Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning fantasy and paranormal romance author. Her novel Song of Blood & Stone was chosen as one of TIME Magazine's "100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time". Equally left and right-brained, she studied filmmaking and computer science in college and sometimes dreams in HTML. She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast, co-hosts the Ink & Magic podcast, and lives in Maryland with her feline dependents.

This author's talk is a part of our Freedom Stories Initiative. Freedom Stories is an initiative between a coalition of organizations and agencies in Prince George’s County, Maryland to provide antiracist and social justice programs. It discovers the histories, stories, names, and places where freedom from enslavement and oppression began in Prince George’s County. Through dialogue facilitated by programs, Freedom Stories strives to connect legacy to present-day Prince George’s families and provide insight into the determination and resilience of black people living in Prince George’s County in the 1700s. We explore history to create a more just and equitable present experience.

Step into the remarkable life of Harriet Tubman with this one-woman show featuring Cortenia Smith. Known for leading enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad, Tubman’s legacy also includes her work as a spy during the Civil War and as a suffragist, tireless in her advocacy for justice and equality. This performance brings to life her strength, determination, and commitment to freedom.

Join us for a screening of “The Bell Affair” written by William G. Thomas, III and Kwakiutl Lynn Dreher. The film tells the story of Daniel and Mary Bell who sued for their freedom and then lead one of the largest escape attempts in American history. Following the screening, Dr. Thomas will be available to answer questions.

Parade: 12 pm - 1:30 pm at Annapolis City Dock@ The Alex Haley Memorial Statue. Click here for more information on Parade. Festival: 2 pm-9 pm @ Bates Athletic Complex.

Come out and join us for our FREE annual parade and festival at the Bates Athletic Complex. There will be one main stage, featuring headliners Beverly Crawford, Le’Andria Johnson, Vivian Green, Rakim the Rapper, Be’La Dona Band, and a host of local talent! Fireworks will immediately follow the show!

Get ready to immerse yourself in the infectious rhythms and vibrant energy of two-time Grammy-nominated Cha Wa, a musical force guaranteed to make you move and groove. This performance promises an unforgettable fusion of New Orleans brass band traditions, Black Masking Indian culture, and contemporary funk that will have you dancing at your seat from start to finish.   

Celebrate Juneteenth with the community, honoring freedom and unity in the city through music, food, and culture!

Join us for a day-long celebration as we gather with family, friends, and neighbors to honor the present and reflect on shared traditions and history.

Be sure to visit the gallery for our latest exhibition A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, D.C., 1900-2000, which traces the story of the teachers and students who made Washington, DC a truly unparalleled center for Black arts education.

Join us at Watkins Regional Park for a day filled with creativity and inspiration. Explore a variety of artworks from talented local artists, ranging from paintings to jewelry, photographs, and everything in between. Immerse yourself in the vibrant art market while enjoying live music. Grab tasty food and treats, some beer and wine, while connecting with your community!

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out, this festival has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this exciting event!

Join us for a captivating Juneteenth Community Day themed "Freedom, Movement, and Migration" on June 15, 2024, from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm. This special day is designed to engage people of all ages in a meaningful celebration of freedom and cultural evolution, commemorating Juneteenth's significance in the journey toward equality and recognition in American history. 

Check out this wonderful array of activities! 

The festival is open to all ages and will have several Activity Areas:

• Kid Zone: Free inflatables, rides, and sports clinics for kids.

• College and D9 Greek Row: Showcasing HBCUs and Black Alumni Associations to promote colleges and  if possible, offer onsite acceptance. D9 organizations will promote their respective organizations and chapter activities.  There will be a unity step show on stage.

• Marketplace and Info: Vendors will sell their goods and services, non-profit organizations will promote their services.

• Food Vendors: There will be two zones dedicated to local food and concession vendors.

• Amphitheater: Live entertainment.

• Artist’s Ave: Local artists will showcase their curated work for viewing and purchase.

• Physical and Mental Health:  This area is dedicated to groups focusing on physical and mental health services and will include demos.

Join us for the 5th Annual Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K

The Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K runs along the entirety of the Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail (see map inset). Definitely one of Washington, DC’s hidden gems, this beautiful off-road trail traverses between the Anacostia and Deanwood neighborhoods of the District, connecting five Civil War fort sites throughout. Race participants should be cautioned, that this is a proper trail run (i.e. dirt, elevation & not for the faint of heart).

Performances: Feb 16 - March 17

Tempestuous Elements reveals the struggle of educational luminary Anna Julia Cooper as she fights for her students’ rights to an advanced curriculum. In a scandal orchestrated by the government, her tenure as principal of  D.C.’s historic M Street School is sabotaged by her colleagues and neighbors leading Cooper's professional and personal relationships to become fodder for innuendo and social ostracization. Witness the journey of this formidable Black feminist’s fight for educational equity, freedom, and legitimacy at the turn of the 20th century.

Tours: Sept 9, Oct 7, Nov 4, 1pm-2:30pm

Learn about slavery and resistance at Montpelier, in Maryland, and beyond on this guided tour around the Montpelier grounds.  Space is limited. Register through Parks Direct, and enter the keyword “Souls.” 

