Every year, on June 19, communities across the United States come together to commemorate Juneteenth, celebrating a significant event in American history that ended slavery in the states that were part of the Confederacy. For Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Juneteenth has evolved from a solemn remembrance to a living, breathing celebration of freedom, culture, and community to be enjoyed and shared with the festival, Juneteenth Community Empowerment Festival.

Juneteenth, which is the combination of "June" and "nineteenth," celebrates the date of 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to declare the end of slavery — more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. It serves as both a moment to remember the fight for liberation and the perseverance of Black communities.

Officially made a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth has been celebrated through prayer, family gatherings, and cultural celebrations since at least 1866. Rocky Mount has developed a tradition of celebrating Juneteenth and hosts the largest Juneteenth celebration in Eastern North Carolina, organized via the Juneteenth Community Empowerment Committee and the City of Rocky Mount.

This year, the festival, presented by Cummins, expands across four days — from Thursday, June 19 to Sunday, June 22 — and features a wide range of events, headliners, and community-driven activities.

Thursday, June 19 | 6:00–8:30 PM

• A/B Honor Roll & Scholarship Presentation at Word Tabernacle Church

Friday, June 20 (Location: Five Points, Downtown Rocky Mount)

• 6:00–6:30 PM: Opening Ceremony (MC: Les Long)

• 6:45–9:45 PM: Live performances by Electric Image, Jamrock, Freddy Greene, and headliners Sugar Bear & the EU Band

Saturday, June 21 (Location: Train Station Lawn & Downtown Parade Route)

• 8:00 AM: Vernon Powell Memorial Bike Rodeo

• 12:00–1:00 PM: Juneteenth Parade through downtown Rocky Mount

• 1:00–8:15 PM: Cultural ceremonies, dance performances, a keynote address, a Kid’s Village with free games and activities, and a headline performance by hip hop icon Big Daddy Kane

Sunday, June 22 (Location: Train Station Lawn)

• 1:30–8:30 PM: A full day of gospel music featuring Carolyn Hill, Deborah Barnes & Sisters, Luther Barnes, Zacardi Cortez, Melvin Williams, and headliner John P Kee & New Life

• Keynote address by Judge Toby Fitch

To assure space and safety for all activities, street closures and parade routes are arranged. It is encouraged for our visitors to check the City of Rocky Mount’s appropriate channels for traffic updates and accessibility information.

Regardless of your history with Rocky Mount, the Juneteenth Community Empowerment Festival is more than just an event — it's an experience. It’s an opportunity to pay homage to the past, acknowledge the present, and aspire for a greater, more unified future. You can come and bring your family to support local talent and vendors, and to stand in solidarity with a community that continues to rise, resist, and rejoice.

Come out, June 19–22, for a weekend of empowerment, remembrance, and celebration.