Learn More about our Love for The People Event!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 1, 2026
JUNETEENTH SANTA BARBARA “LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE”
CELEBRATION, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2026
Celebrating the Emancipation of formerly enslaved Black/African Americans
SANTA BARBARA, CA — Juneteenth Santa Barbara welcomes the community to the ninth annual Juneteenth celebration in South Santa Barbara County!
Bring a lawn chair, blankets, and the family to enjoy a free celebration on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Plaza Del Mar/Band Shell Park at Castillo Street and Cabrillo/Shoreline Streets. Join us for a day of joy, community, and celebration!
The celebration includes local live performances, the return of the Black Artisan Market showcasing handmade goods and artwork, the Indy Parenting kids zone with 805 Body Art face painting, nonprofit and government resources, the beer and wine garden, and so much more! Juneteenth SB has partnered with Leticia Resch for event logistics to plan a safe, fun, and successful event.
“We could all use a little more love,” shared Nolan Hicks, JuneTeamember. “That’s why this year's theme is Love for the People. We’re curating an event that’s rooted in love and celebrates freedom. One that’s for and from the Santa Barbara Black community—and we’re sharing that love with all Santa Barbarians and attendees.”
We also want to share that Juneteenth Lompoc is having its event on South H Street on Friday, June 19, from 11 am to 6 pm, and Juneteenth with Jon Boogz at Center Stage Theatre from 6 pm to 10 pm. We are happy to see more Juneteenth celebrations in Santa Barbara County!
Solstice Santa Barbara will keep the festivities going, with celebrations starting at 6 pm on Friday, June 19, and continuing through the rest of the weekend.
Celebration Performers & Vendors
Joining us on stage for this event are local talent DJ and Master of Ceremonies Rastan, Lelia Richardson, Dom Jess & The Vibe, EvoLucians, and The Knew Vibe.
The Black Artisan Market includes Dawn Carlson, Gypsy Moon House, Healing & Feel Good Candles, Healing Justice SB, Juneteenth Santa Barbara, Kadence Naturals, Moore on Health, Reyna & Steven, Riah Safari, ShevaShea LLC, To Live A Colorful Life, and Vintage Dawg.
Our community nonprofits and community organizations tabling include the City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department, Indivisible Santa Barbara, MLK Jr. SB, Moms Demand Action Santa Barbara, NAACP Santa Barbara, The Links: Central Coast-Riviera (CA), Santa Barbara Black Culture House, and Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.
Sustainable Travel to Juneteenth Santa Barbara
Please make a conscious choice to reduce your environmental impact by traveling to Juneteenth SB by bike, bus, or train. We encourage you to check out Amtrak if you are traveling from out of town. Alternatively, consider using Santa Barbara MTD if you are coming from within Goleta to Carpinteria, or consider biking. Bikers, please note that we have self-biking provided through MOVE Santa Barbara County!
National History of Juneteenth
During Juneteenth, we continue the Black/African American tradition of celebrating the abolition of enslavement through interactive art, songs, food, and our vibrant Black/African American community.
We are reminded that the first Juneteenth celebration on June 19th, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, marked the day Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and issued General Order Number 3 enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation:
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,” the general noted. “This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
Before this act, Texas, along with several communities in the American South, still invested in the economics of slavery. These areas that were isolated politically and geographically from much of the country resisted emancipation and continued the practice of enslavement.
“Although General Granger and his news of freedom were celebrated,” said Ruskamp. “The full text of the order made clear that progress would be slow going, as enslaved people were encouraged to stay and work for their former owners and instructed to refrain from idleness. The first Juneteenth celebrated the federal government for acknowledging Black personhood and intentionally made space for Black folks to organize and plan for the long struggle towards full citizenship. I’m passionate about seeing this tradition continued in Santa Barbara as it is also an acknowledgment of the work still needing to be done to create more equitable communities.”
Juneteenth Santa Barbara History
Federally recognized in June 2021, Black/African American communities across the country have marked Juneteenth with celebrations and organizing efforts centered on supporting and uplifting Black life. Chiany Dri, Simone Ruskamp, and Jordan Killebrew brought a reiteration of Juneteenth (in its eighth year) back to Santa Barbara, as several Black/African American Elders have celebrated in our region in the past.
In 2018, Ruskamp, Dri, and Killebrew gathered to celebrate Juneteenth at El Centro on the lower west side of Santa Barbara. This first event featured home-cooked Soul Food, Black-centered programming, and, most importantly, a safe space for the community to celebrate Black culture. Juneteenth SB partnered with the Santa Barbara Public Library the following year, where the event grew to 400 people. In 2020, due to COVID-19, the celebration was a virtual event with over 13,000 viewers, featuring videos of Black community members sharing their stories, showcasing their work, and reflecting their collective histories.
In 2021, Juneteenth SB partnered with Healing Justice Santa Barbara to host a series of in-person and virtual events and the historic opening of the MELANIN Black Artist Gallery at 833 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
The 2022-2024 Block Party celebrations that were moved to Grey Avenue in the Funk Zone and what we call Historically Black Santa Barbara. The events expanded to include a large stage, more local performers, the Black Artisan Market, and more. In 2022, the theme was Caring for
The People, and just under 3,000 people attended. In 2023, the theme was Nourishing the People, and over 3,000 people attended. This year, the 2024 event theme is Joy for the People. 2025 and this year's celebration are at Plaza Del Mar Park/Band Shell Park, allowing us more space for friends and families to spread out on a blanket in the shade.
Thank you to our 2026 Community Partners (Sponsors)
Special thanks to everyone who helps make this day possible. It truly takes a community! Donations can still be made to Juneteenth Santa Barbara—DONATE TODAY!
Thank you to our FLOWER Level Community Partner, the City of Santa Barbara.
Thank you to our LEAF Level Community Partners, the City of Goleta, the Santa Barbara Independent/Indy Parenting, and Sutter Health.
We would also like to thank our BRANCH Level Community Partners, Amigo Party Rentals, and Santa Barbara Foundation.
Additional thanks go to our TRUNK Level Community Partners, American Riviera Bank, Chaucer’s Books, County of Santa Barbara - Supervisor Roy Lee, Healing Justice SB, Island View Outfitters | High Desert Print Co., McCune Foundation, Montecito Bank & Trust, Oniracom, Spark Creative Events, The Fund for Santa Barbara, and Sparks Creative Events.
The work cannot be done without our SEED Level Community Partners, Planned Parenthood of California Central Coast, SBCC Foundation, and Yetz’s Bagels & Deli.
About Juneteenth Santa Barbara
Juneteenth Santa Barbara (JSB) celebrates the national recognition of Black Independence Day in Santa Barbara. It is a collaborative effort to showcase Black culture, talent, and joy in Santa Barbara County. Now in its eighth event, the celebration centers around a free community event that will be held at Plaza Del Mar/Band Shell Park in Santa Barbara, CA.
The community is invited to enjoy live local music, dancing, poetry, spoken word, art exhibitions, storytelling, a kids' zone, a beer and wine garden, and food trucks. We will also feature the Black Artisan Market, which showcases Black-led and Black-serving community organizations.
Year-round, Juneteenth Santa Barbara utilizes its platform to uplift all Black-led and Black-serving organizations. JSB is key in supporting Black History Month events, the Community Calendar, and meetings.
We look forward to bringing joy to our community by celebrating local Black efforts and opportunities to engage with meaningful partnerships and relationships. We hope you join in on the fun! To learn more, please go to juneteenthsb.org.