June 24, 2025 CitiParks Announces WAMO Day to Mark End of City’s Juneteenth Celebration Mayor Ed Gainey’s office and CitiParks Office of Special Events announced an upcoming event to mark the end of the city’s Juneteenth celebration. Learn More WAMO Day will be held on Saturday, June 28 at Highland Park’s Fountain Lawn. The free event honors WAMO 107.3’s hosting of the city’s first organized Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 1993. This year, the city is celebrating WAMO Day to honor three decades of cultural leadership and community engagement. The event is aimed at presenting a vibrant celebration of the city’s African American community, highlighting its rich artistic and cultural contributions. WAMO Day will feature performances by Rojoinferno, Graffiti Rue, and grand finale artist BIRD. Visual artist Cue Perry will lead a CommUnity Live Painting session that will offer attendees an interactive art experience throughout the day. Gainey will present the keys to the city to several African American leaders in recognition of their lasting impact and contributions to the city. The event features a full day of entertainment, vendors, and activities, such as: Living Treasures exhibit Reading is Fundamental’s Storymobile Free painting by Beanie Paints Jumpin’ Jumperoo’s Bounce House Food from local vendors and food trucks For more information, visit the city WAMO Day website.
June 17, 2025 WQED Lists 14 Books for Families to Celebrate Juneteenth WQED Kids has released a list of books that families with young children can utilize to spark conversations about Freedom Day’s history and traditions. Learn More Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, is a federal holiday that recognizes the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed enslaved people that they were free. The day occurred two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. WQED’s list, compiled by Tonya Abari, is aimed at educating children about the holiday, but also to lead to conversations between caregivers and their children about Juneteenth. The list is broken down into sections – For Younger Readers (below age 8) and For More Advanced Readers (ages 8 and above). The list includes: For Younger Readers Juneteenth for Mazie (Floyd Cooper) Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise (Lavaille Lavette) Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth (Tonya Abari) The Story of Juneteenth (Dorena Williamson) Juneteenth Is (Natasha Triplett) Juneteenth (Van G. Garrett) They Built Me For Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park (Tonya Ellis Duncan) For More Advanced Readers The Juneteenth Story (Alliah L. Agostini) The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate (Alliah L. Agostini and Chef Taffy Elrod) Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth (Alice Faye Duncan) The History of Juneteenth: A History Book for New Readers (Arlisha Norwood) What is Juneteenth? (Kristi Jewel) A Flag for Juneteenth (Kim Taylor) Juneteenth Jamboree (Carol Boston Weatherford) For the entire list, visit WQED Kids’ website.
June 16, 2025 Juneteenth-Themed Storytime at Frick Environmental Center The Frick Environmental Center will host an event that will feature the reading of empowering children’s stories to celebrate Juneteenth. Learn More Black Power Storytime with BOOM Concepts will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Juneteenth, which is Thursday, June 19, at the Frick Environmental Center, located at 2005 Beechwood Blvd. Artist and entrepreneur DS Kinsel will join Frick Environmental Center Director James A. Brown to read stories to children. The storytime will be followed by a short nature activity led by a PPC naturalist educator. The program is open to families with children of all ages, but is ideal for families with children, ages 3 to 9. Caregivers must accompany their children throughout the duration of the program. Registration is open.
Frick Environmental Center to Host Juneteenth-Themed Storytime The Frick Environmental Center will host an event during which the center’s director and an award-winning artist and entrepreneur will read empowering children’s stories to celebrate Juneteenth. Learn More Black Power Storytime with BOOM Concepts will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Juneteenth, which is Thursday, June 19, at the Frick Environmental Center, located at 2005 Beechwood Blvd. Artist and entrepreneur DS Kinsel will join Frick Environmental Center Director James A. Brown to read stories to children. The storytime will be followed by a short nature activity led by a PPC naturalist educator. The program is open to families with children of all ages, but is ideal for families with children, ages 3 to 9. Caregivers must accompany their children throughout the duration of the program. Registration is open.
June 12, 2025 CitiParks Releases Guide to Summer 2025 Activities in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh has announced the release of its 2025 CitiParks Summer Guide that includes information on everything from events and farmers markets to holiday-related activities. Learn More The CitiParks Summer Guide 2025 features a variety of free activities taking place throughout the city this summer. It is available online and can be found at CitiParks Recreation and Healthy Active Living Centers, farmers markets, concerts, and other locations in Pittsburgh. The online guide provides information on holiday celebrations such as Juneteenth (June 19) and the Fourth of July. It includes information on the city’s parks, pools, and events. The summer guide’s sections include: Farmers markets Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park Roving Art Cart ARTWorks Footraces Concerts Holidays at City-County Building Pistons in the Park Car Cruise Cultural Activities Summer Soul Line Dancing For more information, check out CitiParks’ Summer Guide 2025.
May 27, 2025 Resources for June Observances Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them. Here is a list of resources for June observances: Month-Long Observances June is Caribbean American Heritage Month Caribbean American Heritage Month, National Archives Caribbean American History and Culture, U.S. Department of the Interior Global Diasporas: Contemporary African and Caribbean Migration – Organizations & Resources in Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Library System On the Town: Celebrating Caribbean American Heritage, PBS Caribbean American Heritage Month, Pittsburgh Technical College 19 Books to Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage, Scholastic Anti-Racism Tools, Trying Together Inclusive Language Guidelines, American Psychological Association (APA) June is National Men’s Health Month Men’s Health Month, Men’s Health Month Self-Care for Men: The Essential Guide, Mind Journal Trans Men Health Screening Recommendations, AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Gay and Bisexual Men’s Health Issues, Johns Hopkins Resources for Supporting Physical Activity, Nutrition, Play, and More, Action for Healthy Kids Promoting the Physical Health of Boys and Girls, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services June is National PTSD Awareness Month PTSD: National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Parenting and PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Allegheny County Crisis Response Resources, Allegheny County Department of Human Services Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After a Recent Shooting, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network June is Pride Month Pride Month, Library of Congress Pittsburgh Pride 2025, Pittsburgh Pride Revolution 6 Things LGBTQ Youth Want Allies to Do This Pride, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLESEN) LGBTQ Activism and Contributions, Library of Congress The LGBTQ+ Experience, PBS Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Gender, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Trying Together LGBTQ Resources, Allegheny County Department of Human Services LGBTQ Resource List, GLAAD Being an LGBTQ+ Ally, Human Rights Campaign Research: How to Be a Better Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community, Harvard Business Review Pronoun Guide, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLESEN) LGBTQ Glossary, Johns Hopkins University: Diversity and Inclusion Resources June is Child Vision Awareness Month June is Child Vision Awareness Month, Rendia 6 Ways to Be Proactive About Your Child’s Eye Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine Keep an Eye on Your Child’s Vision, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resources for Parents of Blind and Low-Vision Children, Library of Congress: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled Early Childhood Inclusion, Trying Together Parenting with a Visual Impairment, BBC Parenting Without Sight: What Attorneys and Social Workers Should Know About Blindness, National Federation for the Blind 25+ Children’s Books Featuring Visually Impaired Characters, WonderBaby Weeks of Recognition June 1 – 7 is CPR & AED Awareness Week CPR & AED Awareness Week, American Heart Association CPR Facts and Statistics, American Heart Association How to Perform Child and Baby CPR, American Red Cross June 10 – 16 is National Men’s Health Week 5 Ways to Celebrate Men’s Health Week, National Foundation for Cancer Research How to Support Men for National Men’s Health Week, Better Health The Masculinity Project, Johns Hopkins University Days of Recognition June 5 is World Environment Day World