Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration Is Back! Coming To Downtown Durham June 19th

Durham, NC – After a year off due to the pandemic, the 16th Annual North Carolina Juneteenth Celebration is back and will be held on Saturday, June 19th on E. Main Street in downtown Durham. Organized by Spectacular Magazine, this fun-filled, educational, and uplifting event celebrating the ending of slavery in the U.S. kicks off with the official Opening Ceremony, which includes dancers, songs, prayer, pouring of the libation, and presentations on the origin and significance of Juneteenth. Free and open to all, the 16th Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration includes activities geared toward family participation, community unification, and good old-fashioned fun!

At the first Juneteenth held on June 19, 1865, food was abundant because everyone prepared a special dish. Meats such as lamb, pork, and beef which were not available every day were brought to this special occasion. A true Juneteenth celebration left visitors well satisfied and with enough conversation to last until the next. The 16th annual NC Juneteenth Celebration will be no different. The best Food Trucks in the area and beyond will offer a variety of food choices.

Vendors sell an array of African and African-American clothing, art and artifacts, specialty items, crafts, and other items in the Marketplace. The Kids Zone has bounce houses, a human water wheel, an obstacle course, a human catapult ride, a mega slide, face painting, crafts, and other fun, educational, activities and information.

Understanding slavery’s legacy on the health of African Americans, the Health Fair includes blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and HIV screenings. Medical professionals from area health centers and hospitals are available for one-on-one con­sultations and to provide information. This year COVID-19 vaccines and testing will be offered.  Organizations will have booths to inform the men, women, youth, and families of services (organ and tissue donation, mentoring, tutoring, mental health, substance abuse, job services, etc.) and activities (summer camp, day camp, after school, athletic teams, etc.) available in Durham and surrounding areas. Experts in their respective fields provide information, activities, and demonstrations.

The Juneteenth Fashion Show, powered by FSmith Productions,  will feature African prints and evening wear both symbolic of the first Juneteenth celebration. Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs. During slavery, there were laws on the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of the enslaved. During the initial days of the emancipation celebrations, there are accounts of former slaves tossing their ragged garments into the creeks and rivers to adorn clothing taken from the plantations belonging to their former ‘masters.’

Entertainment coming to the stage are both national recording artists and local performers. There will also be a DJ Battle, African dancers, and drummers, cheer and step teams, and more. And as always, the NC Juneteenth will include a Block Party.

The 16th Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration will bring a multitude of organizations and citizens into the community together in an effort to foster connections that will empower and uplift the community. For more information, visit www.spectacularmag.com/juneteenth