Helena Celebrates Juneteenth

• May 29 2024

Six Helena organizations – The Montana Historical Society, The Myrna Loy, Holter Museum, City of Helena, Alive at Five, and Art Mobile – have planned four days of activities in celebration of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth, or June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, which had declared the end of slavery in places under Confederate control two and a half years earlier. The proclamation had been largely ignored in Texas. Newly freed Black people celebrated and started an annual tradition of Juneteenth commemorations with music, barbecues, services, and other activities.

From Tuesday, June 18, through Sunday, June 23, art made by community members of all ages inspired by the quote “Nobody’s Free Until Everybody’s Free,” by civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, will be exhibited at the Holter Museum of Art during the museum’s normal hours.

On Wednesday, June 19, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Women’s Park, Alive at Five will feature The Good the Bad and the Blues playing their unique mixture of gospel, blues, soul, and funk. Speakers will highlight Juneteenth and announce the week’s activities. Stop by the Juneteenth Planning Committee’s tent for a schedule of activities, photos, and information on Black history in Montana and to create art to contribute to the community exhibit at the Holter. There is a $2 donation for a wristband to purchase alcohol, and proceeds will go to Montana Black Collective Missoula.

On Thursday, June 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Civic Center lawn, the City of Helena will host a free community barbecue. The Helena Fire Department will do the cooking and will have their trucks out for children to enjoy. There will be lawn games and other activities for the whole family.

Also on June 20, at 7:30 p.m. at The Myrna Loy, stand-up comic Kevin Bozeman will perform. With a smooth and clever style, a great smile, and a contagious laugh, Bozeman has been entertaining in clubs and colleges across the country. He was a semi-finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in 2015 and has appeared on Comedy Central, NBC, CBS, and Fox. Tickets are $22 and available for purchase at The Myrna Loy. This event features content rated for adults.

On Friday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Holter Museum will waive entry fees for the public. Art by community members responding to, “Nobody’s Free Until Everybody’s Free,” will be on display, and visitors can create their own art to add to the exhibit. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., there will be a reception to celebrate everyone’s contributions to this collaborative effort.

Also on June 21, at 7 p.m., The Myrna Loy will screen “Hidden Stories: Montana’s Black Past,” a documentary chronicling African American journeys to and within Montana, as well as events and policies that influenced their experiences. Documenting individual and family stories from more than two centuries, the film provides insight into Black communities’ resilience statewide. The free screening is sponsored by the Montana Historical Society and will be followed by a Q&A panel with individuals involved in the film’s production and content.

On Saturday, June 22, Juneteenth activities will take place in and around The Myrna Loy throughout the afternoon and evening.

The Montana Historical Society will lead special tours highlighting the Black history of downtown Helena in partnership with the Last Chance Tour Train. Trains will depart at 12:15 and 1:15 p.m. from The Myrna Loy. Prior registration is required via the MTHS website mths.mt.gov.

From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. outside of The Myrna Loy, staff from the Holter will lead Juneteenth-themed children’s art activities including sidewalk chalk for younger children and art creation with teaching artists from the Art Mobile for older youths.

At 2:30 p.m. the film “Summer of Soul,” will be shown. It’s a documentary that is part music film and art historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion: The Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969. Tickets can be purchased for $10 from the Myrna Loy.

Following the movie, a celebratory Juneteenth block party will take over the street outside of The Myrna Loy. Attendees can grab a bite to eat from food trucks from 4 to 7 p.m. while contributing to the sidewalk chalk art, enjoying a spoken word performance by Montana Black Collective Missoula social justice artist Jason Forges at 4:45 p.m., and listening and dancing to music from DJ Andrea Crossguns from 5:30 to 9 p.m. to close out the week’s festivities.

For further information, visit the Juneteenth Planning Committee webpage at https://mths.mt.gov/education/juneteenth or email laura.marsh@mt.gov.