Juneteenth 2023: Here’s where to celebrate the holiday around the Triangle this month
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1863, would eventually free millions of enslaved Black people across the United States.
But freedom was not immediate, and enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, would not even know of their freedom until two and a half years later.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when about 2,000 Union soldiers arrived in Galveston to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state were no longer in bondage.
This is the second year Juneteenth has been a federal holiday. Across the Triangle this month there are dozens of ways to celebrate the holiday and its importance.
Here’s a list of events in your area. If we missed any Juneteenth events, send an email to ksjohnson@newsobserver.com for it to be added to the list.
Raleigh
June 14: The Significance of Juneteenth
Where: N.C. Museum of History, 5. E. Edenton St., 7 to 8 p.m.
The program explores the historical legacy of Juneteenth and what it means for all Americans. Dr. Spencer R. Crew, interim director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. is the speaker.
Information and registration for the event can be found at ncmuseumofhistory.org.
June 15: Untangling Our Roots: Experiences with African American Geneology
Where: State Library of North Carolina, 109 E. Jones St., Noon to 1:30 p.m.
The State Library and State Archives of North Carolina have partnered with Capital City Juneteenth for a lunch and learn panel of family history researchers.
More information is available at statelibrary.ncdcr.gov.
June 16: Friday Fish Fry & Juneteenth Joy 2023
Where: Dorothea Dix Park and NC Museum of Art
At Harvey Hill at Dorothea Dix Park (Cranmer Driver), Chef James Guilford, a third-generation pit BBQ cook from Princeville, will start the Juneteenth activities at Dix Park with a fish fry. You can get a fish sandwich, coleslaw and lemonade for $10. The grills heat up at 4 p.m. and plates will be served until they are sold out.
Beginning at 7 p.m. at the NC Museum of Art is a night of gospel music for Juneteenth Joy 2023: A Celebration of Freedom and Gospel Music. Legendary singers and musicians include The Clark Sisters, John P. Kee, Pastor Shirley Caesar, and Charles Jenkins.
Tickets for members and non-members of the Art Museum can be purchased at ncartmuseum.org.
June 17: Juneteenth Family Day at the Park
Where: Dorothea Dix Park, Harvey Hill & All Faiths Chapel, 1 to 6 p.m.
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for a day of music, food, guest speakers, kids’ activities and exhibits at the park to celebrate freedom. The event kicks off with a Canon Salute featuring United States Colored Troops re-enactors.
A full schedule of guests and speakers is at juneteenthraleigh.org.
Durham
June 16: Hayti Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St., Durham, 3 to 9 p.m.
In the Hayti neighborhood, celebrate Juneteenth with live music, a DJ, food trucks, an art walk, and other activities.
June 17: Bull City Juneteenth Parade
Where: N.C. Central University, 170 Fayetteville St., 10 a.m.
The parade features a procession of marching bands and community groups to celebrate the Black culture and history in the area.
Learn more at discoverdurham.com.
June 17: Juneteenth at Stagville
Where: Historic Stagville, 5828 Old Oxford Road, Durham, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Over 900 enslaved people were emancipated at Stagville in 1865. The Stagville State Historic Site is celebrating its annual Juneteenth celebration to remember the formerly enslaved. The celebration features guided tours, a pop-up display about freedom seekers at Stagville and storytelling of love, loss, freedom and family.
Information about the free event can be found at historicsites.nc.gov.
June 17 & 18: The 18th annual Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Golden Belt Campus, 800 Taylor St., Downtown Durham
The celebration spans over two days in the Golden Belt Campus. Festivities include local performers, food and merchandise, a health fair, kid’s activities, and a fashion show.
More information is at tricafoundation.org.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro
June 17: The third annual Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Festival
Where: Hargraves Community Center, 216 N. Roberson St., Chapel Hill, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This year’s festival includes a historic marker dedication for the Hargraves Community Center, which was marked as a sport on North Carolina Civil Rights Trail.
Throughout the day, the stage will welcome various local musicians. Local Black-owned businesses, vendors and food trucks will offer food, drinks and other refreshments. A small business fair and no-profit showcase also features local alumni chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta and Delta Sigma Theta sororities.
An estimated 4,000 people attended last year’s event and a large crowd is expected back this year. You can find more information about parking and information at chapelhillcarrborojuneteenth.com.
Wake Forest
June 16: Community Gathering
Where: Taylor Street Park, Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St., 4 to 6 p.m.
