Celebrate Juneteenth in Durham

Nine hundred – that’s the number of days between Jan 1, 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, declaring all enslaved Black people free, and June 19, 1865, when 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas finally heard the news.

It was a moment that generations of enslaved Black people had only dreamed and whispered about in secret. Naturally, they reacted to the delayed news with weeping, singing, praying and dancing – all the things that accompany liberation. It was the first June 19 celebration.

Juneteenth, a portmanteau of June and 19, is an annual day commemorating the emancipation of all enslaved people in the United States. While it has been celebrated by many African Americans since the late 1800s, it’s a day for all Americans to learn, reflect and grow from this nation’s history. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill to set aside June 19 as a federal holiday. This year, we encourage you to celebrate Juneteenth in Durham by attending events, learning more about the day, reflecting and supporting Black-owned businesses. This year will be the 21st anniversary of Durham's Juneteenth celebration, so get ready for some serious partying.

1. Attend a local Juneteenth Event.

An important part of the celebration is about community and bringing people together, and Durham organizations are proud to bring residents and visitors a full week of programming and celebration. Gather friends and family and see what events are happening in and around your city. Celebrations that have been announced for 2026 include:

Juneteenth Flag Raising

Date: Monday, June 1, 11:30 a.m.
Location: Durham County Courthouse, 510 S. Dillard St.

Start the month off right with the ceremonial raising of the Juneteenth Flag at the Durham County Court House. The ceremony will include readings from the three Freedom Documents, community reflections and remarks by Mayor Leo Williams and Interim Police Chief Walter Tate, and presentation by Buffalo Soldier re-enactors alongside the Durham County Sheriff Honor Guard.

2026 North Carolina Juneteenth Celebration

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 3-9 p.m.
Location: CCB Plaza

Mark your calendars for North Carolina's Juneteenth Celebration in Durham: a day of festivities including national recording artists, local performers, food and merch, a health fair, a kids’ zone, a fashion show and more – hosted by Spectacular Magazine. The celebration kicks off at CCB Plaza on Saturday with a drum and dance processional.

Organizations will have Exhibitor Booths to inform the men, women, youth and families of services (mentoring, tutoring, mental health, substance abuse, job services, etc.) and activities (summer camp, day camp, after-school, athletic teams, etc.) available in the surrounding areas. Experts in their respective fields provide information, activities and demonstrations.

Durmnik with Chef Ricky Moore and Friends

Date: Friday, June 19, 1o:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Saltbox Seafood Joint, 2637 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.

Celebrate Juneteenth with Saltbox Seafood Joint's Ricky Moore as he joins forces with other Durham businesses to host the annual "Durmnik," a picnic in Durham. Order a Durmnik box ahead of time and then head over to Saltbox on Juneteenth to pick it up. You can enjoy it at their picnic tables or take it somewhere else. The box will feature a collection of cookout-style dishes from Lula & Sadie's, Sarge's Chef, Chick-N-Que, Chez Moi Bakery, Ideal Bartending Company and Fullsteam Brewery and more. They're only selling a limited number of boxes, so make sure you order yours in advance.

Juneteenth at Stagville

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2026, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Historic Stagville, 5828 Old Oxford Rd.

Commemorate Juneteenth by visiting the site where hundreds of enslaved people were emancipated in 1865. The site is now a state historic site dedicated to sharing the stories of the enslaved people who lived and labored there. This Juneteenth weekend, learn from talks, guided tours, a pop-up about freedom seekers and prompts for reflection at Horton Grove Nature Preserve.

Juneteenth at Hub RTP

Date: Thursday, June 19, 5 - 9 p.m.
Location: Horseshoe at Hub RTP, 3151 Elion Dr.

Head to Hub RTP for their 2026 Juneteenth celebration. Honoring history and celebrating culture, this event "creates space for learning, reflection and joy while fostering meaningful connections." Enjoy life performances, art, and interactive family fun and learning.

Monét Noelle Marshall at the Hayti Heritage Center

Date: Friday, June 19, 7 - 9 p.m.
Location: Hayti Heritage Center, 814 Old Fayetteville St.

Durham-based multidisciplinary artist Monét Noelle Marshall has spent 25 years creating work that pulls audiences into something deeper — short films, community pop-ups and immersive performances that blur the line between art and belonging. Don't miss her one-woman show this Juneteenth.

"Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. Black freedom. From artistic freedom on our stage to the freedom to gather in community or on our own front steps, we are embodying that all weekend. But it's not just about this one weekend; the ethos of Juneteenth is what we work toward embodying all year long." – Monét Noelle Marshall

Third Friday Juneteenth Celebration

Date: Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Location: CCB Plaza, 201 Corcoran St.

Adding to the fun of a typical Third Friday Art Crawl, June's iteration of the event will be combined with a celebration of Juneteenth. Kick the night off with a flag raising ceremony at CCB Plaza. Keep the party going with live music and community creativity. The night will also feature a debut album release concert with Pierce Freelon, and a hands-on beat making lab for kids and families.

Third Friday Juneteenth Celebration in the Visitor Info Center

Location: Visitor Info Center, 212 W. Main St.

While you're out and about for Third Friday, stop by the Visitor Info Center to celebrate Juneteenth with Discover Durham and Eve Botanical Lounge as we honor Durham's rich Black history through community, culture, music and thoughtfully crafted, family friendly mocktails.

North Durham Farmers' Market

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, noon - 4 p.m.
Location: Soul Sanctuary, 1016 Old Oxford Rd.

Shop Black and eat local at this environmentally friendly market filled with locally sourced food and Black-owned local businesses.

