Get Ready For the Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas

Are you ready? The annual Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas is back! Juneteenth is a holiday marking the end of chattel slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read to the last group of enslaved people in Texas. As a result, Juneteenth is honored with the veneration of our ancestors, prayer, African drumming, and dance. The celebration of Juneteenth is a recognition of the endurance of the African spirit over the cruelty of chattel slavery.

Above all, the Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas' purpose is to "share the history of chattel slavery in the USA and to commemorate its historical ending." This year will mark the 25 annual Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas celebration. The event will run from June 19th to June 19th, 2022. This three-day-long event will happen in the heart of Plaza Midwood for the entire community to celebrate. Community members can come out to celebrate, learn, and honor the history of Juneteenth. Most importantly, take this time to celebrate and surround yourself with loved ones.

For more information on the celebration, you can visit their website.

It's that time of year again! Juneteenth is almost here, how will you be celebrating? The holiday is the celebration of the end of the enslavement of African Americans in the United States. Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19 and marks the day in 1865 when the Emancipation Proclamation was read to the last set of slaves in Texas. The holiday is the longest-running African American holiday.

Juneteenth is a time for those to honor and celebrate freedom and the fight that still continues to this day. Many Juneteenth celebrations are calls to action and encourage community involvement. This year, Juneteenth celebrations will be taking place all across the country, including right here in Charlotte. Charlotte On the Cheap has a list of multiple Juneteenth celebrations the whole family can participate in. Check out these Juneteenth celebrations happening across Charlotte this holiday season.

The 3rd annual Charlotte Juneteenth Celebration is a 3-day celebration by SESA University in collaboration and More Color Inc. Happening June 17th - June 19th at 619 Anderson St. There will be vendors, live music, food trucks, art, fashion, and more!

Blumenthal Performing Arts' Juneteenth Jam is your place for all things music. The event will be June 16th to June 18th at NASCAR Plaza and Victoria Yards. 

This year, a new Queen City Juneteenth Parade will take place right here in Charlotte. Monday, June 20th at 10:00 a.m. at Central Piedmont Community College’s Cato Campus will kick start the first annual parade celebration. 

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture presents Juneteenth events every year. There will be an Art After Dark event happening Friday, June 17th, 2022, from 6 to 10 p.m for those 21+. There will also be a free  Juneteenth Celebration on Sunday, June 19th, 2022 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. This event will feature hands-on art experiences, conversations, and a live performance by Quentin Talley and The Soul Providers. 

This year's North Carolina Juneteenth Festival is themed “Educating, Empowering, Entertaining.” It will take place Saturday, June 18th, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center. There will be giveaways, vendors, kids activities, and more for everyone to enjoy. 

The annual Belmont Juneteenth Celebration is back in person after a two year virtual break. It will take place at Belmont’s Stowe park on June 18th, 2022, from 2 to 9:30 p.m.

A Juneteenth Parade will take place Saturday, June 18th, 2022, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Lineup will be on Crowell Street, next to Barber Scotia College. The parade will end at Caldwell Park. On June 25th, 2022, the Concord-Cabarrus Juneteenth Celebration will take place at Caldwell Park, 362 George Street SW, Concord, from 11 am. to 3 p.m.

The Town of Davidson Juneteenth Celebration will take place on Saturday, June 18th, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ada Jenkins Center. This free event will include historical dialogues, a keynote address, music, dancing, shopping, food trucks, face painting, games, a bounce house and a misting station. The first 300 people to check in at the welcome tent will receive a free lunch.

Visit the Salisbury Juneteenth Celebration Saturday, June 18th, 2022, from 12 to 5 p.m., at the Bell Tower Green. It will include music, children’s activities, vendors and more. 

The Juneteenth Youth Experience gives the spotlight to kids and teens, with a youth vendor market and youth entertainers. This is a free event that will take place at Romare Bearden Park. The event will take place n Sunday, June 19th, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The first Juneteenth celebration in Indian Trail is happening this year on Friday, June 17th, 2022, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Crossing Paths Park. The free family event includes spoken word performances, a community panel discussion, African dance and drumming, a DJ, food trucks, vendors, giveaways, arts and crafts, and a bounce house.

The 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration in Monroe is happening on Saturday, June 18th, 2022, from 3 to 7 p.m., at Belk Tonowanda Park.