By Nicholas Ibarra | OBSERVER Staff Writer

All listed events, and more, can be viewed online on The OBSERVER’s community events calendar at SacObserver.com. Be sure to submit your events two weeks in advance to have the chance to be featured on the list.

  1. 2024 Legacy Hall of Fame Gala – 6-9 p.m. Monday, June 10, at Sheraton Grand. This event honors outstanding community leaders Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown and Danny Glover, who have fought tirelessly to advance civil rights. This year, the signature program will fund local unity capacity-building, youth leadership programs and NextGen Leadership programs and initiatives. Tickets from $400.
  2. Janet Jackson: Together Again – 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at Golden 1 Center. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the legendary performer with opener Nelly. Tickets from $25.
  3. Juneteenth Reception – 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, at the California State Library Fragrance Garden. Join Sacramento’s 21st Juneteenth annual celebration reception. Featuring a tribute to chef Richard Pannell, the founding chef of the Sacramento Juneteenth Black Chefs Collaborative, and Community Soldier Awards for Shonna McDaniels, founder and curator of the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum; and Pastor Mark Meeks of City Church of Sacramento in Oak Park. Free, but attendees must register online.
  4. Words of Liberation: The Exploration of Blackness through Poetry – 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the California State Library. Kim McMillon, the editor of “Black Fire – This Time,” moderates a conversation seeking to clear the cloudy lenses and outdated images of Blackness that Black women have had to navigate. Robin Coste Lewis, poet laureate of Los Angeles (2017-2021), and Devorah Major, poet laureate of San Francisco (2002-2006), discuss how their poetry has used words of liberation to empower and heal, pinpointing the reality of Black women’s lives; how the power of their poetry can generate change; and how it acknowledges a history of Blackness that needs to be celebrated and told. Free and open to the public.
  5. Oak Park Speaker Series Featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones – 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Guild Theater. The series welcomes New York Times bestselling author Nikole Hannah-Jones to discuss her book “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story.” Get ready to be inspired and enlightened by her powerful insights and thought-provoking ideas. Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this engaging conversation, which also includes Professor Maisha Winn, chancellor’s leadership professor and co-director of Transformative Justice in Education Center, and OBSERVER President/Publisher Larry Lee. Tickets from $25.
  6. TOPDOG/UNDERDOG – 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, June 7-30, at Celebration Arts, 2727 B St. Written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Melinda Wilson Ramey, this darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity, tells the story of two brothers, Lincoln and Booth, who are haunted by the past and their obsession with the street con game three-card monte. The brothers come to learn the true nature of their history. The play received a Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2002. Tickets from $15.
  7. CSU Juneteenth Symposium – Thursday and Friday, June 13-14, at Sacramento State in the University Union, Cottonwood Sweet. Join an online watch party for the systemwide symposium hosted by Sac State. This two-day symposium showcases African American/Black history and achievement, fosters intercultural dialogue and advances sustainable antiracism efforts, and features a stellar line of scholars and history makers, including renowned figures such as Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Dr. Yaba Blay. They will explore topics such as how to improve the academic outcomes and professional growth of Black students, staff and faculty. Free and open to the public.
  8. Concerts in the Park: Yelly – 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Cesar Chavez Plaza. Sliding into the weekend like a smooth jam. Join Concerts in the Park for their R&B night with Yelly. She will be joined by The Philharmonik, Yumz Awkword, Jakhari Smight and EDDY. Free and open to the public.
  9. 2nd Annual City of West Sacramento Juneteenth Celebration – 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Bridgeway Lake Community Park, 3650 Southport Parkway. This family event will be filled with food, spoken-word poetry, community resources, art, music, free activities for kids, free raffle prizes, $10 food truck vouchers for the first 200 attendees and a free ride to the event with Via Rideshare Code: juneteenthwestsac. Free and open to the public.
  10. Sacramento Juneteenth Festival – Gospel Under the Stars Concert – 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 14, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at William Land Park. This year’s festival hosts the Friday night Gospel Under the Stars concert, Juneteenth parade, arts/educational theater, health/wellness row, two stages of live entertainment, fashion show, Juneteenth talent show, food/ware vendors and much more. Come out for a night of performances by Sacramento’s best Gospel artists. Free and open to the public.
  11. Crawdad Festival 2024 – 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16, at Cal Expo. This festival unites Northern California communities over the Father’s Day weekend, offering a diverse, multicultural, family-oriented outdoor event deeply rooted in culture. Immerse yourself in a crawfish extravaganza, featuring thousands of pounds of crawfish from various stations and a delectable taste of Cajun-inspired dishes like alligator, frog legs, étouffée, gumbo, jambalaya and much more. Live entertainment includes zydeco, Cajun, blues, R&B, country and Louisiana-based rock ’n’ roll, featuring special performances by well-known recording artists such as Con Funk Shun. Tickets from $20.
  12. Juneteenth Elk Grove – 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at the Old Town Plaza, 9615 Railroad St. The event will feature educational workshops discussing the history and importance of Juneteenth, live music, local vendors of food and goods, and various entertainment. Tickets from $10.
  13. JUGLIFE Celebrity Softball Game – 4 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Sutter Health Park. Three time NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist JaVale McGee of the Sacramento Kings hosts his annual event. As the co-founder of JUGLIFE, McGee promotes water as the foundation of a healthy lifestyle while also building wells around the world in areas that lack access to clean water. Proceeds from the game will help fund interactive water education tours at public schools, fitness pop-ups and other events to help raise awareness of the importance of water. Previous players include Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Marshawn Lynch, Chris Paul, Matt Barnes, Odell Beckham and more. Tickets from $27.
  14. St. HOPE Juneteenth Block Party – 4-9 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Esther’s Park, 3408 Third Ave. The 40 Acres Art and Cultural Center in Oak Park is a cornerstone in Sacramento and perfect location to celebrate the nationally celebrated Juneteenth holiday. Come on out as they shut down the streets around 40 Acres for a neighborhood block party. Headlining this year’s event is the all-female R&B band from Los Angeles, Klymaxx, and more live music from saxophonist Sean Raiford and the Tina Turner Review. Additional entertainment includes VI916 FAM Youth Dance, Studio T, Sacramento Kings mascot Slamson, Capoeira Angola, Brazilian drumming, gospel choirs and praise teams, a special kids zone, health pop-ups, Black-owned wine and beer garden, a domino and spade tournament, 102.5 FM DJs and more. Free and open to the public.
  15. V101 Summer Jam ’24: TLC, Ginuwine, Sisqo, Color Me Badd & Candyman – 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln. This insane lineup will feature performances from legendary R&B artists such as TLC, Ginuwine, Sisqo, Color Me Badd and Candyman. Tickets from $75. 
  16. Juneteenth Celebration: Rising Up Together – 2-4 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at the Center for Spiritual Awareness, 1275 Starboard Dr., West Sacramento. Music, spoken word, information, a Black history gallery, vendors, a community feast and more. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Free and open to the public.