Here are Juneteenth events and celebrations in Raleigh, Durham and the Triangle
On June 19, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation (issued on Jan. 1, 1863) was finally read to enslaved African Americans in Texas.
Juneteenth celebrates the end of the enslavement and the ongoing fight for freedom of African Americans in the U.S.
Here are some local in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and around the Triangle this weekend. Know of an event, email metroeds@newsobserver.com.
Friday, June 19
▪ March to Freedom, a peaceful protest, 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_.
▪ The Town of Carrboro is presenting a Juneteenth program, available on Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department’s YouTube channel. Current and past African American elected officials will share a “Resolution in Recognition of 400 Years of the African American Story.”
▪ Visit Off Grid in Colors, a Moncure homestead, via Juneteenth Farm Tours in Chatham County. Tours are free but require reservations between 5 and 7:45 p.m. Groups will be no larger than 8 people per tour. facebook.com/offgridincolor/
▪ Durham’s Beyu Caffe is presenting a Juneteenth Concert Digital Block Party at 6 p.m., a free livestream to support local artists and help fight food insecurity in Durham. All proceeds will go to the Feed Durm Fund. facebook.com/BeyuCaffe
▪ 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 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.
▪ A Juneteenth rally will be held at 4 p.m. at McCorkle Place in Chapel Hill.
▪ #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.
Saturday, June 20
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ A Juneteenth Festival and Community Cookout is 1 to 7 p.m. at Spring Forest Road Park, 4203 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh. The free event features food, vendors, drinks and a DJ. It’s held by Chris & Ray’s Tasty Cuisine.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 3:10 PM.