[Celebrating Juneteenth] Meaningful Ways To Celebrate Juneteenth In The Triangle

This is the sixth of our six-part series ‘Celebrating Juneteenth’ – June 19th is Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. It is also known as African American Independence Day or Freedom Day. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration will be not be held in 2020 but will return on June 19, 2021, from 1 pm – 10 pm in downtown Durham. The Celebration is always free and open to the public.

Today is Juneteenth! ‘Celebrating Juneteenth‘ – Throughout the weekend, there will be events across the Triangle to celebrate this national day of observance.  Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas to ensure that all enslaved people be freed, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Official Juneteenth Celebration Food Truck Rodeo 

Celebrating Juneteenth! Join us from 12 – 2 pm for food, music, census, voter registration, giveaways, and more!  Organized by k97.5’s Brian Dawson, in conjunction with our CEO/Publisher Phyllis Coley (NC State Juneteenth Director), the Official Juneteenth Celebration Food Truck Rodeo will be in the Best Buy (next to Old Navy) parking lot located at 7001 Fayetteville Road, Durham. Participating: Oak City Fish & Chips, Lee’s Kitchen, Favor Desserts, Palm Treez Smoothie; music by DJ Grant; A. Philip Randolph Institute of NC (voter registration); NC Counts (census); and Spectacular Magazine.

Spectacular Magazine, presenter of the official NC Juneteenth Celebration as granted by the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, will not host the festival this year that for the past 16 years has been held downtown Durham, due to the pandemic. 

March to Freedom

The March For Freedom is a peaceful protest that is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. at the Wake County Courthouse. N.C. Born, which has organized several protests in downtown Raleigh, also has a protest set for Friday. Details to be announced at twitter.com/NCBORN_.

Juneteenth Open Air Market

The Other America Movement is presenting the Juneteenth Celebration Open Air Market. This will be a day of peace, unity, and reflection, celebrating black independence and excellence. Enjoy vendors, music, food, and drink.

Town of Carrboro Juneteenth Program

The Town of Carrboro is presenting a  Juneteenth program, available on Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department’sYouTube channel. Current and former African American elected officials of Orange County have come together to share a Resolution in Recognition of 400 Years of the African American Story.  This resolution will be read by the elected officials, who will then recognize past and present African American elected officials in Orange County.  Following the resolution and recognition, Dr. Freddie Parker, Professor Emeritus of History at North Carolina Central University, will give a presentation on the history of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth Concert — Digital Block Party

Durham’s Beyu Caffe is presenting a Juneteenth Concert Digital Block Party at 6 p.m., a free live stream to support local artists and help fight food insecurity in Durham. All proceeds will go to the Feed Durm Fund. 

Black Women Lead

Black Women Lead will feature a conversation with Black women in public service, titled “Voting in the 20s: The 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment,” including Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama, and other North Carolina elected officials. Hosted by the African American Caucus of the Wake County Democratic Party, in conjunction with the Southern Wake Democrats. mobilize.us/wakedems/event/276376/

Soul Food II

Soul Food II event at Roberts Park, 1300 E. Martin St. Raleigh from 3 to 7 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, a bounce house, basketball games, kickball, a DJ and a scavenger hunt.

Juneteenth Soul Food Zoom Celebration

Celebrating Juneteenth! Enjoy a Soul Food dinner and Zoom History & Cultural Presentations from members of the KW United Family! They will be handing out Food Plates from their main office, and celebrating together in the parking lot and over Zoom! Food will be individually boxed. Feel free to bring family, friends, your own food, drinks, and anything else!

#TheBounceBackRDU

#TheBounceBackRDU is a virtual storytelling event at 7 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube, featuring eight African Americans sharing “stories about a time they fell down but didn’t stay down — and they bounced back.” Following the pre-recorded series, there will be a post-show Q&A with the storytellers. Go to https://youtu.be/fRwB45FwHNE or facebook.com/authoralexusrhone.

Juneteenth Festival and Community Cookout

Chris & Ray’s Tasty Cuisine is hosting a Juneteenth Festival and Community Cookouton Saturday, June 20th, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Spring Forest Road Park, 4203 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh.

Juneteenth Census Car Parade

The Juneteenth Census Car Parade lines up at 10:30 a.m. and starts at 11 a.m. at the Durham Public Health Parking Lot, 414 E. Main St. in Durham with free masks, census swag, ice cream and voting information. The parade will go through East Durham, McDougald Terrace and Fayetteville Street before ending back at the starting point. Participants are asked to sign up at https://bit.ly/durhamcountsparade, make posters and decorate vehicles at home.

Juneteenth Drive-Thru Freedom Celebration

The Juneteenth Drive-Thru Freedom Celebration is at 10:30 a.m. at Washington Elementary School, 1000 Fayetteville St., Raleigh. The event also is to get people counted for the 2020 Census. The parade will last about an hour and a half and end at Jamaica Jerk Masters, 1909, Poole Road, Raleigh. Car participants need to register at http://bit.ly/JuneteenthRaleighParade.