The second annual Juneteenth Music and Arts Festival will take place Thursday, June 19 from 3–7 p.m. outside Athens City Hall at the intersection of College Avenue and Washington Street. Funded by a grant from the Athens-Clarke County government and organized by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM), the celebration commemorates the Day of Freedom—Juneteenth, the oldest nationally recognized observance marking the end of slavery in the United States.
This year’s festival honors Black history, culture and resilience, and invites the community to participate through live performances, vendors and interactive activities. Leading up to the event, a flag-raising ceremony will be held at City Hall on June 14 at 10 a.m.
“It’s a celebration and a chance to see people from different parts of the community,” says Mokah Jasmine Johnson, co-founder and executive director of the AADM. “To learn things about Athens that they might not have known before, but also have a good time. We want to see a lot of joy at the end of the day. We want people to walk away feeling good, but also be educated about something, whether it’s about Athens historically or Juneteenth, that they might not have known before.”
Johnson and her husband, Knowa D. Johnson, founded the AADM in 2016 to combat discrimination in downtown Athens. Since then, the organization has evolved into a broader civil rights movement. The couple successfully organized Athens’ inaugural Juneteenth celebration in 2024 in just three weeks. This year, Johnson hopes to see the event grow through broader participation.
“We’re trying to have an intergenerational event where we can draw out the young crowd and the elders,” she says. “By having different performances, different speakers and mixing it up, we’re hoping to draw a very diverse crowd.”
In addition to celebrating Juneteenth, the festival will also amplify the Athens Day of Jubilee (May 4), the date Union troops arrived in Athens and announced the freedom of enslaved Black Athenians.
For more info about AADM, visit aadmovement.org.
See below for the timeline of events and activities at this year’s festival.
Athens Juneteenth Map of Black History (Online): Created in 2025 by the AADM in partnership with the Community Mapping Lab, the interactive map highlights significant sites created by or connected to Black residents of Athens following the emancipation announcement on May 4, 1865.
Vendors and Cultural Showcase (All Day) Meander through the outdoor marketplace featuring Black-owned businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, art and food by local makers.
Youth and Family Zone (All Day): A family-friendly space filled with cultural games like double-dutch jump roping, sack races, bouncy houses and inflatables.
Storytelling and Community Conversation (3 p.m.): Hosted by Athens poet laureate Mikhayla Robinson Smith and Linda Davis, the “Intergenerational Dialogue” storytelling session offers community reflection on the Athens Day of Jubilee and the broader story of African American history.
Painting Freedom (3:30–4:30 p.m.): Facilitated by local artist Breanna Jackson, the community mural project welcomes artists of all skill levels to paint themes of liberation, resilience and cultural pride. The final collaborative piece will be showcased online.
Afro Dance Party (4:30 p.m.): Dancers of all skill levels and age can learn traditional African dance moves and participate in line dances.
Live Performances (5:30–7 p.m.): Various live performances on the main stage include Pastor Troy, Bella Blaq, Blak Pearl, Palmetto Star, Jazmin Janay, Mikhayla Robinson, Ishues, Cameron Mims, Mollytu Hott, Rites of Passage and more. Additionally, Michael Thurmond, chief executive officer of DeKalb County and an Athens native, will serve as master of ceremonies.
WHAT: Juneteenth Music and Arts Festival
WHEN: Thursday, June 19, 3–7 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Athens
HOW MUCH: FREE!
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