Honoring Juneteenth: Learning, Reflecting, and Celebrating Across Central Virginia

Written By Lauren Glaze

Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and announced that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free by executive decree, a full two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation, though a landmark declaration, could not be enforced in areas still under Confederate control. Texas, the westernmost Confederate state, had experienced no large-scale Union presence and slavery had continued there largely undisturbed. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, and that day came to be celebrated as “Juneteenth” by the newly freed people of Texas.

In the year following 1865, freedmen in Texas organized the first annual celebration of what they called “Jubilee Day” on June 19. As Black Americans migrated from Texas to other parts of the country in the following decades, the Juneteenth tradition spread with them, featuring music, prayer, barbecues, and community gatherings. On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday. To learn more about this history, visit the NMAAHC Juneteenth Digital Toolkit from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The legacy of Juneteenth is deeply rooted in Virginia. The University of Virginia, for example, was built beginning in 1817 on land in Albemarle County where, by 1820, enslaved people made up more than half of the county’s population. This history is our history, and Juneteenth invites us to reckon with it honestly.

For those of us working to promote mental health and wellness, Juneteenth is a powerful reminder that healing and well-being are deeply connected to history, belonging, community, and access to opportunity. Honoring the past and actively supporting Black communities today are meaningful ways to live out the spirit of this holiday.

1. Attend a Local Juneteenth Celebration

Charlottesville and the surrounding counties are full of accessible events to learn about and honor this history in community. For a comprehensive list of free and paid ways to celebrate, visit the Charlottesville city’s guide, linked here.

Charlottesville Albemarle Black Business Expo & JAAAHC Juneteenth Celebration

Friday, June 20, 2026,  9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Jefferson School City Center Courtyard, 233 4th Street NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903

One of the region’s signature celebrations, this free community event brings together the 10th Annual Charlottesville Albemarle Black Business Expo with the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center’s Juneteenth programming. Expect live entertainment, community parade energy, educational programming, and dozens of Black-owned businesses to discover and support.

Visit cvilleblackbusinessexpo.com for details

Fridays After Five: Ebony Groove (Juneteenth Celebration)

Thursday, June 19, 2026, Ting Pavilion, 700 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902

This beloved Downtown Mall concert series goes all out for Juneteenth with a free live performance by Ebony Groove. Bring a blanket, bring the family, and celebrate Freedom Day under the open sky on the Downtown Mall.

Learn more at tingpavilion.com

Michele Evans: “februaries” – A Literary Event

Friday, June 20, 2026, New Dominion Bookshop: 404 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Author Michele Evans joins Karen Ashby-Bowers for an intimate reading and conversation. A quieter, reflective way to honor Juneteenth through the power of Black literary voices.

ndbookshop.com for event info

2. Visit a Local Historical Site

Juneteenth is also a meaningful time to deepen our understanding of the history that shaped Central Virginia. The following sites offer powerful, often free or low-cost opportunities to learn:

  • Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at UVA (MEL) – mel.virginia.edu Located at 1620 University Avenue, this free outdoor memorial honors the thousands of enslaved individuals whose labor built and sustained the University of Virginia.

  • Jefferson School African American Heritage Center – jeffschoolheritagecenter.org 233 4th Street NW, Charlottesville. Home of the “Pride Overcomes Prejudice” permanent exhibition documenting the history of Black education and community life in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

  • Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society – albemarlehistory.org 200 Second Street NE, Charlottesville. Seasonally offers free public walking tours covering the history of Court Square, the Downtown Mall, and Charlottesville’s Black barbershops and barbers.

  • Monticello – “From Slavery to Freedom” Tour – monticello.org 1050 Monticello Loop. A small-group guided tour focused specifically on slavery at Monticello and its legacies, including facilitated dialogue on race and history. Fee required; scholarships available.

  • BF Yancey School Community Center – ysccheritageandhistory.org 7625 Porters Rd, Esmont. This historic African American school turned community heritage center in southern Albemarle County offers events and opportunities to learn about history.

3. Support Black-Owned Businesses

Economic opportunity and community wellness are inseparable. Supporting Black-owned businesses is a tangible way to invest in community resilience. The Charlottesville Albemarle Black Business Expo on June 20 is one of the best places to discover new local entrepreneurs, artists, and service providers all in one place.

Here are just a few Black-owned businesses in our region to know and support year-round:

For the full directory of Black-owned businesses in the Charlottesville area, visit visitcharlottesville.org/blackcville.

4. Resources for Continued Learning

Learning about Juneteenth doesn’t have to end on June 19. These organizations offer year-round educational resources:

Mental wellness thrives when communities feel connected, valued, and empowered. Juneteenth invites us to celebrate freedom, honor those who came before us, and continue building communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Lauren Glaze
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