To commemorate Juneteenth, numerous N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites across the state will feature events and tours throughout June.
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It signifies the official end of slavery in the United States.
The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission is excited to share the 2025 Juneteenth Celebration Toolkit. The toolkit is an interactive slide deck that invites readers to learn about North Carolina’s unique liberation stories of African Americans.
The NCAAHC has partnered with two N.C. State Historic Sites — the N.C. State Capitol and Bennett Place — to share their sites' Liberation Stories. To access and learn more about the toolkit, visit https://aahc.nc.gov/2025-juneteenth-toolkit.
The commission will host two events at the N.C. Freedom Park site in June.
The NCAAHC and the North Carolina State Capitol will host walking tours of the Capitol grounds and Freedom Park Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
On Saturday, June 21, the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission invites visitors to N.C. Freedom Park in downtown Raleigh to celebrate the inspiration and reflections of North Carolina’s African American history. Led by the dynamic vocalist and historian Mary D. Williams, the event will feature tables inviting attendees to explore Freedom Park and the valuable resources offered by the African American Heritage Commission, the State Library of North Carolina, and the State Archives of North Carolina.
For information about the commission's June events, visit https://aahc.nc.gov/events.
For more information about Juneteenth, including how the holiday is being marked at sites across the state, visit the 2025 Juneteenth Event Calendar | NCAAHC.
DNCR Juneteenth Observances
North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
1 E. Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Voices of Freedom Walking Tour
June 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
On Saturday, June 14, in commemoration and honor of Juneteenth, the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission and the North Carolina State Capitol invite visitors to downtown Raleigh for walking tours of the Capitol grounds and Freedom Park. Tours will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This new guided walking tour will connect the history of the Capitol to individuals highlighted in Freedom Park. Tour topics include the enslaved men whose skill and labor constructed the Capitol, the stories of the Civil Rights movement in downtown Raleigh, and the African Americans who fought for freedom across our state's history. Participants have a chance to win a NCAAHC tote bag at the end of each tour. Register by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-of-freedom-walking-tour-tickets-1355351806739. Contact: ncaahc@ncdcr.gov
Songs of Liberation at NC Freedom Park
218 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601
June 21, 2-4 p.m.
NC Freedom Park celebrates the inspiration and reflections of North Carolina’s African American history. Led by the dynamic vocalist and historian Mary D. Williams, this incredible performance honors the ideals of NC Freedom Park. The event will also feature tables inviting attendees to explore NC Freedom Park and the valuable resources offered by the African American Heritage Commission, the State Library of North Carolina, and the State Archives of North Carolina. Contact: ncaahc@ncdcr.gov
North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
Open Stu: Proofs of Black Life
Friday, June 20, 6-11 p.m.
This Juneteenth weekend, join artists Derrick Beasley and Marcella Zigbuo Camara for Proofs of Black Life, a special edition of their ongoing community series, Open Stu.
Open Stu: Proofs of Black Life is an invitation to the North Carolina creative community to create archival memory that centers Blackness. With the NCMA’s current exhibition, The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure as a backdrop, attendees are invited to contribute to the expansive canon of Black cultural memory through portraiture and archiving. Childcare is available. Cash bar and refreshments. Contact: (919) 715-5923 or help@ncartmuseum.org
Historic Stagville
5828 Old Oxford Rd, Durham, NC 27712
Emancipation Tours at Stagville
Thursday, June 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Each June, Historic Stagville offers special tours focused on Emancipation as part of the site’s commemoration of Juneteenth. This guided tour will highlight how enslaved people claimed their freedom at Stagville in 1865. Please call ahead for groups of 10 or more. Space may be limited in Juneteenth tours depending on guide availability. The event is free. Contact: (919) 620-0120, or stagville@dncr.nc.gov
Juneteenth at Stagville
5828 Old Oxford Rd, Durham, NC 27712
Thursday, June 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Visit Stagville for the site's Juneteenth program to remember and celebrate freedom at one of the state's largest plantations. Explore local history about slavery and emancipation in Piedmont, North Carolina. Visit the original slave quarters at Horton Grove to reflect and remember those who survived slavery. Discover real stories of African American families who witnessed emancipation. Stories of love, loss, family, and resistance illuminate the complex history of freedom in 1865. This year will be the 19th annual Juneteenth program at Historic Stagville. Free. Contact: (919) 620-0120, or stagville@dncr.nc.gov
Museum of the Albemarle
501 S. Water St., Elizabeth City, NC, 27909
Take It, Make It: Celebrate Freedom on Juneteenth
Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Stop by and pick up a free Take It, Make It Packet to celebrate Juneteenth! You'll find at-home activities, learning resources, and information about regional sites that explore the history of slavery and emancipation in northeastern North Carolina. Packets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Contact: Noah Janis, (252) 331-4032, or noah.janis@dncr.nc.gov
Lake Norman State Park
759 State Park Rd. Troutman, NC, 28166
StoryWalk©: Juneteenth for Mazie and Make your own Juneteenth Flag
June 1-30, All Day
The story walk is all month-long during park hours.Take a break from the heat and walk around inside the visitor center at Lake Norman State Park to read Floyd Cooper's "Juneteenth for Mazie." Visitors can also enjoy a make-your-own Juneteenth Flag craft station. Juneteenth-themed books will feature on a table display, to help celebrate our newest federal holiday. "Juneteenth for Mazie" was written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper and was published by Picture Window Books in 2015. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont. Contact: (704) 528-6350, or lake.norman@ncparks.gov
Jones Lake State Park
4117 N.C. 242 N., Elizabethtown, NC 28337
StoryWalk©: Juneteenth for Mazie and Make your own Juneteenth Bracelet
Thursday, June 19, 10-11 a.m.
Join park staff in celebrating Juneteenth with a StoryWalk reading of Floyd Cooper’s “Juneteenth for Mazie” and bracelet making. The StoryWalk will be up throughout the week for all to enjoy. There will be Juneteenth bracelet making starting at 10 a.m. Participants should meet at the Jones Lake State Park Visitor Center at 10 a.m.Juneteenth-themed books will be featured on a table display. "Juneteenth for Mazie" was written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper and was published by Picture Window Books in 2015.The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont. Contact: Monique Mckoy, monique.mckoy@ncparks.gov
Vance Birthplace
911 Reems Creek Rd, Weaverville, NC 28787
Summer Storytime
Saturday, June 21,10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Families with young children can enjoy stories themed around Juneteenth and the Fourth of July in the Vance house at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. Try out fun crafts in the visitor center as well! This event is free and does not require registration in advance, but donations are accepted. Our storytimes will be held seasonally/quarterly. Children who attend multiple storytimes are eligible for fun, bookish prizes at our Christmas Storytime in December. Contact: vance@dncr.nc.gov, or (828) 645-6706.
About the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
Created in 2008, the African American Heritage Commission is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The commission works across the department to preserve, protect, and promote the state’s African American history, art, and culture for all people. Its endeavors include identifying heritage sites, compiling resources for educators, extending the work of national programs such as the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom Underground Railroad, and independent initiatives, including Oasis Spaces: Green Book Project African to Carolina, and much more. For additional information, please visit aahc.nc.gov
About the North Carolina State Capitol
The State Capitol’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history and function of the 1840 building and Union Square. It is within the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and is located at One Edenton Street, Raleigh. For additional information, please call or visit historicsites.nc.gov/.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.