Town Hosting Juneteenth Celebration On Thursday

Nantucket is hosting its 5th annual Juneteenth celebrations on Thursday at the African Meeting House at 29 York Street from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Festivities include a performance by Black drag queen SheSheFoGo, a screening of the new documentary Nantucket's Historic Coloured Cemetery: Stories Told by Nantucketers and a block party featuring games, arts and crafts, live music by Latulippe and E-Cliff and the Swing Dogs, a vendor marketplace, and food provided by Nantucket Island Creations.

“These events promise to be informative and engaging,” said Shantaw Bloise-Murphy, Director of Culture & Tourism for the Town of Nantucket. “As a community, we have the opportunity to acknowledge the journey and achievements of African Americans and come together in celebration. We look forward to a day of fun, learning, and civic engagement.”

The celebrations are co-hosted by the Town of Nantucket’s Culture & Tourism Department, the Museum of African American History (MAAH), the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Nantucket Historical Association.

“Juneteenth is a day of celebration that honors the numerous emancipation days around the country. We are honored to partner with the Town, Chamber of Commerce, and the Nantucket Historical Association for a unifying day of history and celebration,” said Dr. Noelle Trent, President & CEO of MAAH.

The festivities will begin with remarks by Kezia Duarte, followed by a screening of Nantucket's Historic Coloured Cemetery: Stories Told by Nantucketers. Duarte is one of the narrators of the documentary, which tells the story of the cemetery on Mill Hill and some of the notable islanders buried there. The documentary is available on YouTube, and previously screened at the Dreamland with a Q&A featuring the narrators and the film’s producers.

After the documentary, there will be a 15-minute performance by local drag queen SheSheFoGo. The final event of the day is the block party. The block party includes live music, games, art, and food. It also includes a vendor marketplace featuring Black vendors and entrepreneurs.