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Collage of four photographs showing colorful rainbow Pride posters at a parade, Caribbean dancers dressed in bright orange traditional clothing, two Black hands intertwined in front of the Africa flag, large display of world flags.
Resource Guide

United in June: Honoring Pride, Freedom & Heritage

From Pride to Juneteenth, Immigrant Heritage to Caribbean roots—June reminds us that kindness, inclusivity, and justice go hand in hand.

By Alyndra (Lynn) Canty

June Is for Us All: Celebrating Identity, Community, and Liberation

June is the month we celebrate:  🌈Pride, ✊🏾Juneteenth, Caribbean Heritage Month, and 🌍Immigrant Heritage Month

We also recognize:

  • Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant Islamic holidays, Eid al-Adha commemorates faith and sacrifice, often involving prayer, community gatherings, and charitable giving.
  • National PTSD Awareness Month, brings attention to post-traumatic stress disorder and the importance of mental health support for individuals affected by trauma, including veterans, survivors of violence, and marginalized communities.

Threads that bind these celebrations are community and shared humanity. These celebrations are vital acts of recognition, reflection, and resilience. 

Pride honors the LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing struggle for equality, visibility, and dignity, while uplifting the beauty and diversity of queer identities and love. It commemorates the Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history, and serves as a powerful reminder that advocacy, inclusion, and joy can coexist. 

Juneteenth, observed on June 19th, marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and is a time to reflect on the enduring legacy of slavery and systemic racism. It’s a celebration of Black freedom, culture, and achievement—while also affirming the work that remains in building a just and equitable society. Together, these commemorations invite us to confront the past, celebrate progress, and recommit to a future where every person is seen, valued, and free.

Celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month and Immigrant Heritage Month alongside Juneteenth and Pride Month creates a powerful, interconnected tapestry of recognition, resilience, and resistance. These observances, while distinct in their origins and focus, all celebrate the strength and contributions of communities that have historically been marginalized, silenced, or excluded—and they uplift the ongoing work toward equity and justice.

In short, these commemorations are not just about looking back—they are about claiming space, honoring truth, building solidarity, and shaping a future where freedom, dignity, and love are not privileges, but guarantees.

Each celebration is also a reminder of the work still to be done: fighting anti-Black racism, ending anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, advocating for immigrant justice, and decolonizing our institutions and narratives.

Without community, there is no liberation... but community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not exist.

— Audre Lorde

Connect in Community at Local Events in Massachusetts

Pride Month Celebrations

  • Framingham Pride OUT on the Block!: Sun, June 1 from 2-6PM at Framingham Memorial (50 Concord St). All ages event with 2PM: PRIDE Flag Raising, 3–6PM: Block Party with food trucks, live entertainment, arts & crafts, storytime, photo booths, vendors, and more! Visit OUT MetroWest for more info.
  • Holliston Pride Celebration: Sun, June 1 from 11am - 3pm at Blaire Square in Holliston. HolliPride will include live music and dance, vendors, Pup Parade, storytelling, arts & crafts, beauty parlor and more. Visit https://hollipride.org/ for more info.
  • Sharon Pride Festival: Sun, June 1 at Veterans' Memorial Park Beach in Sharon. Family-friendly festival featuring a car parade, flag ceremony, live music, and arts activities. Visit lgbtqplussharon.org for event details.
  • Provincetown Pride: From June 6–8, Provincetown’s 8th Annual Pride Celebration will feature a Pride Market, rally at Town Hall, “Sashay to Tea” parade, Queer Comedy Showcase, dance parties, and the annual Feet Over Front Street Pride 5K. Visit Provincetown Business Guild for more info.
  • Greater Lowell PRIDE Festival: Sat, June 7 from 12pm to 4pm at Lowell Heritage State Park. The celebration will feature live entertainment, flag raising, parade, vendor tables, and a dedicated youth area. For more info, visit Greater Lowell Health Alliance.
  • Boston Pride for the People: Boston will host a Pride parade and festival on Sat, June 14 celebrating LGBTQ+ culture, diversity, and inclusion. Visit Boston Pride for the People for event details.
  • 5th Annual Hopkinton Pride Festival: Sat, June 21 from 1-4PM at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. Family-friendly event will include live music, games, activities, freebies, food trucks, and so much more. Visit Hopkinton Freedom Team for more info.
  • Celebrate with Pride 2025 Franklin: Sat, June 21 from 12-4pm at Franklin Town Common: 200 Main St, Franklin. Family-friendly event with food trucks, live music and entertainment, shopping and more. Visit Franklin LGBTQ Alliance for more info.
  • Newburyport Pride Events: Newburyport will offer a series of events throughout June, including an LGBTQ+ Welcoming Service on June 1, a Pride Pawrty on June 1, and the Proud Out Loud Art Exhibit from June 5–28. newburyportpride.com
  • Holyoke Pride: Holyoke's Pride events include a flag-raising on June 2, Queer Prom on June 13, Rainbow Run 5K on June 14, and PrideFest at Veterans Park on June 21. Learn more at Explore Holyoke.
  • Springfield Pride Parade: The 4th Annual Springfield Pride Parade and Block Party will take place on June 7, celebrating love, unity, and diversity in the heart of Massachusetts. More details here.
  • Walpole Pride Celebration: Sat, June 28 from 3-5pm at Walpole Town Common. Be Inclusive's 2nd Annual Pride Celebration! Grab some take out from the area restaurants and join us on Walpole Town Common for music, performances, children's activities and more. Learn more here.

