneteenth Banquet
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 6pm
Where: Las Cruces Convention Center, Las Cruces NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/dona-ana-naacp-juneteenth-banquet/
DJ Black Juneteenth Block Party
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 6pm — 11pm
Where: Picacho Peak Brewing Co, Las Cruces NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/dj-black-juneteenth-block-party/
NMSU Men of Color Juneteenth Celebration
When: Monday, June 19, 2023, 6pm
Where: NMSU Corbett Outdoor Stage, Las Cruces NM
Click for event details: https://nmblc.org/events/nmsu-men-of-color-juneteenth-celebration/
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Shannon Moreau is the Editor of the NMBLC EQ Blog