WASHINGTON CITY, Utah (KUTV) — Amid heightened concerns over festival safety across Utah, the founder of southern Utah’s only official Juneteenth celebration said this week’s event is focused not just on public safety, but creating a space for connection in a region where Black residents are a small minority.
Stephanie Carter, founder of Juneteenth Southern Utah, said the annual gathering, now in its fourth year, aims to be a peaceful, welcoming space where people of all backgrounds can celebrate freedom and find community.
“It’s peaceful,” said Carter. “If anything, it’s a place to come, relax, and say ‘Hey, you’re home, you have a safe place.'”
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The event will be held Thursday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. at Veterans Park in Washington City, next to the city hall and the police department. Washington City Police said an officer will be stationed at the event, with additional support available nearby if needed. Law enforcement said they do not anticipate any disturbances.
For Carter, the conversation around safety goes deeper than logistics. It’s about belonging — especially in Washington County, where Black residents make up just over 1% of the population.
“If you’re looking for community, come to the Juneteenth and begin to connect with other people who are looking for community,” she said.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865: the day the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
In 2021, the day was officially recognized as a federal holiday by President Biden.
Carter began organizing the local event shortly afterward. A longtime Washington County resident, she said the gathering started as a way to mark the occasion but has since grown into a broader cultural and educational opportunity, with events spanning the week leading up to June 19.
“Juneteenth is just the opening of the doors,” she said. “But it’s a safe door to speak to the community, and for the community to ask questions.”
This year’s celebration will feature food, music, family-friendly games, and line dancing. New to the event is the launch of a Miss Juneteenth pageant and an ongoing youth initiative to bring local students to historically Black colleges and universities for cultural immersion experiences
Carter said she’s extended personal invitations to every mayor in southern Utah and hopes to see continued support from public officials and community leaders.
“We’re still knocking on doors,” she said. “This isn’t about politics. It’s about people.”
She said Mayor Staheli and Washington City have been incredibly supportive, helping to pass through permits for the event and offering law enforcement support.
While Carter said she hasn’t received any direct threats, she acknowledges that not everyone embraces the holiday or its message. But she remains undeterred.
“What I’m not here for is anything negative,” she said. “I take negativity, I see it for what it is, and see where we can make changes.”
The event is hosted in partnership with the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce, where Carter serves as the southern Utah membership director. She said part of her ongoing mission is to connect local Black professionals and business owners with broader resources across the state.
“We’re not just local — we’re global,” Carter said. “And Juneteenth is about showing up, taking off the mask, and being part of something bigger, even if it’s just for one day.”
Thursday’s event is free and open to the public. Organizers encourage families to bring picnic blankets and chairs and said all are welcome, regardless of race, background, or beliefs.
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