Juneteenth, June 19, was declared a City-wide holiday in 2020 and became a Federal Holiday in 2021. The occasion marks the date, June 19, 1865. On this day the last slaves in Galveston, TX received news that they were free - two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

In 2021, a group of Greensboro Black Creatives came together to launch the first-ever Juneteenth GSO Fest. Today, the festival is managed by Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet. The festival is a series of events that will take place June 15 - 21.

This year, the event lineup includes:

June 15 - Juneteenth Gospel Superfest: Interfaith Celebration at Barber Park (free event)

June 16 - 21 - Black Business Week online and at various brick & mortar Black-owned businesses

June 20 - The Arts Legacy Awards at The Van Dyke Performance Space (ticketed event)

June 21 - Juneteenth Family Fest at Sternberger Park (free event)

We are raising funds to support the costs of the festival which includes paying Black artists for their time and talents, paying for the use of facilities and staff, and supporting our vision to move the Juneteenth GSO Fest into a self-sustaining entity for many years to come.

More information about Juneteenth can be found at http://www.juneteenthgso.com or http://www.facebook.com/juneteenthgsofest

Juneteenth GSO Fest 2025

Team Members