Juneteenth 2025 Celebration

FREE | Family-Friendly | On Omi's Pavilion and the Roberts Mainstage

Join us for Olney Theatre Center’s annual Juneteenth Celebration — an afternoon of reflection, education, and joy commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrating the richness of Black culture. 

A Musical Journey Through Black Music: Featuring Kanysha Williams
4:30 - 5:30 pm - Roberts Mainstage 
This year’s Juneteenth Celebration at Olney Theatre Center features a special musical performance by Kanysha Williams, an acclaimed Washington, DC-area singer, songwriter, actress, and performer. Known for her genre-defying artistry and powerful voice, Kanysha has graced national stages including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and is a vibrant presence in the DC theatre community.

Join Kanysha for a powerful and immersive musical experience that celebrates the rich, genre-defining legacy of Black music from 1930 to 2020. This interactive concert is more than a performance — it's a journey through time, culture, and sound. From Negro spirituals to blues and jazz, through the rise of funk, R&B, and hip-hop, to the soul-stirring sounds of neo-soul, pop, and rock — Kanysha brings each genre to life with passion and authenticity.

Her performance pays tribute to the legendary artists who transformed struggle into sound and pain into poetry, while honoring their legacy and blazing her own powerful trail. Celebrate the rhythm, resilience, and revolution of Black music — and the generations it continues to inspire.

5:30 - 7:00 pm - Omi's Pavilion - local vendors and food trucks.

Bring your friends, family, and neighbors for this vibrant gathering of remembrance and pride.