2025 Local Juneteenth Opportunities
Saturday, June 7 | 2:00 PM | Black Heritage Trail NH Headquarters | Portsmouth, NH
Juneteenth Tour: Lives Bound Together: The Washingtons & Ona Marie Judge in NH
Event Sponsored by: Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
The tour explores the story of Judge’s quest for freedom, her escape from President Washington’s executive mansion in Philadelphia, which led her to Portsmouth.
Saturday, June 8 | 2:00 PM | Temple Israel | Portsmouth, NH
Jefferson In Paris, A Film Discussion
Event Sponsored by: Temple Isarel and Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
The Jefferson in Paris film discussion will explore his time as the U.S. Ambassador to France in the late 1780s, capturing his interactions with European aristocrats, his political ideals, and his controversial relationship with Sally Hemings.
Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10-11 | School Tours | Portsmouth, NH
Ona Marie Judge Staines: A Legacy of Resistance
Event Sponsored by: Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
The guided tour will bring to life Ona’s remarkable story-her daring flight from servitude, her determination to live free despite relentless pursuit, and the community that supported her in the face of overwhelming odds.
Friday, June 13 | 1:00 PM | North Cemetery | Portsmouth, NH
Unveiling Ceremony of Headstone Honoring Dinah Chase Whipple
Event Sponsored by: City of Portsmouth, Portsmouth Cemetery Committee, and Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
This program will honor Dinah Chase Whipple, one of the most respected and influential Black women of her time. A leader in the early abolitionist movement, she played a significant role in the emancipation of many enslaved people in New Hampshire.
Friday, June 13 | 6:00 PM | 3S Artspace | Portsmouth, NH
Erased Bloodlines: The Black Descendants of the “Founding Fathers” and Those They Enslaved
Event Sponsored by: 3S Artspace, and Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
A groundbreaking conversation that brings together some Black descendants of America’s early Presidents alongside a descendant of the enslaved from New Hampshire’s Moffatt-Ladd House.
Saturday, June 14 | 12:30 PM | Portsmouth Public Library
Restoring the Erased: AI & AR in Black History
Event Sponsored by: Portsmouth Public Library, and Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
This program highlights two significant projects: the Mount Vernon Portrait Project and the BHTNH Sankofa AR Project. Utilizing AI technology, Mont Vernon creates lifelike portraits of the men and women enslaved by George Washington. As no images of the individuals exist, this project serves as a powerful visual reclamation, restoring identity and dignity to those erased from history.
Saturday, June 14 | 7:00 PM | The Venue at Portwalk Place | Portsmouth, NH
Freedom Dinner: Still We Rise
A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Resistance, Joy & Liberation
Event Sponsored by: Black Lives Matter New Hampshire and Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
A night of radical remembrance, communal joy, and unapologetic Black liberation. This event is rooted in legacy and love, with food, live performances, and the stories they tried to erase.
Sunday, June 15 | 4:00 PM | Gospel Choir Concert | The Music Hall | Portsmouth
An Evening of Gospel Music Featuring Howard University Gospel Choir
Event Sponsored by: The Music Hall and Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
The Howard Gospel Choir, a group of students, alumni, and community members from Howard University, will lift our spirits as we celebrate, heal, and empower our communities. As the world’s first college choir, the Howard Gospel Choir is a trailblazer for gospel music ministries on collegiate campuses worldwide.
Thursday, June 19 | 9:30 AM | Community Walk | Portsmouth, NH
Juneteenth Freedom Walk
Event Sponsored by: The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (SAACC), Green Acre Baha'i Center of Learning, and the Seacoast NAACP
Walk 0.8 miles from John Paul Jones Memorial Park in Kittery, ME to the African Burying Ground in Portsmouth, NH.
Thursday, June 19 | 11:00 AM | African Drumming | African Burying Ground | Portsmouth, NH
A Drumbeat for Spiritual Renewal
Event Sponsored by: Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
This commemorative event, event weaves together ritual, remembrance, and resistance through the vibrant language of African drumming and dance, spoken word, and community connection. The day opens with a soul-stirring Call to Gather by the Akwaaba Ensemble, followed by a tribute to the ancestors led by Rev. Robert Thompson, Director Emeritus of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.
| Kenneth Holmes, Senior Vice Provost, Student Life, "What Does Juneteenth Mean to Me?" | |
| Shari Robinson, Assistant Vice Provost, Student Life, "What Does Juneteenth Mean to Me?" | |
| Richard Haynes, Associate Director of Admissions, "What Does Juneteenth Mean to Me?" | |
2024 | Local Juneteenth Opportunities |
| Friday, June 7 | Black Heritage Trail NH Headquarters | Portsmouth, NH
Artist Reception Featuring Nadroj Nina Holmes
Pieces featuring the Black liberation movement, created by Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduate Nadroj Nina Holmes, will be showcased at an opening reception. More information at the Black Heritage Trail NH website | (blackheritagetrailnh.org) |
| Thursday, June 13 | Panel Discussion | 6:00 PM | Currier Museum | Manchester, NH
A Softer Side: Re-considering Black Masculinity
Panelists include local entrepreneurs, artists, and professionals from fields such as art therapy, athletics, financial investment, K-12 education and media services. Registration information for in-person or virtual attendance | (blackheritagetrailnh.org) |
| Wednesday, June 19 | 9:30 AM | Community Walk | Portsmouth, NH
Juneteenth Freedom WalkEvent Sponsored by: The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (SAACC), Green Acre Baha'i Center of Learning, and the Seacoast NAACP Walk 0.8 miles from John Paul Jones Memorial Park in Kittery, ME to the African Burying Ground in Portsmouth, NH. More information at the Black Heritage Trail NH website | (blackheritagetrailnh.org) |
| Wednesday, June 19 | 11:00 AM | African Drumming | African Burying Ground | Portsmouth, NH
A Time to Praise, A Time to Honor, A Time to HealEvent Sponsored by: Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire This commemorative event, live streaming from the Portsmouth African Burying Ground, pays homage to the ancestors buried there. The healing beat of the drums provided by Akwaaba Ensemble, an African drumming and dance group, and a ceremony by Rev. Robert Thompson will honor the ancestors who survived upon these shores. More information at the Black Heritage Trail NH website | (blackheritagetrailnh.org) |
| Wednesday, June 19 | 7:30 PM | Concert Presented by Moxie Events | Music Hall | Portsmouth, NH
The Magic of MotownEvent Sponsored by: The Music Hall Experience the sights, sounds and feels of Motown through the music of Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, and more! Purchase tickets on The Music Hall website | (themusichall.org) |
