Juneteenth Weekend » New York Botanical Garden

Join us for hands-on gardening, crafts and exploration throughout the state-of-the-art Edible Academy campus. Enjoy cooking demonstrations featuring special guests and the crops of the African American Garden: The Caribbean Experience.

Gardening Activities

12–5 p.m.
Howell Vegetable Garden

Enjoy drop-in, hands-on activities throughout the gardens of the Edible Academy.

Dig, Plant, and Water
Help us plant and tend the crops in the throughout our garden!

Meet Our Global Gardeners
Meet the Global Gardeners and learn about their foodways—what they are growing in their gardens and the culinary traditions.

Pot up Collard Greens
Start your own garden with the seeds of these mighty greens, which grow ready to harvest and eat at any size. Recipe for growing and cooking included.

wooden sign of a woman and child holding a globe in the forefront and international garden beds in the background

Maker Station

12–5 p.m.
Solar Pavilion

Explore hands-on activity stations in the Solar Pavilion.

Decorate a Harvest Bag
Decorate a harvest bag of your own with colorful garden and vegetable-themed stamps.

Tea Traditions
Mix and measure your own drink using crops from the African American Garden: The Caribbean Experience, such as roselle, lemongrass, and more.

an adult with a white apron and glasses with a child in a graphic t-shirt color in a canvas bag on a yellow and flower designed table

Culinary Demonstrations

12:30, 2, & 3:30 p.m.
Pauline Gillespie Gossett Overlook Pavilion

Ongoing culinary demonstrations are presented by local chefs and culinary educators, featuring seasonal crops from the garden that will inspire chefs of all ages. Recipes are shared following each workshop.

Saturday, June 17

12:30 p.m.: Nicole Taylor, author of “Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations”
2 p.m.: Kristen Loudermilk, Da Bronx Vegan
Recipe: Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens with Chive Cheddar Conrbread
3:30 p.m.: Scott Barton, NYU Steinhardt Professor
Recipe: Moqueca de Camarão

Sunday, June 18

12:30 p.m.: Ora Kemp, Director of Nutrition, New York Common Pantry
Recipe: Crispy Okra Corn Cake with Coconut Curry Sauce and Citrus Herb Gremolata
3:30 p.m.: Yesenia Arrunategui, Culinary Educator, NYBG Edible Academy

Monday, June 19

Henry Obispo, Founder of Born Juice, ReBorn Farms
Recipe: Asopao – Rice and Pigeon Pea Stew with Plantain Dumpling, Cassava
2 p.m.: Marion Williams, Wellness in the Schools
Recipe: Healthy Deconstructed Sweet Potato Pie and Savory Garlic and Oregano Garnet Yam Fries
3:30 p.m.: Yesenia Arrunategui, Culinary Educator, NYBG Edible Academy

Celebrate Juneteenth

Ongoing
Throughout the Edible Academy Campus

Explore Juneteenth in the EAT Lab
Learn more about the crops featured in the African American Garden: The Caribbean Experience and their uses now and throughout history with Black Herbalist Journei Bimwala.

Sharing Stories
Learn more about the history and celebration of Juneteenth through some of our favorite books.

Enjoy Hibiscus Drink
Enjoy a refreshing taste of hibiscus drink.

Tours & Family Fun

1:30 & 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the African American Garden: The Caribbean Experience entrance

NYBG Tour Guides lead tours of the African American Garden: The Caribbean Experience, curated by Dr. Jessica B. Harris.

Entertainment
1 & 3 p.m. Edible Academy Event Lawn

Join special guests Harambee Dance Company for drum and dance performances.The company incorporates the traditional and contemporary to create a new style of African Dance. Their enlightening and thought provoking presentations challenge audiences to expand their perception of dance. These are “moves” that touch the soul, and are designed to build and strengthen a greater understanding of our diverse American cultural heritage.

Entrance of African American Garden: Remembrance & Resilience

Make a Pan African Flag

June 17 & 18
10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden

Learn about the Pan African Flag and its significance made a mini flag from popsicle sticks. Supplies are available on a first-come, first-serve basis

a young person in a pink top creating art with yellow and red stampers

Mertz Library Display

Throughout the month of June, the Mertz Library is featuring highlight items for visitors to read during their visit, including Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson and Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors by Rue Mapp. Come have a look during Library Open Hours.

cover image of the book Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson featuring a portrait of a young child and various people outdoors in nature

NYBG Shop

Throughout the weekend, stop by in person or visit NYBG Shop online for a selection of books from celebrated authors, selected for visitors of all ages.

More Juneteenth Programming at the Garden

The African American Garden in the New York Botanical Garden, filled with vegetation.

Symposium:
African American Garden:
The Caribbean Experience

Saturday, June 17, 2023

a child with a clipboard and pencil taking notes on the purple pansies in front of her

Birds of a Feather

Saturday, May 27, 2023 – Thursday, August 31, 2023

The African American Garden is made possible with support from the Mellon Foundation.

Generous support provided by The Charles E. Culpeper Arts & Culture Program of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.