Art Exhibit: Sep 9 - Nov 4; Artist Talk: Oct 4, 6-8pm

Free-doms defines and questions American free-doms both historically and as it's being re-defined in contemporary times. By using sourced material from Maryland State Archives, artists ​Dwayne Martin, Selena Noir, Khadija Jahmila, and Underdog the DJ have researched, re-imagined, and based these original works on the historical lawsuits known as Freedom Stories.

Tours: Sept 9, Oct 7, Nov 4, 1pm-2:30pm

Learn about slavery and resistance at Montpelier, in Maryland, and beyond on this guided tour around the Montpelier grounds.  Space is limited. Register through Parks Direct, and enter the keyword “Souls.” 

Join Marietta House Museum for this virtual presentation. Learn about freedom seekers’ plans; names of helpers; and hiding places with storyteller/cultural interpretive guide, Dionne Patterson of UGR3DAY Underground Railroad Experiences, Inc. Mrs. Patterson, also known as “Conductor Dee,” will share historical accounts of the secret network called The Underground Railroad. She will highlight stories of how men, women, and children prepared for the grueling journey in search of freedom, using their social ties, financial savings, knowledge about geography and plants and herbs to survive, and unique ways that some freedom seekers navigated their way North. Agents who gave aid to those secretly traveling on the Underground Railroad also took risks and suffered consequences as they selflessly guided self-emancipating champions.

Recommended for ages 8 & up. Fee: $5/person. Please register in advance at pgparksdirect.com to receive the Microsoft Teams link for this event. For more information, please call 301-4645291 or send an email to mariettahouse@pgparks.com.

Please join us for a discussion with author Jenny Masur as she talks about her book and research for “Maryland Freedom Seekers on the Underground Railroad”.

This FREE, in-person event will be held at Marietta House Museum. For more information, contact 301-464-5291 or MariettaHouse@pgparks.com.

Afrofuturism often incorporates a historical reconstruction of the past and many science fiction writers are often inspired by the real-life stories of African Americans serving in the military.  Attend one of our History Alive! programs and hear real stories about Blacks in the military and explore themes of freedom, self-determination, citizenship, valor, and much more.  Two years, five months, and nineteen days after the Emancipation Proclamation, Blacks in Galveston, Texas found out about Mr. Lincoln’s order. In the course of this program, visitors will learn what it meant, and why we celebrated it today.

Additional Information:  John W. McCaskill, M.A. brings dynamic public speaking presentations in Washington, DC, and across the country.  To authenticate his living history presentations, he adorns period attire for colonial, WWII/Army Air Corps Tuskegee Airmen, Civil War U.S. Colored Troops, World War I, Reconstruction, Buffalo Soldier, and the 1960’s Civil Rights period.

Freedom Stories Workshop: Out of The Vineyard
by Psalmeyene
directed by Raymond Caldwell

Playwright Psalmeyene and Director Raymond Caldwell come together to bring a captivating stage play to the arts community. Come together to witness the beginnings of, Out of the Vineyard in the workshop of this commissioned play inspired by the book, A Question of Freedom by William G. Thomas.

Based on interviews with descendants of enslaved families and people connected to the history of freedom suits in Prince George’s County, Out of the Vineyard weaves together monologues that excavate a buried chapter in American history while illuminating how the legacy of slavery still affects us today.

The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad examines the role of the physical railroad in the Underground Railroad network and gives an intimate look at the lives and journeys of 27 individuals who sought freedom from slavery along the B&O. The exhibition is located in the museum’s historic Mt. Clare Station – a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site and the exact location through which eight Freedom Seekers, including Henry “Box” Brown and William and Ellen Craft, traveled. The exhibition also examines the Black travel experience during this time as well as the use of railroad terminology as a secret, coded language for Freedom Seekers.

CLICK HERE for more information and tickets.

Presented by Annapolis Songwriters Festival

Part love story, part historical excavation, Fantastic Negrito’s extraordinary new album, White Jesus Black Problems, is an exhilarating ode to the power of family and the enduring resilience of our shared humanity. Inspired by the illegal, interracial romance of his seventh generation grandparents—a white indentured servant and an enslaved Black man—in 1750s Virginia, the collection is bold and thought provoking, grappling with racism, capitalism, and the very meaning of freedom itself, all without ever losing sight of the desire and determination at the heart of the tale.

This year is a defining moment as we aim to make a lasting imprint that will help set the tone for how the nation celebrates Juneteenth for years to come and recognize the contributions of Black Americans! As such, The Juneteenth Foundation is once again hosting a curated week of events: The Juneteenth Freedom Festival. The Festival will kick off with the Juneteenth Honors, an upscale awards show that will bring together African American culture’s biggest names in music, sports, film, and philanthropy.

The Juneteenth Honors is an awards and music show that commemorates our national Juneteenth holiday and the freedom of enslaved African-Americans in 1865. It is an upscale production which highlights Black excellence, our history, and the achievements of African-American luminaries. For this inaugural edition, we will be joined by some of the world’s largest names in entertainment, music, and culture. Think the Grammys but better, with an emphasis on black culture, music, and entertainment.