City of Salem Announces 2024 Juneteenth Jam

Mayor Dominick Pangallo invites community members to attend the City of Salem’s Juneteenth Jam at Riley Plaza on June 18^th, starting at 12:00 noon. In collaboration with the North Shore Juneteenth Association, this program is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

“I am happy to announce that being a recipient of the Reading Frederick Douglass Grant from Mass Humanities will allow us to expand our Juneteenth celebration and recognition,” said Mayor Pangallo, “Thanks to the work from members of Mayor’s Office staff along with the consultation of North Shore Juneteenth, this year’s ceremony will be thoughtful, fun, and allow our community to come together to celebrate.”

Salem’s Juneteenth Jam will begin at 12:00 noon, with remarks from community members, elected officials and residents followed by the playing of the Black National Anthem and the raising of the Juneteenth  Flags. After this ceremony has concluded, community members are invited to participate in our public reading of Frederick Douglass’s famous speech The Meaning Of The Fourth Of July For The Negro led by Nicole McClain.

Following the conclusion of this public reading, Salem’s Juneteenth Jam will then feature games, activities, crafts, face painting, music and food from Ray Adea’s.  The event organizers are also partnering with Salem Historical Tours to offer a free Black history tour of Salem, which will kick off at 2pm.

Salem Historical Tours’ free Black history tour will be a 90-minute walking tour. Up to 40 people will be able to participate. Interested residents will have the opportunity to sign up on a first-come-first-served basis on the day of the event at Riley Plaza if they would like to go on the tour.

Though the event at Riley Plaza will end at 5:00pm, the fun will continue into the evening. The City of Salem, in collaboration with the Salem Common Neighborhood Association, will show a special free screening of Disney’s 2018 Black Panther movie that evening on the Salem Common. The movie is expected to start at 8:30pm and run time is approximately 90 minutes.  All are welcome to all events.