Celebrate Juneteenth at John Brown Farm

Visit the historic John Brown Farm near Lake Placid for a day of music, festivity, and history.

Juneteenth, short for “June 19th,” celebrates the effective end of chattel slavery in the United States.

Photo courtesy John Brown Farm New York State Historic Site

On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, nearly 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to secure the freedom of all people still enslaved there. Celebrations erupted across the state as word spread, and the holiday has traditionally been commemorated with joyous family gatherings, prayer services, music and barbecues.

The John Brown Farm State Historic Site, the home and burial site of famous abolitionist John Brown, hosts their 2023 Juneteenth Celebration on Sunday, June 18, from 12 pm to 4 pm. The Farm is located a few miles outside Lake Placid in North Elba, New York. A great event for history-minded Dads on Father’s Day.

The Music Fusion Collective Music Director, Jo Sallins, will give two hour-long performances starting at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Enjoy live performances of great songs by the legendary B.B. King, The Crusaders, Grover Washington, John Coltrane, and many others.

In addition to the music, visitors can enjoy guided tours of the Historic House and Gravesite, self-guided tours of the Dreaming of Timbuctoo Exhibition in the upper barn, and information on John Brown’s life in the lower barn. The grounds will be open for all to enjoy, and “You Matter” by Christian Robinson, a StoryWalk® installation, is on display.

This event is free - donations are appreciated.