Juneteenth Celebration 2024: Land · Body · Spirit

We invite all community members to join us for the Orange County Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 14^th. This year’s celebration theme, “Embracing our Connections to Land, Body, and Spirit,” acknowledges the journey embarked upon by those formerly enslaved and their descendants to remember, restore, and reimagine their connection to the lands they inhabit, their autonomy of being, and their creative capacities for self-expression.

Morning Ceremony — Opening & Performances (10:00 a.m.) 

The celebration will begin at the David Price Farmers’ Market Pavilion with an Opening Ceremony to honor the legacy of the not-so-distant past and recognize the resilience of a community that dared to dream of freedom.

• Acknowledgments and offerings led by Beverly Payne of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and community organizer Chris Faison
• Performance excerpt from “The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans” by Dr. Sonny Kelly
• Musical performances by Rachel Royal, Fahari Leader of BUMP the Triangle, Congo Vibes led by Pline Mounzeo, and Charles Newkirk

Afternoon Program — Roots & Resilience Panel & Lunch (1:00–4:00 p.m.)

Join us at the Orange County Public Library for “Roots & Resilience: The Legacy & Future of Black Farming.” The event includes lunch and a dynamic panel discussion featuring:

• Kamal Bell – Sankofa Farms
• Howard Allen – Faithfull Farms
• Angela Davis – Natural food-way healer and Homeschools of Color
• Deon Temne – Black agriculture advocate

Follow-up workshops will be led by the Orange County Office of Equity & Inclusion and Angela Davis.

Evening Celebration — Music, Market & Art at Eno Arts Mill (6:00–9:00 p.m.)

We will close out the day with an evening of joy and creativity at the Eno Arts Mill. Join us for:

• Live music by Shambo Medina and DJ COMPLEX
• Vendor marketplace featuring community-based businesses
• Open studio tours and community art workshops with resident artists
• Delicious meals by Yagg Sii Tenn and Soul’s Kitchen
• Games and activities for youth of all ages

Let’s come together and show what our joy looks like!

Support for this event has been generously provided by Spirit Freedom, Inc.