Las Cruces to Celebrate Juneteenth with Sixth Annual Jazz Arts Festival

Presented through a partnership among Las Cruces Museums, New Mexico Music Commissioner Derrick Lee, City of Las Cruces departments, Visit Las Cruces, local businesses and community organizations, the festival commemorates Juneteenth while highlighting the contributions of Black artists, musicians and historical figures.

Source: City of Las Cruces
Photos: Courtesy
Cover Art By Daymeon Rembert

Las Cruces will celebrate Juneteenth with five days of music, history, art and community events as the Sixth Annual New Mexico Juneteenth Jazz Arts Festival returns Wednesday, June 17, through Sunday, June 21.

Presented through a partnership among Las Cruces Museums, New Mexico Music Commissioner Derrick Lee, City of Las Cruces departments, Visit Las Cruces, local businesses and community organizations, the festival commemorates Juneteenth while highlighting the contributions of Black artists, musicians and historical figures.

Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States and commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved people of their freedom more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday became a federal holiday in 2021.

Festival events are scheduled throughout Las Cruces and at New Mexico State University, featuring jazz performances, educational programs, art exhibitions and community gatherings.

Wednesday, June 17

• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Roots, Recipes & Remembrance: Soul Food Demonstration & Lunch
  Doña Ana Room, Corbett Center, 3rd Floor, NMSU
• 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) — Mesilla Valley Big Band with headliner Billy Townes at 8 p.m.
  Rio Grande Theatre

Thursday, June 18

• 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) — Anthony Guerrero Quartet with headliner Colin McAlister’s Latin Jazz Project at 8 p.m.
  Rio Grande Theatre

Friday, June 19 — Juneteenth

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Black Business Highlight
  Black Programs Office, Corbett Center, 3rd Floor, NMSU
• Noon to 1:15 p.m. — Lunch & Learn: The Power of the Black Dollar
  Zuhl Library, 3rd Floor, NMSU
• 1 p.m. — Desirae Price
  Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery
• 3 p.m. — Robert Ojinaga Quartet
  Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery
• 5 p.m. — Juneteenth Jazz Procession
  Begins at Pioneer Women’s Park, 500 W. Las Cruces Ave., and proceeds to the Rio Grande Theatre.
• 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) — Color Quorum Concert
  Rio Grande Theatre
• 8 p.m. — After-Hours Jazz Jam featuring the Lush Life Quintet
  Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery

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Saturday, June 20

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Juneteenth Celebration
  Branigan Cultural Center
  Features a Buffalo Soldier presentation by Daymeon Rembert and a performance by the Mark Fowler Group.
• 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Black Artist Expo
  Thomas Branigan Memorial Library
• 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Juneteenth 2026 Freedom Banquet
  Las Cruces Convention Center
  Ticketed event; additional information is available at NAACPDAC.org.
• 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.) — Artha Meadors
  Rio Grande Theatre

Tia Fuller (Left), Artha Meadors (Right)

Sunday, June 21

• 2 p.m. (doors open at noon) — David Rodríguez & Havana Quintet
  Rio Grande Theatre
• 7 p.m. — Make Music Day featuring renowned saxophonist Tia Fuller
  Young Park
• Food trucks will be available. The event will also feature an invocation by Rev. Dr. Joseph Dunn.

Additional festival information and updates are available at NewMexicoJuneteenthJazzArtsFestival.org and LasCruces.gov/Juneteenth.