A small flag on a stick, held up in a crowdOne fist, one stick, one flag. Hint at the crowd with a row of curved shoulders along the bottom.
A string of small Juneteenth pennantsSix triangles on a sagging line. Each gets a tiny star and a curved line under it.
The date June 19, 1865 lettered on the flagThe date was added to the flag in 2007. White capitals, big enough to read from across a room.
The flag as a diamond kite with a ribbon tailFit the star and arc inside a diamond, then tie red, white and blue bows down the tail.
The flag hanging in a front windowDraw the window frame first, then the flag behind the glass and one edge of curtain.
The flag's arc turned into a real horizon at sunriseThe arc stands for a new horizon. Put a field under the curve and a rising sun where the star sits.
The flag's star and arc fitted inside a heartDraw the heart outline first, then the curve across it, then the star. Trim whatever spills over.
The flag's white five-pointed star on its ownThe star is for Texas, the Lone Star State, and for freedom in all 50 states. Five straight strokes.
The Juneteenth flag beside the Stars and StripesIt keeps the red, white and blue of the United States flag on purpose. Two poles of the same height.
The Juneteenth flag on a pole against a June skyPole in the left third, cloth rippling right. Two folds are enough, and the arc bends with them.
The star and its burst as a round pin badgeA circle, the star, twelve short rays. Small enough for a sticker, so keep the lines thick.
The twelve-ray burst round the starThe burst is a nova, a new star, for a new beginning. Mark twelve points like a clock face and join them.
The whole Juneteenth flag: star, burst and arcRed, white and blue only. A curve splits the sheet, blue above and red below, with a white star in the middle.
Galveston, 1865 14
A calendar page for June with the 19th circledA grid of thirty squares. Ring one in red and let the ring wobble like real pen.
A map of Texas with a star on GalvestonOutline the state, thicken the coast and put one star on it. Write the date beside the star.
A printed notice nailed to a wooden wallThe order is said to have been posted round the town. One sheet, four nails, long shadows of readers.
A quill pen and an inkwell beside a blank orderA feather with a cut tip, a squat bottle and one sheet. Leave the page empty for your own words.
A riverside picnic on the first anniversary, 1866Texas kept the first anniversary on 19 June 1866. Early gatherings were often outdoors near water.
A scroll lettered with 19 June 1865The day General Order No. 3 was issued in Galveston, Texas. Curl both ends and letter the date large.
A timeline with two dates and one long lineThe Emancipation Proclamation is dated 1 January 1863. General Order No. 3 came two and a half years later.
An open chain link with a sunrise behind itDraw six links and leave one open. No people are needed: the open link tells it.
An open order book with two handwritten pagesThe official record is handwritten in a bound book at the National Archives. Ruled lines of looping script.
Best clothes laid out for the dayPeople wore their best clothing to the early celebrations. A hat, a pressed dress and polished shoes on a chair.
Church windows lit at midnight on Freedom's EveOn the eve of 1 January 1863 people gathered at Watch Night services to wait. Gold windows, dark sky.
The entrance to Emancipation Park in HoustonTen acres were bought in 1872 to hold the celebration. A sign with the name, trees and a path beyond.
Galveston Bay with tall ships at anchorUnion troops reached Galveston Bay in June 1865. Masts, a wharf, low roofs and flat water.
The order's first words on aged paperIt begins: The people of Texas are informed. Slant the letters like old handwriting and tear one corner.
The celebration 16
A barbecue grill with smoke curling upBarbecue is the centre of most celebrations. A drum on legs, a lid propped open, smoke in three curls.
A baseball and a worn glove on the grassBaseball was played at early celebrations. The ball rests in the glove's pocket, seams in two curves.
A blues guitar leaning on a porch chairBlues festivals are held for the day. A curved body, six strings and a strap over the chair back.
A choir in robes with open song booksLift Every Voice and Sing is one of the songs of the day. Rows of ovals, open mouths, open books.
A cookout plate with a paper napkin and a forkLook straight down: a round plate, three heaps of food and a folded napkin beside it.
A family reunion photograph in three rowsFamily reunions are part of the day. Place ovals for heads in three rows before you draw one face.
A fishing rod propped on a riverbankEarly celebrations included fishing. A forked stick holds the rod and a float sits in a ring of ripples.