Environment Day, United Nations Sustainable YOUniverse, Pittsburgh Earth Day June 16 is Father’s Day 61 Best Father’s Day Activities That’ll Be Fun for the Whole Family, Good Housekeeping The 8 Best Things Dads Can Do for Themselves in Honor of Father’s Day, Everyday Health Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Caring for the Caregiver, Trying Together When is Father’s Day 2025 – and Why Do We Celebrate It?, Reader’s Digest June 19 is Juneteenth The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth, National Museum of African American History & Culture Juneteenth: The History of a Holiday, The New York Times Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Celebration, Facebook page 5 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth with Your Family, PBS Kids for Parents 20 Educational Resources and Activities for Teaching Juneteenth, Teaching Expertise NMAAHC Kids: Understanding & Celebrating Juneteenth, National Museum of African American History and Culture Children’s Books to Honor Juneteenth and Black History, HarperCollins Publishers Top 10 Children’s Books on Freedom, Bookroo The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth, The Smithsonian Institution How Do You Explain Slavery to Kids?, National Geographic Talking to Your Kids About Racism and Violence, The Child Mind Institute Anti-Racism Resources for Families, Trying Together June 27 is National PTSD Awareness Day PTSD Awareness Day 2025, Veteran Resources on Trauma for Caregivers and Families, Child Welfare Information Gateway Multilingual Trauma Resources, The Child Mind Institute Children’s Books for Coping with Abuse and Trauma, Creating a Family
June 13, 2024 Swissvale Juneteenth Celebration The third annual Swissvale Juneteenth Celebration will feature a variety of activities and live performances when it is held on June 23. Learn More The Juneteenth celebration will take place from noon to 8 p.m. on June 23 at Les Getz Memorial Park in Swissvale. The event will include food trucks, raffles, vendors, a silent auction, a career fair, and appearances by local fraternities and sororities. Musical performances at the event will include: Flow Band The Bill Henry Band Rico Blu
May 31, 2024 2024 Pittsburgh Juneteenth Celebration The 2024 Pittsburgh Juneteenth Celebration will feature music, food, and a chance to learn about history and celebrate freedom. Learn More Juneteenth celebrates the day that slaves in Texas were informed that slavery had been abolished after the Civil War. The actual holiday is on Wednesday, June 19. The three-day celebration will be hosted by Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Celebration and will take place in Market Square and on nearby streets. The celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on June 14 to 16. On Friday, June 14, attendees can take part in the 51 Years of Hip Hop celebration featuring Freeway, Beanie Siegel, and Arrested Development. On Saturday, June 15, Ladies Night will feature Elle Varner, Keke Wyatt, 1990s R&B group Brownstone, and 1970s soul group The Blackbyrds. The closing night – Sunday, June 16 – will feature Kelly Price. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
May 29, 2024 Resources for June Observances Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them. Here is a list of resources for June observances: Month-Long Observances JUNE IS CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH Caribbean American History and Culture, U.S. Department of the Interior Global Diasporas: Contemporary African and Caribbean Migration – Organizations & Resources in Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Library System On the Town: Celebrating Caribbean American Heritage, PBS Caribbean American Heritage Month, Pittsburgh Technical College Top 10 Caribbean American Heritage Month Activities, Twinkl 19 Books to Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage, Scholastic Caribbean American Heritage Month Resource Toolkit, U.S. Department of State Anti-Racism Tools, Trying Together Inclusive Language Guidelines, American Psychological Association (APA) JUNE IS NATIONAL MEN’S HEALTH MONTH 5-Minute Guide to Men’s Mental Health, Mental Health America Self-Care for Men: The Essential Guide, Mind Journal Trans Men Health Screening Recommendations, AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Gay and Bisexual Men’s Health Issues, Johns Hopkins Resources for Supporting Physical Activity, Nutrition, Play, and More, Action for Healthy Kids Promoting the Physical Health of Boys (and Girls), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services JUNE IS NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS MONTH Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) When a Child’s Parent Has PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kids Health Allegheny County Crisis Response Resources, Allegheny County Department of Human Services Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After a Recent Shooting, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH Pittsburgh Pride 2024, Pittsburgh Pride Revolution 6 Things LGBTQ Youth Want Allies to Do This Pride, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLESEN) Sharing Pride Month with Kids: 9 Ways to Celebrate Pride Month, Boys & Girls Clubs of America LGBTQ Activism and Contributions, Library of Congress The LGBTQ+ Experience, PBS Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Gender, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Trying Together LGBTQ Resources, Allegheny County Department of Human Services LGBTQ Resource List, GLAAD Being an LGBTQ+ Ally, Human Rights Campaign Research: How To Be a Better Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community, Harvard Business Review Pronoun Guide, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLESEN) LGBTQ Glossary, Johns Hopkins University: Diversity and Inclusion Resources JUNE IS CHILD VISION AWARENESS MONTH 6 Ways to Be Proactive About Your Child’s Eye Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine Keep an Eye on Your Child’s Vision, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resources for Parents of Blind and Low-Vision Children, Library of Congress: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled Early Childhood Inclusion, Trying Together Parenting with a Visual Impairment, BBC Parenting Without Sight: What Attorneys and Social Workers Should Know About Blindness, National Federation of the Blind How to Get Free Audio Books for the Blind and Visually Impaired, The Braille Institute 25+ Children’s Books Featuring Visually Impaired Characters, WonderBaby Weeks of Recognition JUNE 1 – 7 IS CPR & AED AWARENESS WEEK CPR Facts & Statistics, American Heart Association How to Perform Child and Baby CPR, American Red Cross JUNE 10 – 16 IS NATIONAL MEN’S HEALTH WEEK 5 Ways to Celebrate Men’s Health Week, National Foundation for Cancer Research How to Support Men for National Men’s Health Week, Better Health The Masculinity Project, Johns Hopkins University See additional resources under National Men’s Health Month. Days of Recognition JUNE 5 IS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY World Environment Day, United Nations Sustainable YOUniverse, Pittsburgh Earth Day JUNE 16 IS FATHER’S DAY 53 Best Father’s Day Activities That’ll Be Fun for the Whole Family, Good Housekeeping The 8 Best Things Dads Can Do for Themselves in Honor of Father’s Day, Everyday Health Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Caring for the Caregiver, Trying Together What Father’s Day Means to a Transgender Dad, USA Today When is Father’s Day 2024 – and Why Do We Celebrate It?, Reader’s Digest JUNE 19 IS JUNETEENTH Juneteenth: The History of a Holiday, The New York Times Pittsburgh Juneteenth Celebration, Visit Pittsburgh 5 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth with Your Family, PBS Kids for Parents 20 Educational Resources and Activities for Teaching Juneteenth, Teaching Expertise NMAAHC Kids: Understanding & Celebrating Juneteenth, National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) Children’s Books to Honor Juneteenth and Black History, Harper Collins Publishers Top 10 Children’s Books on Freedom, Bookroo The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth, The Smithsonian Institution How Do You Explain Slavery to Kids?, National Geographic Talking to Kids About Racism and Violence, The Child Mind Institute Anti-Racism Resources for Families, Trying Together JUNE 27 IS NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS DAY What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?, National Institute of Mental Health Resources on Trauma for Caregivers and Families, Child Welfare Information Gateway Multilingual Trauma Resources, The Child Mind Institute Children’s Books for Coping with Abuse and Trauma, Creating a Family See additional resources under National PTSD Awareness Month.
May 28, 2024 East End Community Celebrates Juneteenth The Trade Institute of Pittsburgh and other community partners – including Trying Together – will host a Pre-Juneteenth Festival on June 14 in Homewood. Learn More Juneteenth Pittsburgh 2024 will include free food and activities, including live entertainment and a kid’s zone. DJ Hoodie Tre will spin tunes and visitors can take part in a group fitness class. Special guest speakers include Leon Ford, Jason Rivers, and Rev. Cornell Jones. The event will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 14 at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA.
