The third annual All About Us Festival returns to Liberty State Park on Thursday, June 19, from noon to 8 p.m., for a Juneteenth celebration with music, food, dance, art, culture, and community.
“From the moment you walk in, it’s going to feel like joy,” Shannon Mitchell, founder of the festival, said in a statement. Mitchell is also the founder and CEO of No Youth Wasted, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the potential of youth in New Jersey.
“We created this space to remind us of what freedom looks like — being together, being seen, and celebrating who we are. Black history is American history, and this day is for all of us,” Mitchell added.
Marking the fourth anniversary of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, the All About Us Festival is co-hosted in partnership with the National Juneteenth Museum and pays homage to African American culture. Now in its third year, the 8-hour multi-sensory celebration is rooted in music and strives to unite participants with a showcase of live performances, dance, history, heritage, food, and education.
“I envision Juneteenth being celebrated like July Fourth. It’s a holiday that all folks should be able to understand because it’s about freedom,” Mitchell told Revolt.tv.
All About the All About Us Festival
The celebration takes place at The Green Ring in Liberty State Park, 200 Morris Pesin Drive. Tickets can be purchased directly on the AllAboutUsFest website.
The All About Us fest offers separate spaces for various generations to connect and learn. An immersive event celebrating African-American culture, it salutes the powerful legacy of Juneteenth, according to a statement.
Promising something for everyone, there will be a marketplace for Black-owned businesses, educational exhibits focused on Black history and culture, plus activities for children. There will also be live art installations, wellness activations, and plenty of food trucks.
“The festival embodies principles that create a space for celebration, education, and community engagement. It allows us to honor our history while actively shaping a future that echoes the values Juneteenth stands for — freedom, equality, and unity. Through music, art, and dialogue, the festival connects us all to the enduring significance of this day in our lives today,” Mitchell told Upscale Magazine
R&B superstar Mario will take the stage alongside hip hop icon Jadakiss. There will be additional performances with house music recording artist Robin S and Kenny Bobien, along with surprise musical guests and performances all day.
General admission tickets are $44.99; children under 12 are free; senior citizens over 65 are $17.49. Purchase tickets and learn more here.
About Juneteenth
The Biden Administration signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in 2021 making it the eleventh federal holiday. The Empire State Building will be lit in red, black, and green in honor of Juneteenth.
and were joined by Dr. Opal Lee, 97, regarded as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” for her influence in getting the day recognized as a national holiday. A retired teacher and lifelong advocate for civil rights, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden last year.
Lee was also instrumental in launching the National Juneteenth Museum located on the historic southside of Fort Worth, Texas. Expected to open to the public next year, the museum will be a “knowledge hub, creating awareness and deepening the understanding of Juneteenth’s impact on the future of the African American community and the nation,” according to the museum’s website.
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans were freed in Texas, 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
In 2016, when she was 89 years old, she walked 1,400-miles from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Juneteenth recognition.
Every year she still embarks on a symbolic 2½, representing the time it took for news of freedom to reach all enslaved people in the U.S. This year, however, Dione Sims, Lee’s granddaughter, will walk in her place. Juneteenth walks have popped up around the world, from Tokyo to Los Angeles.
Lee, 98, was hospitalized last month in Ohio, where she was marking the 30th anniversary of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Getting to Liberty State Park
The festival is easily accessible via The Path from Hoboken, Manhattan, Jersey City, Newark, and Bayonne.
From Manhattan or Newark: Take the PATH train to Grove Street, then transfer to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and ride to Liberty State Park Station. (Estimated travel time: 35–45 minutes)
From Bayonne or Jersey City: Take the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail directly to Liberty State Park Station. (Estimated travel time: 10–20 minutes)
From the station, it’s just a short walk to the festival entrance.
Use the NJ Transit app or Google Maps as a transit planner to check routes, schedules, and travel times in real time. Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at several designated lots in and around Liberty State Park. Complimentary shuttles will run every 5–10 minutes between each lot and the festival entrance from noon to 9 p.m., making it easy to get to and from the event.
Available Lots:
🅿️Free – Lot 8 – Across from Liberty House: Google Maps – Lot 8 | ADA parking
🅿️Free – Lot 1 – Camp Liberty: Google Maps – Lot 1
🅿️Free – Lot 3 – Google Maps – Lot 3
🅿️$25 – Liberty Harbor RV Lot – Google Maps – Liberty Harbor RV
Other Juneteenth Happenings
American Dream, East Rutherford: “Juneteenth Is the American Dream” takes place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with DJ sets, prizes, giveaways, panels, breakout sessions, and a Buy Black marketplace with local vendors and entrepreneurs. There will also be special appearances by DJ Envy and Loren LoRosa.
Featuring the HBCUNY Classic (returning to MetLife Stadium Sept. 13), everything takes place on the Dream Stage, Court A, Level 1.
See more information here.
- ◾Buy Black Marketplace: Shop from a variety of Black-owned businesses.
- ◾Live Performances: Enjoy music, DJ sets, and other performances.
- ◾Panel Discussions: Engage in conversations about the legacy and future of Juneteenth.
- ◾Special Appearances: Meet and greet with DJ Envy and Loren LoRosa, according to Instagram.
- ◾Family-Friendly Activities: The event is open to all ages and includes family-friendly activities.
Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack: Bergen County will hold Juneteenth Freedom Day on June 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bergen County Administration Building, The Piazza in the Bergen County Plaza.
Oakley Kitchen, Nutley: The Nutley Inclusion and Diversity Council invites people to celebrate Juneteenth from 4-8 p.m. at the Oakley Kitchen, 789 Bloomfield Ave., Nutley. There will be a specially-curated menu, along with $8 cheeseburgers and $4 hot dogs grilled outside on our charcoal grills. There will be drink specials, raffles, prizes, karaoke, and more.
Carver Park, Hackensack: On Sunday, June 22, Juneteenth will be celebrated at Carver Park, 294 2nd St., from 1 to 6 p.m. The festival will feature a live DJ, pickleball, giveaways, a fashion show, and more.
Passaic: There will be a Juneteenth celebration on June 14 hosted by Mayor Hector Lora and the Passaic City Council from 1 to 5 p.m. at Third Ward Memorial Park, 350 Passaic Ave. The event will feature vendors, raffles, live entertainment, arts and crafts, food, and community resources. Later that day, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., fireworks at Passaic City Hall Courtyard, 330 Passaic St.
Pier A Lawn, Hoboken: The third annual Juneteenth Unity Picnic takes place at Pier A Lawn from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Hosted and curated by Shakera Rosa and Mile Square Mommies, there will be games, line dancing, bubbles, face painting, popups, fitness demos, and more.
