People throughout the Pacific Northwest will gather this weekend to celebrate Juneteenth with parades, block parties, bike rides and even a rodeo.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, word finally reached the last slaves in Galveston, Texas, that they were free.

Now a state and federal holiday, Juneteenth remains, for many, a joyous reminder of the resolve among many Black Americans who gather to build community, remember their history, and chart a path forward.

Here are some places to celebrate the holiday this weekend:

Portland

• The Juneteenth Oregon Festival and Clara People’s Freedom Trail Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday at King Elementary School. The parade will continue down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and end at Lillis-Albina Park. The free event will include stage performances, guest speakers, music, vendors, and activities for kids. Learn more
• The Black Liberation Ride offers a bike ride that will start and finish at Irving Park. Riders will gather at 6 p.m. on Friday and depart at 6:30 p.m. Learn more
• The 8 Seconds Rodeo is a Black rodeo that will return to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. The event, which will include elite riders, vendors, and more, will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are required. Learn more

Gresham

• A Juneteenth celebration will be held at Vance Park on 1400 S.E. 182nd Ave. in Rockwood starting at noon on Friday. The free event will include African music and dance, haircuts, line dancing, guest speakers, vendors, and more. Learn more

Lake Oswego

• A Juneteenth celebration will be held at Lakeridge Middle School at 1 p.m. on Friday. The free event will include poetry, music, vendors, speeches and more. Learn more

Tigard

• The Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration will be held at Cook Family Park at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The free event will feature food, drinks, performers and other activities. Learn more

Vancouver

• The Clark County Historical Museum will host the Community Readers Theater presentation “Voices of the Enslaved and the Free: The Road to Juneteenth” at 7 p.m. Friday. Admission is free but registration is required. Learn more
• The Juneteenth Freedom Celebration will be held at Esther Short Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The event will include live music, art and vendors. Learn more

Milwaukie

• A Juneteenth celebration, which will include music, free food, free face painting and other activities, will be held at Scott Park at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Learn more

Salem

• The annual Salem-Keizer Juneteenth Festival will be held at Riverfront Park at noon on Friday. It will feature vendors, performances, crafts, food and more. Learn more

Eugene

• A Juneteenth gathering will be held at the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza at 3 p.m. on Friday. It will include music, food, fellowship and more. Learn more

Bend

• The Open Space event studio is hosting a Juneteenth event at 2 p.m. on Saturday. It will feature food, a cake walk, drinks and more. Learn more

Medford

• A Juneteenth celebration will be held at Pear Blossom Park at 11 a.m. on Saturday. There will be music, a DJ, vendors, a kids zone and more. Learn more

Corvallis

• The Juneteenth Homecoming Celebration will be held at the Corvallis Community Center at 2 p.m. on Saturday. There will be food, games, dancing, and music. Learn more

Hermiston

• The Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration will be held at McKenzie Park at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The event will feature games, music, Zumba, poetry, a bouncy house, a tie-dye station and more. Learn more

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/18/juneteenth-celebrations-focus-on-black-joy-across-oregon-and-southwest-washington/