Four years ago, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday and the community is gearing up for a series of events and celebrations to commemorate it.
June 19, shortened to Juneteenth, is the day back in 1865 when the Emancipation Proclamation, a January 1863 executive order from President Abraham Lincoln, was finally fully enforced nationwide. The U.S. Civil War had ended just a few weeks earlier on May 26, 1865.
Celebrations in Columbia officially start Saturday, June 7, when Columbia NAACP will hold a kickoff event 4-6 p.m. at Second Missionary Baptist Church, 407 E. Broadway.
Two events Saturday, June 14, include a celebration of gospel music and more subdued recognition of community members lost to violence and the people who survive them.
The 2025 Juneteenth Gospel Fest is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Stephens Lake Park, 2001 E. Broadway, and is presented by Fifth Street Christian Church Ahead Program. Juneteenth Journey: Honoring Survivors, Empowering Voices is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 1707 Smiley Lane, presented by Boone County Community Against Violence.
Columbia Housing Authority’s Moving Ahead Program will host Honoring the Past for a Bright Future: A Juneteenth Celebration 2-6 p.m. June 18 at Rose Music Hall, 1013 Park Ave.
The day of the official holiday June 19 is jam-packed with events.
The COMO Juneteenth Celebration Committee is encouraging the community to visit its Juneteenth Celebration 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Douglass Park, 400 N. Providence Road. It will feature live music, free food and community resource booths, including on “pressing issues affecting our community, including mental health, drug overdose prevention, and violence reduction,” a news release noted. The event is free to attend and open to the public.
Aafter stopping by the Douglass Park celebration, residents can consider heading to the Powerhouse Community Development Corp. Annual Juneteenth Event noon to 4 p.m. at Cosmo Park, 1615 W. Business Loop 70.
To wrap up the day, the Let Freedom Ring event is 6-8 p.m. at Urban Empowerment Ministries, 2404 Industrial Drive, presented by Columbia African American Business Alliance.
June 21 also has a full slate of celebrations and events, starting with the annual Juneteenth Parade starting 9 a.m. in downtown Columbia on Broadway. This event is sponsored by the COMO Junteenth Celebration Committee and features four parade grand marshals, including Barbara Horrell, LaShunda Glasgow, Kayla Jackson and John Kelly.
“We are proud to celebrate Juneteenth with events that not only honor our past but also engage the community in building a stronger future,” said the Rev James Gray, with the committee in a news release. “These events reflect the spirit of resilience, freedom, and solidarity.”
Following the parade community members can visit St. Paul AME Church, 501 Park Ave., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for St. Paul Juneteenth Legacy. Biffy Styles then will host the Biffy Juneteenth Celebration 12:30-4:30 p.m. at 2205 Burlington St. General Love Outreach will welcome community members 3-7 p.m. to Dream Tree Academy, 800 Cherry St., for Fearless and Free. The day wraps up with Juneteenth Celebration: Arts, Culture and Community 4-7 p.m. at Orr Street Studios, 106 Orr St.
Dream Tree Academy will close out the month of celebrations with From Struggle to Strength, We Rise 2-6 p.m. at its location on Cherry Street.
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