City of Fort Walton Beach invites families to free Juneteenth event with music and activities this coming Saturday
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Fort Walton Beach will mark Juneteenth this weekend with a waterfront gathering built around music, family activities, reflection and community pride.
The City of Fort Walton Beach Recreation Department will host the free outdoor celebration on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fort Walton Beach Landing, located at 131 Brooks Street SE. The event, called “Juneteenth Celebration 2026 – 250 Years Later… Freedom In Motion,” is open to the public and designed as a family-friendly day at one of the city’s most familiar gathering places.
City materials describe the celebration as “a moment of unity, reflection, and joy for our entire community.” The theme, “250 Years Later… Freedom In Motion,” connects the meaning of Juneteenth with a wider look at history, freedom and the country’s continuing story. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in 1865 and is now observed as a federal holiday.
At The Landing, the day will unfold along the waterfront with Santa Rosa Sound nearby and a full schedule of entertainment planned for the stage and park grounds. DJ Mike Ice will provide music, while the Juneteenth Community Dance Team, a line dance group and other performers will help keep the celebration moving. A local fashion show and a special historical reading are also part of the program.
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Families will find plenty for children to do, including water slides, water activities, games and contests. A coloring contest will also be offered, with participants able to color on-site or download sheets ahead of time, complete them at home and bring them to the event.
More than 20 vendors are expected to take part. Food trucks and vendors will offer items such as wings, chicken dinners, hot dogs, burgers, ice cream and sno-cones. Informational vendors, a gemologist and representatives from local fraternities and sororities are also expected to be present.
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The event is free, with no admission cost. Some listings identify the location as 139 Brooks Street SE, but the city calendar lists Fort Walton Beach Landing at 131 Brooks Street SE. More information is available through the city’s official calendar at https://www.fwb.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=1202, or by contacting [email protected].
