Keene community to celebrate Juneteenth

KEENE — The City of Keene is partnering with several local organizations to host a weeklong series of free public events celebrating Juneteenth, running through Monday, June 22. The festivities, coordinated alongside the Keene Family YMCA, W.S. Badger Company, and the Keene Public Library, kick off with the opening of the Freedom Journey Trail at the YMCA on Summit Road. The self-guided, quarter-mile outdoor interpretive trail explores the history and experiences of Black Americans. It requires no registration and will remain open to the public through June 22. The celebration moves to the Keene Public Library on Thursday, June 18, at 6 p.m. for a free screening of the documentary "Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It." The film chronicles the life and musical legacy of Preston, highlighting his extensive influence on legendary artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Aretha Franklin. Fuller Park, located at the Keene Recreation Center on Washington Street, will host the week's flagship celebration on Friday, June 19, at 5 p.m. The outdoor evening program features a spoken word performance by Jazzlyn Mota, followed by live music from Samirah Evans and the genre-blending reggae, jazz, and Afrobeats group JohnLu & the Band. The series wraps up on Saturday, June 20, at 11 a.m. back at the library with a free screening of the animated sci-fi film "Arco." The 2026 event series is also supported by the Monadnock International Film Festival and The Savings Bank of Walpole. While all events are free, organizers encourage pre-registration for the two film screenings. A complete schedule and details can be found online at keeneymca.org/juneteenth.