The Coco Drip & Black Farmers Market Present: Freedom & Legacy Juneteenth Festival

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, noon - 3 p.m.
Location: Lakewood Shopping Center, 2020 Chapel Hill Road

For this Juneteenth Celebration at Bright Black, The Coco Drip and Black Farmers' Market brings together the local community of makers, artists, bakers and more to celebrate and support BIPOC, LGBTQIA and women-led businesses.

Open Stu: Juneteenth Edition

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7-11 p.m.
Location: Hayti Heritage Center, 814 Old Fayetteville St., Free, Open to all

Open Stu is a living documentary project born right here in Durham. Co-created by artists Derrick Beasley and Marcella Zigbuo Camara, it's a space to cultivate and document Black creative community rooted in the tradition of Scurlock's studio portraiture, the Kamoinge Collective, and the pop-up gatherings of the Harlem Renaissance. On Juneteenth, it comes home to Hayti.

Sit for a portrait with Derrick. Explore archival ephemera curated by Marcella. Let the DJ move you. Grab a drink. Stay a while. RSVP.

ADF Presents: Camille A. Brown & Dancers

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke, 125 Science Dr.

Continuing her exploration of Black Joy, director and choreographer Camille A. Brown created a new work that expands the possibilities of imagination and boldly looks toward the future. In I AM, she envisions a creative space for cultural liberation, conjuring new ways of being in the world. Inspired by the episode “I Am” of the HBO series Lovecraft Country, a story centered on self-discovery, transformation, and limitless identity, the work builds on the themes of Brown’s earlier piece, ink. I AM propels audiences into a universe where anything is possible and features a range of dance genres of the African Diaspora. Co-presented with Hayti Heritage Center.

Outdoor Pilates on the "Lawn" — A Juneteenth Wellness Experience

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 8 - 9 a.m.
Location: Lawn of the Historic Russell School

Join in for a morning of movement, mindfulness, and meaning, honoring Juneteenth with grace, gratitude, and community. Bring your mat and get ready for a relaxing, soul centering morning.

Juneteenth Art Quilt Workshop

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 12:30 - 3 p.m.
Location: Historic Stagville, 5828 Old Oxford Rd

Head to Historic Stagville for quilt workshop led by teaching artist Kimberley Pierce Cartwright. The art quilts you learn to create will be "inspired by the African American history, landscapes, and textures of Historic Stagville."

Jambalaya Soul Slam

Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 6 p.m.
Location: Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St.

The Hayti Heritage Center hosts the Jambalaya Soul Slam, the Triangle's longest-running poetry event, for a special Juneteenth Sunday edition. Contestants perform the lyrics of their favorite songs as spoken word, judged slam-style by the audience, with cash prizes on the line.

2. Support a Black-owned Business.

In Durham, we support Black-owned businesses all year long. As we celebrate Juneteenth, there's no better time to highlight some of our incredible Black-owned restaurants, businesses and startups.

The Hayti Heritage Center on Fayetteville St. has a mission to preserve and advance the heritage and culture of historic Hayti & the African American experience. Along Fayetteville St., there are numerous Black-owned businesses. Visit restaurants like Nzinga's Kitchen, Chicken Hut and Let's Eat Soul Food. Stop by Eve Botanical Lounge for a drink in the serene, plant-draped space. Shop art and apparel sourced from the diaspora at Exotique.

3. Learn about Juneteenth as a Family.

For those wanting to celebrate Juneteenth for the first time, it's important that we learn how to celebrate in a way that truly honors its history.

Pick up some books that have been written specifically about Juneteenth or some books by Black authors about Black experiences. With a physical pop-up at The Durham Hotel, Liberation Station Bookstore believes in making representation accessible and amplifying Black voices. If you can’t get your hands on these books before June 19, tune in to some read-a-longs or watch some videos online.

4. Take some time to reflect.

While Juneteenth is certainly a cause for celebration, it should also lead to a time of reflection. Find a peaceful spot at The Eno River or check out the Durham Parks & Recreation website for a comprehensive list of local parks, and then take some time to pause and reflect on what we can do individually and collectively to dismantle systemic racism in America.

5. Visit historic sites to learn more about Black History.

The civil rights movement gained significant traction in Durham. Walk Black Wall Street. Explore the Hayti Heritage Center. See the historic Woolworth lunch counter where sit-ins occurred. Become acquainted with tributes to integration and progress at the Carolina Theatre and sites like the Durham Civil Rights mural throughout the community.

Almost a thousand people were freed at Stagville, here in Durham, at the end of the Civil War. On Juneteenth, Historic Stagville invites visitors to remember emancipation and explore history on one of North Carolina's largest plantations with outdoor guided tours and more. Admission and tours are free for all, but make sure you reserve your free ticket online.

Visit Black Wall Street

Black Wall Street, an area that became a moniker for Durham's West Parrish Street, was a hub for Black-owned businesses during the early 1900s with a legacy that has carried through more recent history. Learn more about the history of Durham's Black Wall Street.

Learn More in Our African American Heritage Guide

Last but not least, pick up our African American Heritage Guide at the Visitor Info Center to find out where you can see, feel, learn and embrace the past. Durham is a place where the past meets the present, and African American stories continue to unfold with grace, dignity, and pride. Through the power of storytelling and first-person accounts of local writers, poets and artists, these articles tell a story of how Black history is Durham's history.

Watch a show, movie, or documentary about Black history or the experience of Black people in America. In the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America, food writer Stephen Satterfield traces the origins of African American cuisine from Africa to Texas. Gabrielle Eitienne from Tall Grass Food Box, a CSA that supports and encourages the sustainability of Black Farmers serving people in Durham, appears in the series.