A glass bottle of strawberry soda with a strawStrawberry soda is one of the traditional red drinks. A tall bottle, rising bubbles, a striped straw.
A jug of red punch and a stack of paper cupsA jug with a fat handle, ice as small squares, and the cups leaning a little.
A long table of red food and red drinksRed food and drink are traditional. The red is said to stand for resilience and joy. Tablecloth first.
A park seen from above, dotted with picnic rugsRugs are squares at odd angles, trees are green circles and paths are pale ribbons.
A quilt of red, white and blue squares with one star patchRule a grid, colour the squares in turn, and stitch every edge with short dashes.
A rodeo hat on a fence post, boots belowRodeos have been part of the day since the early celebrations. Hat on the post, boots in the dust.
A slice of red velvet cake on a plateShow the cut side: red layers with white frosting between them and on top.
A street fair stall under a striped awningStreet fairs are part of the modern day. A table, an awning, jars on the counter and bunting above.
Two hands holding a paper to read aloudPublic Emancipation Proclamation readings are a custom. Show the paper and the hands, not a face.
Posters and lettering 14
A bookmark with the date and one small starA tall thin strip. The star goes at the top, the date runs down, a tassel hangs from a punched hole.
A border of red, white and blue with a star in each cornerRule a frame two fingers wide, band it in three colours and leave the middle empty for your picture.
A calendar square for June 19 marked with a starA federal holiday since 2021. One big square, the number in a corner and a star filling the rest.
A classroom door poster with one word on each of twelve raysThe burst has twelve rays, so the class chooses twelve words. Star in the middle, a ray for each.
A poster split by the arc: words above, picture belowThe curve does the layout. Letter in the sky half and draw your scene in the ground half.
A round seal with twelve rays and the words Since 1865Two circles with the words between them, and the star with its rays in the middle.
Emancipation Day across a rising sunAnother name for the day. A half circle on the bottom edge, rays fanning up, the words on the rays.
Freedom Day in ribbon letteringThe day is also called Freedom Day. Draw the ribbon first, then letter along its curves.
Happy Juneteenth in bubble letters for a card frontRound every corner and overlap the letters a little. Keep the fold on the left.
Jubilee Day in tall poster capitalsThe first anniversary in 1866 was called Jubilee Day. Tall letters with thick slab feet.
June plus nineteenth, lettered as a sumThe name joins the two words. Write June, a plus sign, nineteenth, an equals sign and the answer.
The word Free in capitals that rise like a sunriseEach letter is taller than the last. Yellow at the feet shading up to red.
The word Juneteenth in block capitals filled with starsDraw hollow letters right across the sheet, then scatter small white stars inside each one.
The year 1865 in huge numerals with the arc running throughLet the flag's curve pass behind all four numerals. Blue above the line, red below.
How it works
Juneteenth marks 19 June 1865, when an army order in Galveston told Texas that all enslaved people were free. These Juneteenth drawing ideas come from that history, with the date or meaning in the hint where a poster needs one.
Read the full guide
How to draw the Juneteenth flag
Split the sheet with one curved line, blue above and red below. Put a white five-pointed star in the middle and a twelve-pointed burst round it. The date June 19, 1865 came in 2007.
One symbol and a few words
A poster reads best with one clear symbol: the star with the date, or an open chain link against a sunrise. For a food poster keep to red: strawberry soda, red velvet cake, a jug of punch.
Keep to the flag's red, white and blue and a whole class display reads as one piece.
Lettering the order's first words? Copy them from the National Archives page, letter for letter.
Questions and answers
What do the symbols on the Juneteenth flag mean?
The star stands for Texas, the Lone Star State, and for freedom in all 50 states. The burst round it is a nova, a new star, for a new beginning. The arc is a new horizon. The colours are those of the United States flag.
What are easy Juneteenth drawing ideas?
Choose Easy in the list under the button. Nineteen ideas are built from plain shapes, such as the flag's star on its own, a string of pennants, a slice of red velvet cake and a bookmark with the date.
Why is red food eaten on Juneteenth?
Red food and drinks, such as red velvet cake and strawberry soda, are traditional at Juneteenth celebrations. The colour is said to stand for resilience and joy.
Why is it called Juneteenth?
The name joins June and nineteenth, the date of the Galveston order in 1865. The day is also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, and it has been a federal holiday since 2021.