SSAAM announces Juneteenth 2025: Stories of Freedom

The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM), Central New Jersey’s only museum sharing the history of African Americans in our region since the trans-Atlantic Slave trade, will hold its fourth annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 21, from 12 pm to 4 pm (rain or shine). 

Event Highlights: 

• Location: National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church and historic Reasoner/True House in Skillman, NJ 
• Features: Live music, spoken word and theatrical performances, drum circle, local artisans, storytelling workshops and museum activities for all ages, and delicious cuisine 

Featured Performances, Activities, and Exhibitions: 

• The SSAAM Heritage Singers and Band 
• Keith Spencer, Vocalist & Storyteller 
• Luna Stage’s The Ground On Which We Stand Theatrical Performance ● Mr. Boom Boom: Drum Circle for All Ages 
• Beverly Mills & Elaine Buck, Authors & SSAAM Founders 
• Featured Exhibition: “The Head that Wears the Crown” – Explore the past, present, and future of African American women’s headwear. Featuring selections from SSAAM's museum collection and photo portraits of community members across generations modeling early- to late-20th century church hats. 
• Guided tours of Mt. Zion AME Church and SSAAM’s Heritage Garden ● Plus … 

○ Spoken Word Performances 

○ Read-Aloud Story Corner 

○ Museum Scavenger Hunts 

○ Launch of SSAAM’s Little Free Library of Banned Books 

○ “Story Booth” to record memories and reflections 

○ And more!

Join the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum for a day steeped in history and community connection. Our family-friendly Juneteenth celebration invites visitors to feel the full range of emotions in our liberation stories, from jubilation to sorrow, from defiance to hope. Freedom has always been hard won. We invite you to answer its call with us. 

SSAAM creates community programming to educate and inspire. Our event ticket prices, inclusive of food, reflect our commitment to accessibility. If you have the capacity to make an additional donation, or if you work for an employer who may be interested in sponsoring our event, we welcome your generous support! At a moment when our federal funding opportunities are in jeopardy, we rely on the continued investment of our local community. 

Thank you to our event sponsor, the Princeton University Art Museum, for making this event possible. 

For more information about SSAAM’s Juneteenth celebration and to book tickets, donate, sponsor, or volunteer, please visit www.ssaamuseum.org/juneteenth-2025.