NAACP Berkshire County Branch Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Sunday, June 21, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM Pittsfield City Hall → Durant Park | Free & Open to All
You’re Invited!
Join the NAACP Berkshire County Branch for a full day of music, dance, food, history, and family joy, beginning at Pittsfield City Hall. and continuing at Durant Park in Pittsfield’s historic Black West Side. This event is free and open to everyone.
What Is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth, also known as Black Independence Day, is a federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved people in the United States finally learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. First celebrated in Galveston, Texas, Juneteenth honors African American freedom and achievement while calling all Americans to recommit to the values of freedom, equality, and community.
Schedule of Events
- 11:00 AM | Flag Raising – Pittsfield City Hall. The day opens with the raising of the Juneteenth Flag and a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.
- 11:30 AM | Freedom Walk – A community procession leads from City Hall to Durant Park, where the celebration is held.
- 12:00 PM | Multigenerational Reading of Frederick Douglass What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? opens the celebration. Community members representing multiple generations, schools, civic offices, and institutions will read aloud together from Frederick Douglass’s landmark 1852 address. This reading is made possible through a Reading Frederick Douglass Together grant from Mass Humanities, secured by Berkshire Community College in partnership with the NAACP Berkshire County Branch.
- 1:00 PM | Sample the Cat Local favorites bring their signature blend of soul, rock, and jazz to the entertainment stage.
- 2:00 PM | Crowning Our Culture: A Juneteenth Cultural Hair Show Presented by SashaK Beauty Bar – celebrating the history and artistry of Black hair through live model presentations, storytelling, and fashion.
- 3:30 PM | Wanda Houston The Diva of the Berkshires, a celebrated jazz and R&B vocalist, takes the stage.
- 4:00 PM | Soul Line Dancing – Get moving with Erica Shrader and friends!
- 5:00 PM | Student Scholarship Presentation & Closing Remarks – Honoring the next generation of Berkshire County leaders, presented by the NAACP Berkshire County Branch, ROPE (Rights of Passage and Empowerment), and St. John’s Lodge #10.
DJ YoungChamp (David Dias) provides the best music throughout the day.
All Day at Durant Park
Basketball Tournament – A 5-on-5 tournament run in partnership with Beat the Streets, led by Dashine Moore, keeping youth active, engaged, and connected to community.
Family Fun – Storytime for Kids, arts and crafts with TG’s Playhouse, a giant tiger bouncy house, face painting, and free books for children.
Food & Vendors – Food trucks, vendor booths, and community partner tables with something for every age.
Free Ice Cream – Cravins Ice Cream, courtesy of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, for the first 200 children in attendance. (one ticket per person)
Free Lunch for Dads – All fathers in attendance receive a complimentary lunch, courtesy of the NAACP Berkshire County Branch. (One ticket per person)
Accessibility
Durant Park is flat-level and wheelchair accessible. Loud music will be played throughout the outdoor event. The day is usually warm and sunny, please dress appropriately, take precautions against the sun, there is some shade at the park, and stay hydrated. For accessibility inquiries, email naacpberkshirecounty@gmail.com
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This celebration is made possible through the generous support of Greylock Federal Credit Union, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Community College, and Jacob’s Pillow.
Questions?
Visit naacpberkshires.org/juneteenth or email naacpberkshirecounty@gmail.com
“Juneteenth is not just a holiday. It is a living tradition of memory, resistance, and joy… We invite all of Berkshire County to join us.”
— Dr. Dennis Powell, President, NAACP Berkshire County Branch