Celebrating Juneteenth in Greater Charlottesville, VA!
Juneteenth, commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States, is a time for reflection, celebration, and community. The Greater Charlottesville area offers a variety of events to honor this important day. Here's a look at some of the opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth this year:
Juneteenth Celebration at the Brooks Family YMCA (Thursday, June 12, 5:30pm-8pm): 151 McIntire Park Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Free and open to the public! All members of the Charlottesville community are welcome. Admission is free, first come, first served.
Note: Black-owned businesses and creators interested in being a vendor should email Bonita Patton before May 23: bpatton@piedmontymca.org
Descendants Day at James Monroe's Highland (June 14, 2025): 10 am-4 pm at 2050 James Monroe Parkway, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Join the Highland Council of Descendant Advisors.
Learn More: https://highland.org/event/2025-descendants-day/
Charlottesville Players Guild Presents: 5th & Dice (June 14, 2025): 7:30 PM at The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, 233 4th St NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903. A play by William A. James, Sr.
Juneteenth Parade and Emancipation Concert at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center (June 14, 2025): 9 am-3 pm at 233 4th St NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Includes a parade, Black Business Expo, and concert.
Historic River View Farm Tour with Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm (June 16, 2024): 11 am at 1780 Earlysville Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Learn about the history of the Juneteenth holiday and River View Farm.
While there doesn't appear to be a specific tour listed for Juneteenth 2025 yet, you can learn more about the farm and area here: https://ivycreekfoundation.org/ and https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/directory/ivy-creek-natural-area-and-historic-river-view-farm/
Juneteenth Creative Showcase by The Art Bar (June 19, 2024): 6 PM-8 PM at 1747 Allied Street #Suite K, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Featuring music, food, and an art exhibit.
While details for 2025 aren't yet available, you can check their general information here: https://www.theartbarcville.com/
Cookout Season with Niya Bates at Blenheim Vineyards (June 23, 2024): From 3 pm-5 pm at 31 Blenheim Farm, Charlottesville, VA 22902.
For information about events at Blenheim Vineyards, you can visit: https://www.blenheimvineyards.com/events
Visit the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at the University of Virginia: Open year-round.
Visit the “Pride Overcomes Prejudice” Exhibit at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center: Learn about the history of the African American communities of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
You can find more about the exhibits at the Jefferson School here: https://jeffschoolheritagecenter.org/