This event kicks off the weekend of celebration for Juneteenth in Wake Forest. Taylor Street Park will host a celebration with giveaways, a sprayground, Jay’s Italian Ice, and more. Toward the end, attendees can go the soon-to-open food hall at 303 E. Roosevelt Ave. to get dinner from different food trucks.
June 17: A Freedom Walk, festival, food, and fun
Where: The Dubois Center, 518 N. Franklin St. and Wake Forest Renaissance Center, 405 S. Brooks St.
11:15 to 11:45 a.m.: The freedom walk begins and ends at the Dubois Center.
Noon to 3:30 p.m.: After the walk, there will be a DJ, food trucks, local vendors, dance groups and other performances. There will be a history of the W.E.B Dubois School in Wake Forest, an abandoned former all-Black elementary school built in 1939, presented by alumni.
4 to 8 p.m.: “An Evening with Eugene Brown” begins at the Wake Forest Renaissance Center. Brown, a motivational speaker and founder of the Big Chair Chess Club, will speak and play chess with local challengers. Limited chess boards are available for attendees to also play with each other.
More information about the town’s events can be found at wakeforestnc.gov.
Apex
June 17: Juneteenth Festival
Where: Downtown Apex, The Depot, 220 N. Salem St., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The town’s Juneteenth Festival returns for another year with live music and entertainment with local groups, vegan and non-vegan food trucks, half-court basketball games, and dozens of local vendors.
The event starts with the raising of the Juneteenth flag and opening remarks from Mayor Jacques Gilbert.
Information about the event and the line-up of performances can be found at apexnc.org.
Cary
June 15: Rhythm & Rhyme: A Celebration of Liberty
Where: The Cary Theatre, 7 p.m.
Enjoy a spoken word and music night at The Cary Theatre to celebrate Juneteenth. Classical singer Brandi Hancock will host the event featuring performances by Christopher “Dasan Ahanu” Massenburg, Debrita Callaway, Genesis Boggs, and Raleigh-Durham group NiiTO.
Tickets for the event at $6 and can be found at thecarytheatre.com.
June 17: Celebrate Freedom
Where: Sertoma Amphitheatre at Bond Park, 801 High House Road, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The town’s Juneteenth event is a day of celebrations, reflections and gathering with a presentation by Dr. Blair Kelly from the Study of the American South, a gospel music performance, storytelling, history discussions and jazz music.
More information about the lineup can be found at carync.gov.
Morrisville
June 10: Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
Where: Cedar Fork Community Center, 1050 Town Hall Drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event features over 40 vendors, a reenactment of African American troops in the Civil War, health and wellness workshops, and kids’ activities. A Juneteenth Walking Tour begins in the Shiloh Community between noon and 2:15 p.m. Participants can take a shuttle to the location.
Vendors include Black-owned businesses and Black farmers and there will be food trucks for The Tasty Turkey Que, Jolly’s Catering and Events, OMG Lemonade and others.
Find more information and a full schedule for the day can be found at townofmorrisville.org.
Fuquay-Varina
June 16 and June 19: M.A.N.iFest Celebration
Where: Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
This two-day event takes a different approach to celebrating Juneteenth as it seeks tocelebrate the contributions of Black Americans in Fuquay-Varina and connect middle and high school students to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Day one of M.A.N.iFest, an acronym for music, art and networking, infuses Hip-Hop and STEM with music, displays, and networking.
The festival concludes on June 19 at the town’s Arts Center at 6 p.m. with a Juneteenth dramatization titled, “Freedom to What?”
More information about the events can be found at fuquay-varina.com/manifest/.
Holly Springs
June 19: “Hidden Figures”
Where: Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., 6:30 p.m.
The town of Holly Springs will show the 2016 biographical drama about three Black women mathematicians, Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson who worked at NASA at the height of the Space Race.
The event is free.
Pittsboro
June 17: Juneteenth Black Arts Festival
Where: Chatham County Fairgrounds, 191 Fairgrounds Road, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Community Organizing for Racial Equity in Pittsboro will host the sixth annual arts festival. It features several performances by local musicians and a lecture series including the Chatham County superintendent of schools.
There will also be free, dancing, a heritage walk and other activities. More information can be found at corenc.org.
Hillsborough
June 17: Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Orange County Public Library, Hillsborough, Noon to 4:30 p.m.
The library will host a cookout, a Black literature book fair, and door prizes. There is also a Black history walking tour and Black-owned business pop-up.
More information can be found at orangecountync.gov.
