Oakland Cemetery is one of Atlanta’s most inclusive institutions. Everyone is invited to participate in the 2021 Juneteenth activities, regardless of race or religion.
The events listed below require advance registration — do not delay! Sign up quickly, as spots are going fast.
Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States. It commemorates the date of June 19, 1865, when the last African-American slaves held in Confederate states were finally freed by the Union army, in Galveston, Texas. Six months later, the Thirteenth Amendment officially made slavery illegal throughout the entire United States. Juneteenth has been observed since 1866.
This year, Juneteenth takes on a more reflective, serious tone, as the Atlanta community grapples with social justice issues.
You may also be interested in a more complete list of 2021 Juneteenth observances.
FREE tours of the African American burial grounds
June 19th thru July 11th
Sign up for a date and time
FREE to attend
The annual Juneteenth tradition of FREE tours is back at Oakland this year! To allow more people to participate, the tours are spread out on weekends from Saturday, June 19th to Sunday, July 11th. View a complete list of dates and times.
While the tour is free, you must sign up in advance for a specific date and time.
The tours are limited to 16 people in a group. They will happen rain or shine, but may be canceled in the event of severe weather. Masks are required to enter the Visitor’s Center. Donations are encouraged.
Meet at the Bell Tower on the day of your tour. It will conclude at an interactive art installation, Remembrance as Resistance: Preserving Black Narratives (details below).
Remembrance as Resistance: Preserving Black Narratives
June 19th through July 11th
FREE to attend, reserve in advance to enter the Praise House
More info
This multi-media exhibit honors the 800+ unmarked graves in the African American Burial Grounds of Oakland Cemetery. It also celebrates the Ring Shout, a traditional African American worship and gathering practice, whose origins in West African ritual and ceremony predate slavery.
If you visit, you’ll also be able to enter a replica of a Praise House, a small wooden structure used for worship.
The Praise House will include a multimedia installation of the Ring Shout with video projections on the interior, and sound emanating outside the structure.
Only a few people at a time will be admitted to the Praise House — but you can reserve a time slot for entry. The Eventbrite page currently says reservations are closed, but this appears to be an error. Click on “Select a Date” and then scroll down to find a time slot that’s still available.
More events around metro Atlanta:
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Friday, June 25, 2021
Saturday, June 26, 2021
Sunday, June 27, 2021
Monday, June 28, 2021
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Friday, July 2, 2021
Saturday, July 3, 2021
Sunday, July 4, 2021
Monday, July 5, 2021
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Thursday, July 8, 2021
Friday, July 9, 2021
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Sunday, July 11, 2021
Monday, July 12, 2021
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
