Free Day
Juneteenth
Born in Purple
Friday
June 19, 2026
11 am - 4 pm
Throughout the Museum
Free Admission Generously Supported by Linda Cabot and Ed Anderson
The Gardner will honor Juneteenth, the oldest nationally recognized commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, with a free day of performances, conversations, and activities curated in collaboration with SIDE Presents: Born in Purple.
Purple sits at the intersection of the Juneteenth flag’s red and blue, of spirituality and mourning, of Alice Walker’s literary legacy, and of the regal, creative, resilience of Black life. It is a color that holds joy and weight at the same time.
As you enter each space in the Museum, consider the question it asks and the ways in which the answer may lead to connection and a better future for us all.
Program
The Royal Jubilee
12–4 pm, Courtyard
Where is your royal jubilee—a place where you feel loved, seen, welcomed?
Enjoy a live performance by vocalists from Berklee College of Music as they fill the Courtyard with melodies rooted in spiritual tradition and Black musical lineage.
The Grounds
12–4 pm, Jordan Garden
Who do you consider music royalty?
Experience a daylong soundscape curated by DJ Mez Wav that builds a space for ease, joy, and communal stillness.
Knotted in Freedom
12–4 pm, Bertucci Education Studio
What do you wear—literally or figuratively—that reminds you of your freedom?
Led by crochet artist Bejeana, use conch shells and purple-toned yarn to craft a handmade brooch that reflects the weaving as an ancestral practice and the conch as a symbol of water, resistance, and connection.
Royal Reflections
12–4 pm, Living Room & Throughout the Museum
Reflect on a time when you felt your highest self.
Strike a pose in the Living Room for photographer Sam Williams (Nine Acre Photography) or allow him to capture a candid portrait as you explore the Palace.
Artist Bios
How to Reserve Tickets
Advance registration is encouraged for free timed entry tickets for Museum general admission.
Registration opens two weeks before the event for the general public and four weeks in advance for members. Reserve your tickets online by clicking the Reserve Your Tickets button above.
Limited tickets will be available in-person at the Museum’s main entrance, starting at 3 pm the day of the event. Please note that day-of tickets are not guaranteed.
Questions about accessibility? Please visit the Accessibility page or call the box office at 617 278 5156.
Free admission is generously supported by Linda Cabot and Ed Anderson.
Free days are supported in part by the Wallace Minot Leonard Foundation, the Board of Advisors 2022 Fund for Access, and Thomas G. Stemberg Charitable Foundation.
Education and community programs receive support from the Vertex Foundation, the Rowland Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, The Beker Foundation, The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation, and Janet Burke Mann Foundation.
Studio activities are generously sponsored by the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust.
The Neighborhood Salon is supported in part by the Anne Hawley Fund for Programs, the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
The Museum receives operating support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is supported by the state of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts.