2025 Juneteenth Activities

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Madison Public Library highlights resources, activities, and events happening for Juneteenth in our libraries and the surrounding area. 

Please note: All library locations will be closed on Thursday, June 19 in honor of the Juneteenth holiday. You can learn more about what's available while our library locations are closed at madpl.org/libraryclosed or find additional online resourced on our Library @ Home page. 

During February, this page is also our hub for Black History Month, an annual celebration of the achievements by African Americans and a time to honor the central role of black Americans throughout history and in the present day. 

Juneteenth Events, Displays and Activities

Film Screenings

Miss Juneteenth
June 12, 2-4:15pm | Hawthorne Library

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The film centers on former beauty queen Turquoise Jones, a single mom who holds down a household, a rebellious teenager, and pretty much everything that goes down at Wayman’s BBQ & Lounge.

Turquoise was once crowned Miss Juneteenth, a title commemorating the day slaves in Texas were freed. Though life didn’t turn out as beautifully as the title promised, Turquoise, determined to right her wrongs, is cultivating her daughter to become Miss Juneteenth, even if Kai wants something else.

No registration required. 

Cinesthesia: Cooley High
Wednesday, June 18, 6:30-8:30pm | Central Library

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It's been 50 years since Cooley High first debuted, but this classic still has impact today. On the eve of Juneteenth, come enjoy a film that inspired filmmakers like John Singleton and Spike Lee at this month's Cinesthesia film screening. 

Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career in writing, are likable Chicago high school students in 1960s Chicago. They're into hanging out with friends, pretty girls and the Motown sounds so popular during the era. Each wants to make it big in his own way, but not everybody they meet is looking out for them, as they learn when a seemingly harmless outing goes awry. 

Join in on the screening and discussion - no registration required!

Find more great films on Kanopy's Juneteenth collection!

Books, Authors, Discussions

Sequoya Summer Festival of Poetry
June 28, 1-3pm | Sequoya Library

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Join the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets for the second annual Sequoya Summer Festival of Poetry! Twelve poets will give readings from their work.

The featured poet for this year's festival is Derrick Harriell. Dr. Harriell was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is currently Professor of English-Creative Writing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he also serves as the Interim-Director of the Black Student Cultural Center. His poetry collections include Cotton, Ropes, Stripper in Wonderland, and Come Kingdom. His essays have been published widely. 

Other poets reading their works will include Marilyn L. Taylor, Anthony Immergluck, Lily Someson, E. Hughes, F. J. Bergmann, and Olga Trubetskoy. The program will conclude with a tribute to Fran Rall (1925-2024).

Light refreshments provided; no registration required.

Friends of Madison Public Library BIG Book Sale

June 28, 9am - 3pm | 1301 Badger Rd.

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Six Library Friends' groups are pooling their inventory for a large sale of gently used and donated books. The sale takes place rain or shine at 1301 W. Badger Road in Madison, and the Taquitos Marimar Food Truck will again be on-site from 11am - 2pm so that you can browse books without skipping lunch!

Most items are $1 or $2, with a bag sale from 1-3pm ($5 per bag). Friends accept cash, check or credit card payment. All proceeds benefit Madison Public Libraries.

Participating Friends' groups include those for the Central, Goodman South Madison, Hawthorne, Meadowridge, Pinney, and Monroe Street libraries. Interested people can also learn more about becoming Friends’ members or volunteering at the sale.

Go Big Read: James

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UW-Madison's Chancellor has selected the 2025-26 Go Big Read title and it's a book that has been in high demand for the last year here at Madison Public Library - James by Percival Everett! 

This announcement is made even more exciting because it was also revealed in May that James was selected as the 2025 Pulitzer Prize winner for Fiction. An initial order of 60 books has arrived and is being added to our walk-in Too Good To Miss collections, as well as our existing Book Club Kit! Stay turned for accompanying events happening in libraries, as well as the author event at UW-Madison this October. 

Go Big Read is an annual community read created by the UW (one of the largest in the country), and Madison Public Library has partnered with the university since its inception. The book selected is incorporated into curriculum throughout the university, as well as library programming throughout the Dane County communities. Learn more on our website at madpl.org/gobigread

Juneteenth or Related Events in the Greater Madison Community*

Juneteenth Family Fun Night

June 13, 5:30-8pm | Warner Park

Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the game room or the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo. $5 per family. Theme: Juneteenth | Movie: Mufasa: The Lion King | Music: Jazz musician

Juneteenth Book Signing

June 17, 5-7pm | ULGM Hub (2352 S Park St)

Juneteenth in Penn Park
June 21, 10am - 6pm | Penn Park (2101 Fisher St)

The event begins with a parade at 10:45am from Madison Labor Temple grounds, south on Park Street to Buick Street to Penn Park, followed by the Juneteenth event in the park from noon-6pm. Madison Public Library will have a table and will bring our interactive art cake, as well!