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THINGS TO DO ON THE ISLAND
The BLVD Juneteenth Golf Tournament
SH Classic’s 160th Juneteenth Celebration & Car Show
Celebrate Juneteenth with a fun day on the greens at Moody Gardens Golf Course, 1700 Sydnor Ln, Galveston, TX, on June 13 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. This shotgun-style tournament benefits Ball High’s Golf Program and features cash prizes, raffles, and bonus giveaways. Entry is $120 per player or free with a 2-night Moody Gardens Hotel stay. Spectators welcome!
Join the fun at this special Juneteenth event on Saturday, June 14 from 1:30–4:30 PM at Stewart Beach, 401 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550. Enjoy classic cars, a live DJ, trophy awards, and beachfront vibes— free for the public!
Hosted in honor of Juneteenth, this family-friendly celebration invites everyone to bring tents, chairs, and coolers. Car show entry is $25. Free and paid parking available.
Juneteenth 160: Freedom, Fireworks & Family
Join us June 19 from 5–9 PM at Menard Park, 2222 28th St, Galveston, TX 77550, for an evening of music, history, and celebration.
Enjoy live performances, fireworks, food trucks, and special tributes—including Galveston’s first Black lifeguard and Miss Juneteenth honors. Free and open to all; bring chairs and blankets!
LET'S EAT WIT H
If you’re craving Southern comfort with a bold twist, Soul 2 Soul is a mustvisit. Owned and operated by Ms. Ouida Cook, who also serves as the head chef, this local gem is all about soulful flavor and warm hospitality. Located at 5316 Broadway Avenue J, Soul 2 Soul is known for its tender fried sauced ribs; crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in fingerlicking flavor, as well as perfectly seasoned chicken wings that keep customers coming back. Open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 10 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM, Soul 2 Soul delivers down-home cooking that truly feeds the soul.
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Uncover the powerful stories woven into Galveston’s past with Juneteenth and Beyond, the island’s first African American-owned and operated guided history tour franchise. Founded by Dr. Araminta Coleman Sorrell — a Washington, D.C. native with a deep appreciation for Galveston’s vibrant cultural legacy — this one-of-a-kind tour celebrates and uplifts the island’s African American heritage through engaging storytelling and visits to culturally rich sites. Based at 2627 Avenue M in Galveston, TX, Juneteenth and Beyond offers an unforgettable journey through the city’s hidden history, led by a team known for their passion, professionalism, and deep-rooted knowledge. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or rediscovering your hometown, this tour is a must.
Makia Golliday, better known as DJ CAYJUYN SPYCE, is bringing flavor to every beat — literally. Her DJ name is a spicy blend of her Creole roots and a lifelong obsession with the Spice Girls (because girl power and gumbo, obviously). While spinning tracks at KTSW 89.9 during her time at Texas State University, she launched her specialty show “The Spyce Rack” — and quickly racked up the title Rookie of the Fall. A 2020 grad with a degree in Mass Communication – Electronic Media, she’s been serving up curated vibes and keeping the energy high ever since.
DiD you always know you wanteD to be a DJ, even as a chilD?
Absolutely not! I was definitely surrounded by music growing up with my Pepaw Mr. Nice and my dad, DJ Bigg Mac. I spent a lot of time in our home studio and fell in love with music early. But honestly, being a DJ wasn’t even on my radar. I thought I was gonna be Beyoncé first and then maybe a crime scene investigator or fashion designer after that!
what inspireD you to start your Journey as a DJ, anD how DiD you break into the music scene?
What really inspired me was being able to make my own money doing something I already loved. My first gig happened by surprise. Back in December 2010, my dad got booked for a 13th birthday party and brought me along since I was 11. He told me to bring some of my stuff, but didn’t tell me I’d be running the show. I ended up DJing the whole party with my pink iPod Nano and iTunes. That’s the day it all started and I became one of Galveston County’s youngest DJs. I later broke into the scene by curating different events and creating my own lane.
how Do you stay creatively motivateD when curating sets or mixing tracks?
I stay motivated by challenging myself and thinking about who’s in the crowd. I love pulling out hidden gems and those songs people forgot they loved. When it comes to mixing, I’m big on transitions with wordplay or mashups. My brain is always like, “Wait… what if this song went into that one?”. I gotta give a shoutout to Amorphous his mashups really gave me and other DJs the confidence to mix outside the box.
have you faceD any challenges as a black woman in the DJ inDustry, anD how have you overcome them?
Unfortunately, yes I have. I’ve had people assume I only know certain types of music, or question if I’m professional enough. The way I move past that is by staying in an open format. I play everything and keep it professional from the first inquiry to the last song. I’ve also learned not to waste energy explaining myself to people who already have their minds made up. I just show up, bring the heat, and let the spyce speak for itself.
CREATIVE
CREATIVE MINDS
what’s one moment in your career so far that maDe you feel most prouD or fulfilleD?
Definitely hosting my “Spin with Spyce” DJ classes for young girls in Galveston. That was a full-circle moment. Some of them were the same age I was when I got started. I didn’t really have anyone back then who looked like me or was a girl close to my age doing what I wanted to do. DJs like Spinderella were super inspiring, but it hit different being able to stand in front of those girls as someone they could really relate to.
if your DJ name haD to be a Dish or a Drink, what woulD it be anD why?
It’s a dessert but I’d be DJ Beignet. Just like CAYJUYN SPYCE, it’s an ode to my Creole roots. Beignets are sweet and just like my sets it leaves you wanting more.
