LEWISTON — As Juneteenth approaches, at least two celebrations of the federal holiday Thursday, June 19, are being planned in the area offering performances, speeches, discussions, food and more.

Juneteenth is a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth,” and celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. More specifically, it commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that over 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.

In one way or another, the day has been commemorated by Black communities since its first anniversary in 1866, with Texas being a hub for the celebration. Traditions and celebrations have proliferated across the country in recent years, especially since 2021 when the day was officially declared a federal holiday by President Joe Biden. 

Celebrations often include speeches, poetry readings and food, including barbecue and red-colored food items. A number of events are taking place throughout the state. In the Lewiston-Auburn area, two nonprofit organizations will host events to celebrate the occasion.

For their fifth annual Juneteenth celebration, local nonprofit Maine Inside Out is hosting a special Juneteenth performance of “Broken Clock” in Lewiston at The Public Theatre on Tuesday, June 17. 

Maine Inside Out’s purpose is to inspire social action by engaging people affected by systemic oppression in theater and art. Last year, the nonprofit hosted the festival “The City That Carries Us: Pain, Streets and Heartbeats.” 

This year, the organization has created an original play about incarceration, gun violence, grief, family and trust. It will take place along with an original film. The performance will be followed by a community dialogue.

After the performance, a reception will take place in the lobby at The Public Theatre, with cookies and pastries from the Italian Bakery in Lewiston. Before the show, Maine Inside Out is inviting audience members to gather in the lobby for food and activities. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the pre-show gathering. The show will begin at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are free; donation-based tickets are $20. Go to: tinyurl.com/brokenclock19th. The Public Theatre is at 31 Maple St. in Lewiston.

On Friday, June 20, the Community Organizing Alliance will host an event at Bates College’s Benjamin Mays Center, at 95 Russell St. in Lewiston.

The alliance is a grassroots nonprofit that uplifts young people while bringing forward the voices of Black, immigrant and marginalized communities in Maine.

The organization’s  “2025 Juneteenth Celebration: Resistance Through Joy” will feature keynote speaker Dr. Rosanna Ferro, Bates College’s vice president of Student Affairs, and a panel discussion with state Sen. Jill Duson of Cumberland and historian Bob Greene. The panel will be moderated by Meadow Dibble, a writer, researcher and antiracist historical recovery advocate. 

The event, complete with Southern cuisine provided by Bab’s Table LLC of Lisbon, will also feature live arts and performances by Brian J. Evans and Brooke Bolduc. Community partners, including Generational Noor, Democracy Maine and Gateway Community, among others, will also participate.

Mohamed Khalid, co-founder and and chief operating officer of the alliance, expressed the group’s enthusiasm to bring together community members from “all walks of life.”

The event will begin at 5 p.m., doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are free and reservations can be made online at tinyurl.com/yck93p62.