Where to Celebrate Juneteenth With Great Food and Drinks in Austin

Juneteenth — the holiday memorializing the end of Black slavery on the date when, two years after the fact, President Abraham Lincoln’s declaration finally reached Galveston, Texas in 1865 — takes place this weekend on Monday, June 19. To commemorate the day (also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day), there are several food and drink events happening around the Austin and Central Texas region.

Monday, June 12 to Monday, June 19 (Juneteenth)

• The regular citywide Stay Black & Live event is themed on family reunions this year. This includes a talk with food writer and historian Michael Twitty about African American foodways on Thursday, June 15; a community kickback and dance party on Friday, June 16; and a cookout and music festival on Saturday, June 17 with loads of barbecue. RSVPs will eventually be available online. (The Carver Museum, 1165 Angelina Street, Central East Austin)

Saturday, June 17

• Central Texas Juneteenth is hosting a parade and park festival. The festival features food vendors, live entertainment, and a fireworks show. The parade is from 9:30 a.m. to noon with the park event from noon to 9 p.m. (Chestnut House, 1183 Chestnut Avenue, Chestnut)
• Texas nonprofit Black Makers Market is hosting its Juneteenth celebration with food (including modern African American food truck Distant Relatives), vendors, and DJs from noon to 6 p.m. RSVPs are free. (African American Cultural and Heritage Facility, 912 East 11th Street Austin, Central East Austin)
• Austin group Origin Studio House is hosting an epic Juneteenth event with food from Phoenix Grille, Nosh’d Luxury Snacks, and Sweetniz Cake Shop. It runs from 6 to 10 p.m. and tickets are $20. (2925 East 12th Street, Rosewood)
• Nonprofit Bastrop Juneteenth Celebration is hosting both a parade and festival. The former starts at 10 a.m. and the latter runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with food vendors, activities, and music. (Fisherman’s Park, 1200 Willow Street, Bastrop)
• The Black Families of Hutto is throwing its next Juneteenth event, with a march, speakers, and a festival with vendors and food trucks. The march runs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. with the end at Adam Orgain Park, and then the festival runs through 6 p.m. (1001 Co Rd 137, Hutto)
• Round Rock’s Juneteenth Festival includes live music as well as food vendors, taking place at the Old Settlers Park’s Lakeview Pavilion from 3:30 to 11:30 p.m. The $10 cash parking fee will go back into the event. (3300 Palm Valley Boulevard, Round Rock)

Monday, June 19 (Juneteenth)

• Nixta Taqueria is hosting Los Angeles chef Brandon Gray and his pizza pop-up Brandoni Pepperoni for Juneteenth. It starts at 5:30 p.m. and runs until everything is sold out. (2512 East 12th Street, Chestnut)

Know of a Juneteenth event that is missing? Let Eater know through austin@eater.com.

Update, Tuesday, June 13, 1:08 p.m.: This guide, originally published on May 30, has been updated to include additional Juneteenth events.