Juneteenth as a Tradition
Juneteenth celebration ideas are growing as more people across the country mark June 19, 2026 as a time to honor Black traditions and support Black-owned businesses. What once was mainly celebrated in Galveston, Texas is now becoming a nationwide celebration. Its growth is being fueled by a growing desire for community against the backdrop of a resurgence of bigotry and racism. This year, if you and your family are deciding to commemorate for the first time, or expanding your celebration, there are ways to do it and include entrepreneurs who also look like us.
As we do, it is important to recognize and embrace traditions. One of which, I have learned in researching, is that the color red is very important. While there are plenty of jokes that can be made about it, Red drinks, Red Velvet Cake, and Red Rice are all important visual signifiers in Juneteenth events. Some of the research behind it says that it dates back to West Africa and the Asante and Yoruba tribes. Some history says that they shared red drinks made of hibiscus flower petals or kola nuts with visitors. Others suggest that the red is important for the bloodshed of our ancestors. It isn’t one particular flavor either, so experiment and have fun with it.
Big Marble has Hibiscus, Ginger beer, and more flavors. The Hibiscus Flower is one that has significance for Juneteenth. When the color red comes up, it often leads back to hibiscus leaves and tea in West Africa. Big Marble is a beverage brand that offers an organic hibiscus drink that is great on its own, or to make your own cocktails. It is made with real cane sugar and natural organic ingredients. They also make a Ginger Beer you can have on by itself, or as the base for your mules.
Caribe and Co is a woman owned flavored syrup brand for your coffee and cold beverages. Use their Sorrel and Ginger as the start to your own home made sodas, mocktails and even cocktails. You can get really creative with these, think snow-balls or other cold treats.
Uncle Waithley’s Ginger Beer is a top-notch beverage option for your Juneteenth and summer cookouts. This comes in two varieties and is perfect for making mules,or you can check out this recipe for Strawberry Rum Coolers and enjoy them that way.
Another great addition to your Juneteenth table is Guava Tiki Punch from Baltimore-based Cane Collective. This vibrant tropical mixer blends fruity flavor with versatility, making it perfect for cocktails, mocktails, home-made craft sodas, and frozen summer drinks. The guava-forward flavor profile pairs especially well with citrus, ginger, and rum, allowing you to get creative with your cookout beverage station. Whether you are building a signature Juneteenth punch, mixing up mocktails for the family, or adding a refreshing option to beat the summer heat, Guava Tiki Punch brings bright flavor and a festive feel to your gathering.
When it comes to grilling and barbecue, you have to be able to sauce and season your meats. For a unique spin on barbecue sauce with Southern flair, Kyvan offers some options. Their Cherry Apple and Sweet Potato Barbecue sauce are a good accompaniment for your chicken and pork with fruity sweetness to bring some depth of flavor. If you want to fry some chicken or fish, they also have breading blends to make it easy on adding some other options to your cookout menu.
This Kansas City staple is known for its pork ribs. Pork has always played a large part in the lives of Black People in America. From whole hog smoking, to all of its parts as they come and it’s one of the reasons why the animal is so prevalent in barbecue. If you are bringing some to your Juneteenth celebration, get yourself some of the rub and sauces from this historic shop and get classic flavor for your celebration.
This Family owned recipe can trace its roots back to 1965 in Jacksonville, Florida. For years you could only get Bob Cooper’s sauce at one of their family restaurant locations. Now you can bring a Legendary taste home to you and yours to celebrate with their bottle sauce varieties.
Collard greens are a traditional side dish for many African American meals and have a place at your Juneteenth celebration table. Season your greens with this Black woman owned seasoning brand. Tiger Life Gourmet makes it easy to get the right flavor for your collards with their seasoning blend. This isn’t their only flavor that makes a great addition to your Holiday celebration, try their citrus grilled chicken seasoning for your barbecue as well.
Jollof rice is a West African staple. Along with fitting in alongside the color themes of the Holiday, it is rooted in our literal history as one of the West African Food Traditions that made their way to modern Juneteenth celebrations. Amac foods features an easy ready to cook bag of Jollof rice that comes in mild or spicy varieties. There is no need to mix spices, it’s already done for you, just add water and cook for about 35 minutes for an easy side dish.
Jiffy Jollof offers another simple way to make jollof rice. While it isn’t an all-in-one option, you can add their sauce to your rice for an easy side. It comes in a pouch for smaller meals or a jar if you use it often or need to make a lot, say for your Juneteenth Celebration.
Red Velvet cake is a staple dessert at many black functions. Make sure you have one for your Juneteenth celebrations and make it easily with the help of PK Elixirs. This Black Woman Owned brand of flavorings features a Red Velvet option for your cake itself, or if you want to do something different like cinnamon rolls, it makes it easy. Don’t forget about the icing, and PK Elixirs has you there too with a cream cheese option so you can make a fresh and flavorful home icing for your cake.
You may know Vicky’s Cakes for their high quality pancake mixes, but they aren’t just for breakfast. These pancake mixes can be used for multiple purposes and one that I have personally found enjoyable is as a topping for Peach cobbler. You can try the original, but the Butter Pecan brings something new to the classic dish and is a great way to show something different in your recipes. Be on the look out soon for the cookbook showcasing those other recipes from the owners which will probably include this funnel cake as well.
Bring the family together for fun, laughter, and learning with Play Black Wall Street. This Black-owned board game combines entertainment with lessons in entrepreneurship, ownership, and money management inspired by the legacy of historic Black business districts. With multiple editions available, the game encourages players of all ages to think strategically while learning about building wealth and supporting community. It’s the perfect addition to your Juneteenth gathering, family reunion, or cookout table, creating opportunities for both conversation and competition long after the food is gone.
The OG of the Black owned Trivia Games, Black Card revoked is still a fun time. This should be as regular as Uno and Spades at the party, so make sure you have your deck and grab a booster pack or two to expand and refresh your game. It’s perfect for winding down into the evening after filling up on barbecue and cake.
The classic at the function is Spades. If you don’t know how to play, order your cards from The Game of Spades now and practice. They have a version that comes with a set of directions. If you’re a pro spades player, then get yourself a deck just to show off how nice you are and have them ready for your Juneteenth parties.
If you are tired of Spades, or you want to bring something new to the party to stump the Spades Gods, give Shoots! A try. From IYKYK Games, the makers of Culture Tags and other fine games, Shoots is a fun new entry into the card game genre. Created for us, by us, Shoots can be a true replacement for your Uno and Spades. Give them a try and add Shoots, and the other fine games to your party rotation.
Cook Books, especially BBQ
Now is a great time to step up your barbecue skills. Get some recipes and new techniques that are both time tested and delicious with the help of these chefs. You will learn something about the history of Black barbecue as well as increase your skills with these cookbooks. Get your supplies together and let everyone know how nice you are for Juneteenth.
Meat and Produce from a Black Farmer
When you’re looking to get your supplies like collards, corn, and even strawberries, look for a Black Farmer or Farmer’s Market. The Black Farmer’s Index is the best resource to find one near you. It’s not just produce either, you can find meat too. Black Farmers are producing everything from chicken to beef and pork and you can get it right to your door with ease and freshness.
