Juneteenth is a celebration that commemorates the end of the enslavement of African-American people in the United States.
It marks the day, June 19th, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation (which had been issued on January 1st, 1863) was finally read to enslaved African–Americans in Texas.
It took more than two years for word of freedom to get to enslaved people, and freedom is still a process. Some of the Juneteenth events are calls to action, and all encourage community involvement.
We will list Juneteenth Celebrations in the Triangle, as soon as they’re announced. Following are the celebrations that have been announced for 2023, and we expect many more to be added to this list shortly.
There are so many celebrations on the list that you might want to just see a concise list of events. If so, just jump to the end, where they’re listed by day.
Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration
The NC Juneteenth Celebration takes place on the Golden Belt Campus, 800 Taylor Street, Durham, on Saturday, June 17, and Sunday, June 18, 2023. Enjoy live music, vendors, kids’ activities and more.
Capital City Juneteenth Celebration
Capital City Juneteenth Celebration is a collection of events in Raleigh over several days. Here are some highlights:
- Juneteenth Celebration at NC Museum of History
- Juneteenth Celebration at Dix Park
Dix Park will be hosting an expanded Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 1 to 6 p.m. It will be a free event at Harvey Hill and the Chapel Event Center at Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh.
The celebration will feature live music, children’s activities, vendors, food trucks, and performances for children.
North Carolina Museum of History will present an afternoon of Juneteenth-inspired activities on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 12 to 4 p.m. Celebrate Juneteenth at the NC Museum of History. Meet members of the Battery B Second Regiment, United States Colored Troops (USCT) Light Artillery Reenactors, and discover the legacy of the USCT in the struggle for freedom and citizenship during the American Civil War. This is a free event. 5 E Edenton Street, Raleigh. The NC Museum of History is also presenting a lecture on Juneteenth on June 14.
Party in the Park: Juneteenth Celebration at RTP
Research Triangle Park is hosting Party in the Park: Juneteenth Celebration on Monday, June 19, 2023, from 12 to 2 p.m. It will take place at It will take place at The Experience Center (XPC), 300 Park Offices Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC. The free event includes music, food trucks and lawn games. The first 30 guests get free icees, and books by Black authors will be passed out, for free, while supplies last.
Raleigh Juneteenth Festival
The Raleigh Juneteenth Festival takes place Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Garner Road Community Center, 2235 Garner Road, Raleigh, NC. The free festival includes a step show, fashion show, bounce houses, food trucks, face painting, live performances, open mic, Juneteenth Black Wall Street (100 Black-owned businesses) and more.
Black History Trolley Tour
Celebrate Raleigh’s Black history on a special trolley tour. The tours take place Saturday, June 17th, 2023, at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. The cost is $10. The tours, which leave from Mordecai Historic Park, 1 Mimosa Street, Raleigh, includes historic homes, schools, churches and businesses important to Raleigh’s African American history. Make sure to register, as the tours are subject to selling out.
In addition, there will be Juneteenth Trolley Tours on June 16 and 17, 2023, at 10 a.m., leaving form Pope House Museum, 511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh. The cost is $10 per person.
Bull City Juneteenth Parade
The Bull City Juneteenth Parade takes place Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 10 a.m., on Fayetteville Street on the NCCU Campus in Durham, NC.
Durham County Library
Durham County Library is holding a Juneteenth Celebration at their Main Library on Thursday, June 15, 2023. The free event features music, literature, performance, and more.
Chapel Hill – Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration
The 2nd Annual Chapel Hill – Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration takes place Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Hargraves Community Center, 216 N. Roberson Street, Chapel Hill. This free event features live performances, a Black-owned small business fair, kids’ activities, food trucks, and more.
Juneteenth Celebration in Wake Forest
The Town of Wake Forest is presenting a two-dayJuneteenth celebration on Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17, 2023.
On Friday, there will be a community celebration at Taylor Street Park, 416 N Taylor Street, Wake Forest, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy giveaways, Jay’s Italian Ice and more. The sprayground will be open.
On Saturday, meet at The Dubois Center, 518 N Franklin Street, Wake Forest, for a freedom walk followed by a festival with food, activities, music and more.
Bragtown Juneteenth
The Bragtown Community Association is presenting the Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Sunday, June 18, 2023, from 2 to 7 p.m., at Lakeview Park, 3500 Dearborn Drive, Durham, NC. The celebration includes a kids’ zone, performances, spoken word, food trucks and much more.
Juneteenth Celebration at Orange County Public Library
Orange County Public Library, at 137 W Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC, is hosting a Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 12 to 4:30 p.m. The celebration includes an African-influenced mini cookout, a Black business pop-up market, a Black literature fair, learning, door prizes and more.
Juneteenth Black Arts Festival in Pittsboro
Juneteenth Black Arts Festival takes place Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Chatham County Fairgrounds, 191 Fairgrounds Road, Pittsboro, NC. The free festival features live music by Liquid Pleasure, kids’ activities, a heritage walk, Black Business Expo, lectures, and more entertainment.
Garner Juneteenth Celebration
The Town of Garner is presenting the Garner Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., at Garner Performing Arts Center, 742 W Garner Road, Garner, NC. This free event features gospel music, remarks and the reading of the Town’s Juneteenth proclamation.
Juneteenth in JoCo
Celebrate Juneteenth in JoCo on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 3 p.m.
The celebration will start with a parade, which will begin at The Alumni Center, 1110 Massey Street, Smithfield, NC, and proceed to the Smith-Collins Park, 909 E. Lee Street.
