What to Do This Juneteenth in Nashville

Happy Juneteenth, everyone! At Tried and True Nannies and Sitters, we’re excited to celebrate this important holiday in its second year as an official federal holiday. If you’re new to Juneteenth, this holiday commemorates the emancipation of African-American slaves in the US during the Civil War.

Juneteenth is a fantastic opportunity for families to celebrate that important step that kicked off an ongoing journey toward equality. Looking for a way to celebrate with your kids? Try these fantastic ways to mark Juneteenth and take advantage of the opportunity for both education and family time.

Attend a Juneteenth Event

Nashville and surrounding towns are hosting a wide variety of community events to celebrate Juneteenth, so bring your family and get in on the fun! Head to Fort Negley Park, for example, for the 2023 Juneteenth615 celebration. You can also attend the Juneteenth event at The Hermitage for a historically focused atmosphere.

Have a Black Culture Movie Night

Juneteenth is an excellent reminder to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Black people in the US, and one way to do this is to enjoy art from Black creators with your kids. You can do this by having a movie night with your family featuring movies or shows from Black creators. If you prefer family activities that are screentime-free, you could instead sit with your kids and read them books by Black authors or listen to music by Black artists.

Learn About Black History and Culture

Many of us in the US, regardless of our race, have less knowledge than we should about Black history and Black culture in our country. Juneteenth is an excellent opportunity to educate ourselves in this area. You can teach your kids about Juneteenth specifically and the historical events surrounding it. You can also use this day as a time to teach your kids about Black history in general. You can do this at home or check out Nashville’s excellent historical sites and museums like the National Museum of African American Music, Jefferson Street Sound Museum, and Woolworth on 5th.

Volunteer as a Family

Juneteenth is a day when we remember a critical step of progress in our country’s history. You can continue that spirit of progress and growth by giving back in a way that furthers progress toward equity in the Nashville area. There are plenty of ways for adults and kids to volunteer. Check out this list of volunteer opportunities in Nashville, or even come up with your own gestures of kindness for your family to do, like going grocery shopping for items to donate to a local food bank.

Go On a Shopping Spree

Another way to celebrate and contribute to the advancement of Black people in our community is to support Black-owned businesses. Fortunately, there are plenty in Nashville to enjoy, so take your kids on a fun shopping spree. Explore Black-owned shops you haven’t yet visited and grab lunch or dinner at a Black-owned restaurant. This is a great way to support your Black neighbors on this meaningful day while also discovering fantastic local businesses and empowering the local economy and enjoying some quality time with your kids. A directory of Nashville Black-owned businesses can help you get started.

Embracing a Learning Experience and Quality Family Time this Juneteenth

While all of us are glad to have another annual day off, Juneteenth is also so much more. It’s a day to commemorate the sunset of a dark time in our history and a day to reflect on the journey that Black Americans have had, as well as the continued journey toward equity. With the activities above, you can enjoy this day of quality time with your kids while also honoring the powerful history behind the holiday and helping your kids learn and grow.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a nanny who will also help your kids learn and grow, we can help. Contact Tried and True Nannies and Sitters and we’ll help you find a nanny who suits your family’s needs. Remember to ask about our June special – sign up for one of our packages (excluding individual date nights) before June 30th, 2023 to be entered to win a $50 AMC gift card or a $50 gift card to a restaurant of your choice.