Pulaski County Juneteenth Celebration

Calfee Community & Cultural Center, Wilderness Road Regional Museum, Thriving Families Pulaski,
and Pulaski County Library System present a family-friendly celebration of Freedom Day!

Sunday, June 16, 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Wilderness Road Regional Museum - 5240 Wilderness Road, Dublin, VA 24084

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth, also called Freedom Day, commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that the last enslaved Black persons in the confederate states were informed that slavery had been abolished, legally making them American citizens.

Who can celebrate Juneteenth?

Everyone is welcome to celebrate Juneteenth, and we hope you’ll bring your friends and family! While Juneteenth has traditionally been seen as an African American holiday, national awareness has increased since 2021, when it was declared a legal public holiday in the United States. We are excited to observe Juneteenth here in Pulaski County with a celebration open to all.

What happened on June 19, 1865?

After the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation outlawed slavery in confederate states, it took a few years for slavey in actual practice to end throughout the region. News of abolition and enforcement of the law spread as Union troops advanced. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by General Granger, who was flanked by Black troops, arrived in Galveston, Texas to proclaim freedom for enslaved Black persons. Texas, as the most remote confederate state, had continued the practice of slavery until this date.

Come celebrate with us!

Juneteenth not only commemorates the freedom of African Americans from slavery, but it also is a time of national and African American pride. We invite everyone to join us at the Wilderness Road Regional Museum, where we will celebrate with storytelling, music, a cornbread tasting contest, raffles, children’s book giveaways, and other activities to promote cultural awareness and community cohesiveness.

If you would like to purchase raffles tickets ahead of the event, click here!

Entry to the Pulaski County Juneteenth Celebration is free. Food and drinks will be available for sale. Limited seating will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to enjoy the program on the lawn.