Juneteenth Celebrations

  • Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: On June 19, the MFA offers free admission to Massachusetts residents, featuring performances, art-making activities, and exhibitions like “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson.”
  • Museum of African American History, Boston: The museum will open the “Black Voices of the Revolution” exhibition at 11 a.m. on June 19, inviting visitors to engage with AI-driven historical narratives.
  • Old Sturbridge Village: On June 19, the village will commemorate Juneteenth by exploring the history, resilience, and culture of Black people in New England.
  • Medway Marches: Medway Marches presents Juneteenth 2025 at Medway Community Farm! Don’t miss Medway’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom!
  • Natick Juneteenth Celebration: From 10:30 - 3pm at Natick Center on June 19, celebrate Juneteenth with a reading of Frederick Douglass followed by food, activities and performances.
  • Newton Juneteenth Celebration: Scheduled for June 19 at Hyde Community Center, this event will honor freedom and community through various activities.
  • Walpole Juneteenth Celebration: Be Inclusive, Inc. will host its 6th annual celebration on June 19 from 2:00–5:00 PM at 1010 Main St, featuring speakers, performers, and community activities.
  • Attleboro and Fall River Juneteenth Events: Both cities will hold celebrations on June 21, focusing on exhibits, speakers, performers, and activities that emphasize economic and community empowerment.
  • Tufts University Juneteenth Celebration: On June 18, Tufts will host “Together We Rise: A Community Celebration of Juneteenth” at the Joyce Cummings Center from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
  • Fitchburg Juneteenth Ceremony: Join the Juneteenth Celebration and Ceremony on June 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., honoring freedom, history, and culture. 

Caribbean American Heritage Month Events

Immigrant Heritage Month Events

  • City of Belonging Festival, Boston: Launched on May 21, this month-long festival includes community events centered around the immigrant experience, celebrating and supporting diverse communities across the city.
  • Boston Public Library Art Workshops: Throughout June, the BPL will host six-week intergenerational art workshops inviting participants of all ages to explore and honor immigrant stories and experiences.

Children’s Book Suggestions:

Pride Month / LGBTQ+ Stories

  1. Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love – A joyful story of self-expression, identity, and unconditional love.
  2. When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff – A heartfelt tale about a transgender boy preparing for a new sibling.
  3. Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart – A simple, colorful book explaining the symbolism of the Pride flag.
  4. Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution. by Rob Sanders
    – A child-friendly look at the historic Stonewall Uprising and its legacy.
  5. Pride Puppy! by Robin Stevenson – A playful ABC book set during a Pride parade, inclusive of diverse identities and families.
  6. Rainbow Allies by Nancy Churnin - A true story (from a Natick neighborhood!) of allyship and standing up to anti-LGBTQ hate.

Juneteenth / African American Freedom Stories

  1. Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper – A beautifully illustrated story about a young girl learning the meaning of Juneteenth.
  2. All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson – Told from a child’s perspective, this book captures the emotion of learning about emancipation.
  3. Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan – The inspiring story of activist Opal Lee and her fight to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
  4. Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford
    – While not directly about Juneteenth, it honors a sacred gathering place where enslaved people experienced a moment of freedom.

Caribbean American Heritage

  1. Islandborn by Junot Díaz – A moving story about memory and identity through the eyes of a Dominican girl.
  2. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall – While not specifically Caribbean, it centers a joyful Black boy and is often embraced in Caribbean cultural circles.
  3. Freedom Soup by Tami Charles – A Haitian grandmother teaches her granddaughter about revolution and tradition through cooking.
  4. The Breadfruit Bonanza by Sarah P. Dugal (CaribbeanReads) – A lighthearted tale exploring Caribbean flavors and food traditions.
  5. Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina – A story about intergenerational connection and bilingual culture with Dominican roots.

 Immigrant Heritage Month / Migration Stories

  1. Dreamers by Yuyi Morales – A stunning picture book about a mother and child’s immigration journey from Mexico.
  2. My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits – A Korean girl navigates a new culture while embracing her name and identity.
  3. Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour – A tender refugee story that centers comfort, friendship, and resilience.
  4. A Different Pond by Bao Phi – A Vietnamese father and son bond while fishing early in the morning, reflecting on their immigrant experience.
  5. I’m New Here by Anne Sibley O’Brien – Shares the stories of three immigrant students as they adjust to life in a new country.

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