2024 Juneteenth Celebration June 17-21

Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the end of slavery and the progress that has been made in the fight for equality.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2024 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, promotes community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people.

Dating back to 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This started the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.

The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a city holiday in 2021, and on June 8 Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

All events are free and open to the public. The Juneteenth Lunch & Learn Sessions will feature a catered lunch followed by local leaders speaking on topics such as the historical facts of Juneteenth, reflections of life in Black Asheville, and slave records and African American cemeteries. Also, come celebrate with us at Juneteenth At DownTown After 5 and at the Juneteenth Gala.

Lunch & Learns

All Lunch & Learns will be 12 noon-1:30 p.m.

Monday, June 17 – Honoring the Legacy of Civil Rights Workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner: 60th Memorial
Held at Linwood Crump Shiloh Center. Co-sponsored by: Carolina Jews for Justice; Congregation Beth ha Tephila; Congregation Beth Israel

Tuesday, June 18 – First African American Families of Asheville and Buncombe County
Held at Dr. Wesley Grant Center.

Thursday, June 20 – Reflections on Gentrification of the African American Neighborhoods
Held at Burton Street Recreation Center.

Friday, June 21 – Early African American Health Care & Today’s African American Inequities
Held at Tempie-Avery Montford Center.

Additional Events

Wednesday, June 19 – “From Slavery to Juneteenth Jubilee”
Held at Black Wall Street, , 8 River Arts Place, from 12 noon until 2 p.m. Distinguished Speaker Presentation and Reception featuring Mary D. Williams.

Thursday, June 20 – Juneteenth Gala
Held at Stephens-Lee Center from 7-9:30 p.m. A celebratory commemoration of Juneteenth, this ‘tie or no-tie’ gala is free to attend. Guests will enjoy dancing, appetizers, alcoholic ($) and non-alcoholic beverages, a live band, and a silent auction of treasures procured from local talented entrepreneurs and artists of color.

Friday, June 21 – Juneteenth at Downtown After 5
Held on Lexington Avenue from 5-9 p.m. Come celebrate Juneteenth with live music, dancing, food, local crafts, and much more. Sponsored by the Asheville Downtown Association.

All events are FREE to the public due to the generous donations and/or sponsorships of the following organizations: The City of Asheville, Mission Health Asheville, Explore Asheville, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Dogwood Health Trust, Burial Beer Company, Highland Brewery, DownTown After 5, and Givens Communities.

For more details, please visit mlkasheville.org.