June 25th, 2026 story By Cam Cyr, Photos By Katie Zanbergan, Adaptive.Pictures, and Diosastudios
Community members gathered at Hingham Harbor on Friday, June 19, for the sixth annual Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration, hosted by the Hingham Unity Council and its South Shore partners.
The free event featured live music, family activities, food vendors, a beer garden, and an artisan market with many BIPOC-owned businesses. Attendees also enjoyed student performances, face painting and balloon art.
“It’s meaningful that people in our community show up to this event to celebrate the resilience and culture of Black Americans while at the same time acknowledging the legacy of systemic racism and the work still to be done to ensure freedom, dignity, respect and justice for all people,” said Katie Sutton, a Hingham Unity Council co-founder and board member.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that enslaved people were free, marking the true end of slavery in the United States.
The annual celebration brings the community together to honor Black history, culture, and the ongoing pursuit of freedom and equality.
“This event has become an important tradition and a unique opportunity for our community to gather and experience how our differences can make us better and stronger,” Sutton said.
Following are photos from the event to enjoy.