Congratulations Ball High Class of
You’ve made it through the late nights, the deadlines, that shaped your journey. Today, you leave with resilience,
No matter where your next chapter leads - grad school, you’ve already proven you can do hard things. Keep
Alyssa Medina
Angelina Hernandez
Angel Olvera
Madeline Kelly
Dedrick MCCoy
Mar’cayla James
Jayleigh Rutherford
Milton Flores
High & Galveston College, of 2025!
deadlines, the group projects, and the unforgettable moments resilience, memories, and a future full of possibility. school, new careers, big moves, or time to rest - remember Keep pushing, keep dreaming, and never stop learning.
Jordin Prior Price Burnette
Kaylee Zamora
Vilma Santos
Laura Loera
Diego Morales
Klarisa Martinez
Owen Rawls
ISLAND
Juneteenth and the Work That Remains
Galveston reflects on freedom, progress, and the path forward.
On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, declaring that all enslaved people in Texas were free. Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed more than two years prior, it wasn’t until that day that freedom reached the last remaining enslaved Black Americans in the South. That moment birthed Juneteenth—a day of freedom delayed, but not denied.
Galveston, the city where the message finally arrived, stands as a symbol of both injustice and resilience, and where Juneteenth is not just historically, but spiritually and culturally significant to the community. Today it is a national holiday, but in Galveston, it’s deeply personal. Each year, the island comes alive with music, storytelling, prayer breakfasts, youth events, and parades. Families gather in parks, local artists showcase their work, and elders share memories with the next generation. It’s a celebration filled with color, culture, and pride—but it is also grounded in a deeper truth: freedom must be protected, nurtured, and expanded.
Juneteenth today is a national holiday, but in Galveston, it’s deeply personal. Each year, the island comes alive with music, storytelling, prayer breakfasts, youth events, and parades. Families gather in parks, local artists showcase their work, and elders share memories with the next generation. It’s a celebration filled with color, culture, and pride—but it is also grounded in a deeper truth: freedom must be protected, nurtured, and expanded.
Organizations like the Nia Cultural Center are at the heart of that work. Located in the city’s historic downtown, the center is dedicated to preserving African American culture, history, and identity—especially as it relates to Juneteenth. Through year-round programming, youth mentorship, oral history projects, and exhibitions, Nia ensures that the story of Juneteenth is not reduced to a single day, but lived throughout the year. Their work serves as both education and empowerment, reminding the community that heritage is power—and knowing our history is essential to shaping our future.
But the legacy of Juneteenth isn’t just about what happened in 1865—it’s about what
HISTORY
continues to happen today. Many of Galveston’s historically Black neighborhoods are still grappling with the effects of generational inequality. Gentrification has displaced families who’ve lived on the island for decades. Access to affordable housing remains limited. Public education and healthcare still reflect disparities that date back to the very era Juneteenth commemorates.
Even so, Galveston’s Black community continues to rise. There are teachers pushing for culturally inclusive curriculums. Parents organizing mutual aid programs. Creatives documenting the stories of elders. Entrepreneurs opening Black-owned businesses that honor tradition while paving new paths. And young people—curious, confident, connected—are stepping into leadership roles, ready to carry the torch.
Juneteenth in Galveston is both a celebration and a challenge. It challenges us to examine the difference between freedom on paper and freedom in practice. It invites us to look at the systems still in place and ask: What does liberation look like now? What does justice demand of us today?
There is power in remembering. There is also power in reimagining.
This little Island is where freedom was finally proclaimed, and it remains a place where the echoes of that moment continue to inspire reflection, resistance, and renewal. So as we raise our flags, beat our drums, and gather in joy this Juneteenth, let it not only be a time to reflect—but a time to recommit. To equity. To truth. To each other. So as we raise our flags, beat our drums, and gather in joy this Juneteenth, let it not only be a time to reflect—but a time to recommit. To equity. To truth. To each other.
“Juneteenthhasneverbeenacelebrationofvictoryoranacceptanceof thewaythingsare.It’sacelebrationofprogress.It’sanaffirmation that despitethemostpainfulpartsofourhistory,wearestillhere—and we are stillrising.”
– Author Unknown
Facts
Emancipation Gospel
Celebration Concert
Enjoy soul-stirring performances by Pastor Shirley Caesar, The Walls Group, and the Houston Mass Choir as we celebrate 160 years of freedom, faith, and resilience. Tickets start at just $35, and every dollar supports the NIA Cultural Center’s mission to uplift the community through culture, education, and the arts—right here in the birthplace of Juneteenth.
Jun 14 • 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM • 2221 Market St
The BLVD Juneteenth Sidewalk Poetry Session
Join in for an unforgettable night of spoken word, inspiration, and celebration! This uplifting two-hour event will feature some of the most powerful poets from Galveston and Houston, all coming together to honor Black leaders who’ve made a lasting impact. You don’t want to miss this evening filled with poetry, purpose, and powerful voices.
Jun 19 • 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM • Ball St from 26th to 41st
Juneteenth Parade & Picnic
The Juneteenth Parade kicks off at 3 PM and ends at Wright Cuney Park—where the celebration continues with a community picnic!
Everyone’s welcome, and it’s all free. Bring your friends and family and enjoy an afternoon of unity, food, and fun!
Huli Huli Hut- 504 25th street
Laid-back vibes and tropical drinks—Huli Huli Hut in Galveston is your island-style escape with beachy charm and good times all around. Enjoy delicious eats, live music, and a fun, friendly atmosphere.
Hendley Green Park - 2028 Strand
Strand Summer Series: Movie Nights
Enjoy free outdoor movies at dusk, surrounded by community, food, and fun! Grab a bite or a drink from on-site food trucks and local vendors, and bring your own blankets, chairs, and friends. Feel free to BYOB and make it a night to remember!
Redfish Pool Bar - 3788 Seawall Blvd
Where the drinks are cold, the pool is chill, and the Gulf sunset steals the show.
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