Juneteenth | NC DNCR

What is Juneteenth?

Also known as "Freedom Day,"Juneteenth is a uniquely American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement that slavery would be abolished in Texas. North Carolina joins in the celebration of this National holiday and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the former Confederacy.

Download the Juneteenth Toolkit

2023 Events & Programs

Find Juneteenth events and programs near you!

Juneteenth Resources

Explore our African American history and cultural resources curated by the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission.

African American History

Stories related to African American History in North Carolina.

Telling the African American Story Through Historic Places

Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum

Step back in time on the campus of the Palmer Memorial Institute, a pioneering experiment in African American education.

Historic Edenton

Walk in the footsteps of an enslaved woman and abolitionist Harriet Jacobs and explore the town where she hid after her escape.

Historic Stagville

Historic Stagville is a state historic site that includes the remnants of one of the largest plantations in North Carolina.

Somerset Place

Somerset Place offers a comprehensive and realistic view of 19th-century life on a large North Carolina plantation.

Juneteenth at NC State Parks

Come walk the short 1/2 mile Inspiration Trail and read a story about the Juneteenth American holiday that celebrates freedom.

Learn more