Juneteenth 2026 events planned across Monmouth County, N.J. from festivals to gala celebrations all month

MONMOUTH COUNTY, N.J. — Communities across Monmouth County will host a wide range of Juneteenth 2026 celebrations. There will be festivals, historical programs, youth activities, cultural performances and a formal gala, according to event flyers shared by local organizers.

Juneteenth Events In Monmouth County

The county’s Juneteenth schedule spans June 7 through June 28, with events in

• Freehold, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, Long Branch, Asbury Park, Marlboro and Shrewsbury.

Activities include:

• food vendors, live music, drumming, reenactments, gospel choirs
• community resources, children’s programming
• educational presentations on the history and legacy of Juneteenth

Freehold to Kick Off Countywide Celebrations June 7

The Monmouth County Diversity Alliance will open the month’s festivities with Freehold Juneteenth on Sunday, June 7, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street. The event will feature food, music, guest speakers, kid activities, local vendors and cultural performances.

Red Bank and Tinton Falls to Host Events June 13

Two Juneteenth programs are scheduled for Saturday, June 13:

• Shrewsbury AME Zion Church, located at 285 Shrewsbury Avenue in Red Bank, will host a celebration from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• The Crawford House in Tinton Falls, at 750 Tinton Avenue, will hold its event from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Both gatherings will highlight African American history, community engagement and family‑friendly activities.

Long Branch and Asbury Park Events Scheduled for June 17–18

Long Branch will hold its Juneteenth celebration on Wednesday, June 17, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bucky James Center, 231 Wilbur Ray Avenue.

The following day, Thursday, June 18, the Asbury Park Senior Center will host a Juneteenth program for residents 60 and older from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1201 Springwood Avenue, Suite 102. Free transportation will be available for Asbury Park residents.

June 28 Events Include Quilt Turning and Formal Gala in Shrewsbury and Marlboro

Two additional events will close out the month on Sunday, June 28:

• “Part Two: A Quilt – Bed Turning” at Shrewsbury Municipal Commons, 419 Sycamore Avenue, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., hosted by the Shrewsbury Historical Society.
• “Red, Black on the Green” Juneteenth Gala at Bella Vista Country Club, 102 Schoolhouse Road in Marlboro, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $150, with RSVP information provided by organizers.

County Encourages Families to Participate at Local Libraries

Local libraries will also offer Juneteenth‑themed children’s programming throughout the month. All branches will be closed on Friday, June 19, 2026, in observance of the holiday.

Monmouth County organizers say the goal of the month‑long slate is to

• honor African American history
• celebrate freedom
• bring communities together through education, culture and shared experiences.

What Juneteenth Commemorates

Juneteenth marks the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free on June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday has become a national celebration of Black freedom, resilience and cultural heritage, honoring the generations who fought for liberation. Juneteenth was officially designated a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.

The flyers highlight the historical legacy of Juneteenth in Monmouth County. This included references to African American Civil War veterans from the region such as Capt. William A.M. Prickitt of Farmingdale, who served with the 225th U.S. Colored Infantry. Traditional Juneteenth foods, such as hibiscus tea, watermelon and red velvet cake, symbolize joy, remembrance and the bloodshed of enslaved ancestors.

Juneteenth: Let’s Celebrate