Celebrate Juneteenth with events around the Triangle
Juneteenth commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States. The first Juneteenth was June 19, 1865, when in the aftermath of the Civil War, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control and ensure the freedom of all enslaved men, women and children.
Considered the longest-running African American holiday, Juneteenth was finally recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021 – a full 156 years after it was first celebrated. Most federal offices are closed, along with most banks, and mail won't be delivered on Juneteenth.
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The Triangle offers an enormous range of opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth – whether by taking tours of museums and historic sites or enjoying live music, food and celebrations.
2025 Juneteenth events in the Triangle:
June 19: Juneteenth Memorial Tribute to U.S. Colored Troops - Starting at 9:30 a.m., the Raleigh National Cemetery will honor the U.S. Colored Troops, a regiment of mostly Black soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War.
June 19: Party in the Park: Juneteenth Edition - Celebrate culture, creativity and connection at Party in the Park: Juneteenth Edition—a vibrant, family-friendly event hosted by the Research Triangle Foundation. Taking place at Hub RTP, this free afternoon celebration honors the spirit of Juneteenth through music, movement and community engagement.
June 19: Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration - The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration is free and typically features kids’ activities, live performances, oral histories, food trucks and more, starting at 4 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Commons.
June 19: Juneteenth: A Chavis Celebration 2025 - Enjoy a live DJ spinning feel-good tunes, inflatables for the kids, face painting, hands-on crafts, and a variety of fun activities that celebrate freedom and creativity at John Chavis Memorial Park.
June 19: Juneteenth Celebration at Marbles and Moore Square - This event will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a family-friendly celebration of freedom, community and culture through art, music, play and special performances. Admission is free for all outdoor events, including activities in Moore Square and in the Marbles Playway. Admission must be purchased separately to enter the museum.
June 19 and 21: Zebulon Juneteenth Celebration 2025 - Zebulon will be celebrating Juneteenth at the community center and its park. There will be performances, arts and crafts, vendors and more.
June 20: Music in the Park in Morrisville—Juneteenth Edition - The Town of Morrisville is hosting Music in the Park at the Indian Creek Trailhead, 101 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, North Carolina. The concerts take place on the first Friday of the month from May to September in 2025, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. An additional concert will be held for Juneteenth.
June 20: Remembering: Juneteenth in the Hayti Neighborhood - This event is free and open to all. As part of the DURM Juneteenth Collaborative’s citywide celebration, this event brings together live music, visual and performance art, wellness offerings, a vibrant community market, and food truck fare—all centered on the deep roots of Hayti’s cultural contributions and the stories of its people.
June 20: Country Soul Songbook: Juneteenth Jamboree - Breakout artist Misha Fair is coming to The Cary to lead us for a Juneteenth Jamboree.
June 21: Juneteenth Open House at Stagville - Explore local history about slavery and emancipation in Piedmont North Carolina.
June 21: NCCU Juneteenth Celebration - Officially sanctioned by the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, this fun-filled, educational, and uplifting festival will feature national recording artists and local performers, food trucks, vendors, a health fair, a kids zone, exhibitors and more.
June 21: Garner Freedom Celebration 2025 - This Juneteenth celebration will be held at Garner Performing Arts Center.
June 26: Juneteenth Film Screening at the Nasher - The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is hosting a Juneteenth Film Screening of "Daughters of the Dust" from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a free event.
June 29: Juneteenth Vendor Market Showcase - Celebrate Juneteenth and support over 25 Black-owned businesses at a Black-Owned Vendor Market Expo on Sunday, June 29, 2025, from 12 to 5 p.m., at DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh Midtown, 2805 Highwoods Boulevard, Raleigh, North Carolina.
June 21: Juneteenth Celebration 2025 at Downtown Cary Park - This soulful Juneteenth Celebration will include Historian Darrell Stover. Experience Songs of Freedom through live reenactments, spoken word, and a saxophone summit. A day of unity, culture, and joy honoring resilience, liberation and the spirit of freedom.
June 21: Holly Springs Juneteenth Celebration 2025 - The Town of Holly Springs, in partnership with the Holly Springs MLK Committee, invites the community to our Juneteenth Celebration event at the Holly Springs Cultural Center. Enjoy food trucks, local vendors, a free kids zone, and live music and performances.
June 21: Juneteenth Celebration at Latta University Historic Park - Enjoy a celebratory Juneteenth festival with live storytelling, musical performances, food trucks, and crafts for kids in a historic park honoring African American freedom and community.
June 21: Apex Juneteenth Festival - The town of Apex will celebrate Juneteenth with live music, food and beverage vendors and more.
June 21: Rolesville Freedom In The Park Juneteenth Celebration - Head to Mill Bridge Nature Park to celebrate Juneteenth with live performances, educational information, family activities, great food and local businesses.
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