In 2021, Oregon established Juneteenth as a state-recognized holiday—and in 2023, it became the United States' latest federal holiday.
We at the Willamette Valley Visitors Association recognize that the Emancipation Proclamation alone did not grant freedom to all in our country. Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted, on June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas to inform enslaved African-Americans the Civil War had ended and that they were free.
Yet we wanted to mark the occasion with a page honoring Juneteenth—complete with a Juneteenth timeline going back to 1865, ideas for celebrating, and resources for learning more.
Businesses throughout the Willamette Valley are hosting events in honor of Juneteenth. Here's how (and where) to celebrate in 2025:
June 14, Eugene: The Eugene Juneteenth Rhythm and Resilience Celebration will feature live music, dance, and opportunities to support more than 30 Black-owned businesses, artists and organizations at the 5th Street Public Market.
June 19, Eugene: The second annual Juneteenth Gathering will take place at the Lane County Farmers Market and will commemorate the day with live music and performances, food from Black-owned vendors, family activities, reflections on the importance of the day, and more.
June 19, Salem: The Willamette Heritage Center is hosting "In Freedom’s Footsteps: Juneteenth Community History Walk." The 2.8-mile walk loops through downtown Salem while passing sites that were important to the Gorman family. Guided walks will be offered at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 12:15 p.m., and each is limited to the first 50 people to arrive; visitors can also pick up a map that showcases the sites if they'd like to take a self-guided tour.
June 19, Salem: The Black Wall Street and Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Salem-Keizer chapter of the NAACP, brings together local food trucks, family-friendly activities, live performances, and other events.
June 19, Wilsonville: The City of Wilsonville will host its Juneteenth celebration in Town Center Park; the event will include live music, food, a keynote address, educational materials, and more.
June 21, Albany: The NAACP's Linn-Benton Branch is holding a Juneteenth celebration with music, dancing, free food, a book giveaway, arts and crafts for children and adults, a speech from keynote speaker Michael A. Johnson, workshops, and other fun activities.
Learn more about other Juneteenth events throughout Oregon from the Oregon Black Pioneers.
If you'd like to submit a Juneteenth event to be featured on this page, please email stories@willamettevalley.org.
We have partnered with Clinton Street Consulting, who created the below informative resource on ways your business can take action in support of Juneteenth (June 19, 2025). Click the below image to access the PDF for full use of linked URLs in the image.
These resources can offer background information and context on Juneteenth:
Audio interview: Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed discusses Juneteenth, the legacy of slavery, and more on NPR's "Fresh Air" in this 41-minute interview.
Book: Annette Gordon-Reed's On Juneteenth looks at the origins of Juneteenth and the hardships that Black Americans have endured in the century since.
Podcast: This New York Times podcast looks at the history and meaning of Juneteenth-and grapples with what freedom means in the modern-day United States.