Then, enjoy the celebration and cookout in the park, which also celebrates HBCU Pride and 50 Years of Hip Hop, featuring DJ Ricky C and DJ Sham Rock.
City of Raleigh Juneteenth Open Mic Celebration
On Friday, June 16, 2023, from 8 to 10 p.m., head to Carolina Pines Park, 2305 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh, NC, for a Juneteenth Open Mic Celebration. There will be performances, karaoke, games, activities and food trucks. General admission is $10. For $15, a chair will be provided, and $20 VIP tickets will get you more perks.
For the Culture Crawl
For the Culture Crawl, on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 5 to 8 p.m., is a free event that invites you to explore Black-led art organizations, Black-owned businesses, and the work of Black artists in Raleigh. The crawl features Artspace, at 201 E Davie Street, and CAM Raleigh, 409 W Martin Street.
Manifest Juneteenth in Fuquay-Varina
Manifest Fuquay-Varina is presenting a two-day Juneteenth celebration on June 16 and 19, 2023. The event on June 16 is a free STEM networking event for middle school and high school students, and the event on June 19 is an original ticketed performance. Both events take place at the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, 123 East Vance Street, Fuquay Varina, NC.
Apex Juneteenth Celebration
The Apex Juneteenth Celebration takes place on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at The Depot, 220 N. Salem Street, Apex. It will feature performances, a DJ, half-court basketball, games, family activities, food trucks and more.
Cary’s Juneteenth Celebration
Town of Cary is holding a Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Sertoma Amphitheatre at Bond Park, 801 High House Road, Cary.
Also, the Cary Arts Center will be lit red, yellow and green from June 15 to 19, and there will be a photo booth at Cary Arts Center (dates TBA) and a program TBA at The Cary Theatre.
Oak View County Park
Oak View County Park, at 4028 Carya Drive, Raleigh, has scheduled Juneteenth events for both kids and adults throughout the month of June, 2023. Seeds of Freedom: Juneteenth at Oak View is a walking tour focused on the history of Juneteenth and how the transition from slavery to freedom was experienced by Oak View’s enslaved community. This activity is recommended for 4th grade and up. Kids ages 4 to 8 are invited to Storytime at Oak View: Juneteenth for Mazie. Both of these events take place multiple times. There’s also a Juneteenth StoryWalk and Walking Trail. Learn about all of Oak View County Park’s Juneteenth events.
Mebane’s Juneteenth Freedom Day Community Celebration
The City of Mebane is hosting the Mebane Juneteenth Freedom Day Community Celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Mebane Community Park, 627 W Center Street, Mebane.
The celebration will feature speakers, entertainers, vendors, food and fellowship.
John Chavis Memorial Park Juneteenth Jubilee
Chavis Park, 505 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Raleigh, is hosting Juneteenth Jubilee from June 12 to 16, 2023. The events include a history presentation, dancing, music, fitness and more. Free events.
Pope House Museum
Learn about the Third Ward, one of Raleigh’s historic Black neighborhoods, on these Third Ward Walking Tours that start at Pope House Museum, 511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh. They take place on June 17 and 18, 2023. The tours are free, but registration is required.
In addition, bring the kids to Storytime with the Popes on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 10 to 11 a.m. Storyteller Pat Lambe will weave imagery and songs to tell the story of Black emancipation and determination. If it rains the event will take place in the City of Raleigh Museum.
Mordecai Historic Park
There will be a special event, Explore Juneteenth History, at Mordecai Historic Park, 1 Mimosa Street, Raleigh, on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. This is a free event.
Juneteenth in Hayti Neighborhood
Hayti Heritage Center is holding a Hayti Neighborhood Juneteenth event at WD Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC. It will take place Friday, June 16, 2023, from 3 to 9 p.m., and will include a live concert, DJs, artwalk and food trucks. This free event is for all ages.
Historic Stagville
Stagville State Historic Site, 5828 Old Oxford Highway, Durham, is holding its annual Juneteenth event on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a free event that includes talks and guided tours about emancipation, and a pop-up display about freedom seekers at Stagville.
Ackland Art Museum
Check back soon to see if Ackland Art Museum, on the University of North Carolina campus, at 101 South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, is presenting a Juneteenth celebration. In 2022, the museum hosted special tours, a temporary graffiti/mural artwork, storytimes and more.
Aya Shabu says
Please include in your listing the Juneteenth celebration at the Hayti Heritage Center on 804 Old Fayetteville St. in Durham, NC on Friday, June 18th from 3 -9 pm hosted by the Fayetteville St. Corridor Fellows, e Connected, Village of Wisdom, and Hayti Heritage Center.
N. Feaste says
Thank you for the thorough update.
Vondra Moore says
Please add to the list:
Burlington
Burlington will kick off the Juneteenth celebrations on Friday, June 17 at North Park.
Food, music and games will be available at the third annual event located at 817 Sharpe Road, Burlington. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Mebane
The Mebane Recreation and Parks Department will host a Juneteenth community celebration on Saturday, June 18 at the Mebane Community Park. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., food trucks, vendors, community groups, live entertainment will be set up at the park.
Local judges, church leaders and represented officials will speak throughout the event.
The park is located at 550 W. Center St., Mebane.
Green Level
For the second year, the town of Green Level will host a Juneteenth celebration at the Green Level Municipal Park on Sunday, June 19 at 6 p.m. Festivities will include games, vendors, food, entertainment and a fireworks show at sundown.
The inaugural event welcomes over 1,500 visitors and 30 vendors last year so its likely to see a big turn out once again.
The park is located at 1414 Swann Road, Green Level.
Karen says
please list Smithfield Juneteeth event.