We Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteenth

For its Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration, 651 ARTS – Brooklyn’s premier institution for the African Diasporic performing arts – in partnership with Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP) will join forces with the popular outdoor music concert series The Soapbox Presents to commemorate the now federally-recognized holiday with “We Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteenth.” With support from Two Trees Management, this year’s celebration will include a day of performances and activities and will be held outdoors on The Plaza at 300 Ashland Place in Downtown Brooklyn. The partnership marks The Soapbox Presents’ first major presentation in Brooklyn since the pandemic.

Curated by The Soapbox Presents as part of their Juneteenth activations happening in both Brooklyn and Harlem over the course of the weekend, “We Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteenth” will celebrate Black cultural traditions that were developed in this country. The program for the day will include: “Young, Gifted, and Black: A Tribute to HBCU Culture,” a special segment set to feature a battle of the bands and a stroll off with members of the Divine 9 Black fraternities and sororities, helmed by Mahogany L. Browne; “Melanated Notes” spotlighting spoken word and performed by local poets; and, of course,  a “Stoop Session” music concert featuring a 10-piece band led by singers J. Hoard and Ekep Nkwelle. “We Outside!” will also present activities for the entire family including a Kidz Korner performance activation with ventriloquists, a tap dance workshop, a Double Dutch exhibition and workshop as well as other offerings. Additionally, Brooklyn Pop-up will curate a marketplace experience for the day comprised of Black-owned businesses and Black vendors and artisans. The event will culminate with a dance party on The Plaza.