AMHERST — Black military service, music, education, artistry, entrepreneurship and civil rights will be part of the fifth annual Ancestral Bridges’ Juneteenth Legacy Celebration on Saturday.

“The Rhythm of Community” is the theme of the event that begins at 10:30 a.m. with an open house at Ancestral Bridges, 29A Cottage St., where visitors will have a chance to tour exhibits and engage with living descendants of Amherst’s Black and Afro-Indigenous communities.

Anika Lopes, founder of Ancestral Bridges, said the rhythm of the community means “reciprocity and universal connection through the transformative force of music and spoken word.”

At 11:30 a.m., a revitalized Civil War-era reenactment takes place at the historic West Cemetery, located between Triangle and North Pleasant streets. There, participants will pay tribute to the Black residents of Amherst who served with the Massachusetts 54th Regiment and the Massachusetts 5th Cavalry, recognizing the role they played in Juneteenth by delivering the message of emancipation to those in Galveston, Texas.

A poetry and lunch then takes place at the Emily Dickinson Museum, 280 Main St., at 12:30 p.m., followed by a tribute to the jazz roots of Amherst at UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. That will recognize Gil Roberts, an internationally acclaimed 20th century banjo player who was born and lived in Amherst.

The music performances, Lopes said, should set the stage for those who may be spending the evening in town, whether at a restaurant, performance venue or theater. Each stop will have family-friendly activities led by the children’s librarians at the Jones Library.

No tickets are required and all events are free, with transportation available for those with limited mobility and a pickup spot at the Amherst Regional High School at 10 a.m.

The Juneteenth celebration continues with a special service at historic Hope Church on Sunday at 10 a.m.

In case of inclement weather, some of the events may move indoors.

Juneteenth Jubilee

Also in Amherst on Juneteenth itself, June 19, the Black Business Association of Amherst Area, in collaboration with Sankofa Gumbo, will have a family-friendly, free public event to mark the 16th annual Juneteenth Jubilee.

“Juneteenth Get Free: A Power Boost for the Soul” runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Lane Parish Center at St. Brigid’s Church, 43 North Prospect St., with doors opening at 4:30 p.m.

The event will feature live musical performances, poetry, dance, a vendor marketplace, educational tabling by community partners, a keynote speaker, kids activities, the annual youth excellence award, a book signing session by local authors and Black cultural cuisine from Henryne Catering and African Bowl restaurant.

“This Juneteenth marking the historic moment on June 19, 1865, when freedom was made a reality beyond rich white men, we are gathering in a power boost to the soul,” Amilcar Shabazz, founder and president of the Sankofa Gumboa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and sharing African American heritage and culture, said in a statement. “Our whole purpose is to feel the vibration of what it means to get free.”

BBAAA President Pat Ononibaku noted the Amherst Cultural Council is supporting the program and that other sponsors and donors “ensure we have an exciting, meaningful and memorable community celebration.”

Holyoke celebration

Afro-Caribbean Heritage and Juneteenth is being celebrated through the arts in Holyoke Friday and Saturday.

Organizers Dr. Gloria Caballero Roca and Dr. Ivor Miller are presenting the second edition of the Juneteenth celebration, honoring Afro-Puerto Rican and Afro-Cuban heritage through music, dance and community.

Headlining the celebration are Brendaliz Cepeda and Bomba de Aquí, both from Holyoke and keepers of the rich Puerto Rican Bomba tradition; Maestro Lazaro Galarraga, a choreographer, percussionist and lead singer from Los Angeles, known globally for his mastery of Afro-Cuban music; and Danys “La Mora” Pérez and her acclaimed dance company, Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Dance Ensemble, bringing the spirit of the Yoruba legacy from New York City.

On Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m. both days, the celebration kicks off at Lyman Park, 498 Dwight St., with free drumming and dance workshops for all ages and skill levels. Then at 6 p.m., free live performances will happen at Holyoke Media Center, 1 Court Plaza, showcasing the Afro-Caribbean culture through rhythm and movement.