How to host the perfect Juneteenth Celebration
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Juneteenth might be a new celebration for you, or it may be the umpteenth time you’re celebrating! Either way, we want to make sure to provide you with all the tips to make your celebration a success.
Our team curated a list to help you get started with the event — but we encourage you to learn more about the holiday and be authentic in how you celebrate the occasion.
Before the Party
1.🏡 Decide on the location
Depending on where you’re located, quarantine might have stricter or looser requirements. Keep that in mind as you plan!
Virtual: We all know Zoom — but consider hosting a party on Houseparty, Instagram Live, or Facebook Messenger Rooms/Live.
In-Person: Make sure you have a place that is good for social distancing. We recommend local parks, or small gatherings at a friend or family’s home.
2. ✉️Create your invitation
Keep it simple! You’ll have lots to share during the event. Make sure to include the date, location, and anything you want your guests to know beforehand.
We created a simple template for you to create your own event here!
For an an easy place to collect RSVP’s and host the information, check out Commsor.
3. 🏓 Decide on the vibe, and come up with a few activities your guest can enjoy!
Would your guests enjoy a more casual setting for reflection and conversation? Would you like it to be a time for games or a movie? Maybe a combination to support all your guests?
Come up with a game plan, and then create activities that support it. Some of our favorites are:
⭐️Games
Play Spades:
- How to play spades by Kevonstage. We recommend sending this out to your guests to watch beforehand!
- You can play and game with your guests virtually here.
Black Card Revoked:
- Learn a bit of black culture through this original card game and support black business owners while doing so: https://cardsforallpeople.com/products/black-card-revoked-original-flavor
⭐️Movies:
Organize an in-person or virtual Netflix Party. We recommend one of these movies:
- 13th
- When They See Us
- Just Mercy
- I am Not Your Negro
- Or any ones from the list curated for Black History Month
4.🍴 Figure out the food
One of the foundations of Juneteenth is the food. We recommend either catering food — to save you the hassle of cooking everything, or organizing a potluck!
Order from a local black-owned restaurant:
- Bay Area List
- EatOkra — an app to find your local black-owned restaurants.
- Official Black Wall Street App — an app to find local black businesses.
Make it yourself:
- If you choose to do a potluck, PerfectPotluck is a great tool to help you streamline who is bringing what! Be sure to consider the dietary restrictions of your guests and have a few options that work for everyone.
Recipes:
This is our sample menu to help you get started:
- 🍹 Cocktail: Hibiscus Tea Cocktail & Mocktail & Wine from a black-owned vineyard
- 🍉 Appetizer: Watermelon
- 🍴 Main Course: Barbecue wings, brisket, chicken — whatever you have!
- 🥗Sides: Collard Greens and Sweet Potatoes
- 🥧Dessert: Strawberry Slab Pie
During the Celebration
1. 👐 Have everyone be part of it
A festive addition to the event is to come up with a theme. Given that the event is centered around Juneteenth, you could have guests come in the representative diaspora colors (red, black, or green) — or dressed in clothing from a black-owned seller.
2. 🎈Decorate, decorate, decorate
On that note — decorations will bring everything together, even if your guests forget to wear their colors.
Balloons and hints of colors red, black, and green thrown around the room are the perfect addition.
If you’re doing a virtual celebration, consider having everyone use a black-themed background.
3. 📖 Reflection
Take time to reflect with guests and express gratitude for the black community. You can do this with a toast, reading the Emancipation Proclamation, or make it part of one of the activities!
4. 🎵Music
It wouldn’t be a party without the right music! Consider streaming one of these playlists:
- Black, Queer, and Proud (it’s also Pride Month!)
- Black Lives Matter
- Gymhooky: Body and the Beat
5. 📸Document the moment
Have fun and take pictures! If you post to social media, hashtag #juneteenth2020, #hellacreative, #blacklivesmatter, and #blackjoymatters. And if you choose, tag us as well (@hostowambe)!
Planning another event for yourself, close friends, or family? Feel free to check out the planners on Hostowambe and let us know how we can help!
