Local MLK Association and City of Asheville announce 2025 Juneteenth Celebration June 16-20

Asheville --   City of Asheville Press Release: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2025 Juneteenth Celebration to create a diverse schedule of events that fosters broad participation, promotes community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people.

Dating back to 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, June 19 marked the arrival of Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved people were now free.

This started the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.

The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a city holiday in 2021.

All events are free and open to the public. The Juneteenth Discussions Sessions will feature either a film or dinner, followed by local leaders speaking on topics such as removing Confederate monuments and genealogy. Also, the public is invited to celebrate Juneteenth at Downtown After 5 and at the Juneteenth Gala.

Event Schedule

Monday, June 16        5:30PM – 8PM

“ A Time to Yell”: Film and Discussion

Stephen Lee Community Center

Tuesday, June 17        5:30PM - 8PM

“Life of Julius Rosendwald”: Film and Discussion

Stephens Lee Community Center

Wednesday, June 18    5:30PM - 8PM  

Sasha Mitchell - Genealogical Research: Dinner and Discussion

Stephens Lee Community Center

Thursday, June 19      12PM - 2PM

Juneteenth Celebration of Song with Mary D. Williams

Shiloh Friendship Center, 142 Shiloh Rd.

Thursday, June 19         6PM - 9PM

Gala & Fashion Show (reserve free tickets here! )    

AB-Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Dr.

Friday, June 20             5PM - 9PM

Downtown After 5 Juneteenth Celebration

Pack Square Park

All events are free and open to the public due to the generous donations and/or sponsorships of the following organizations:

The City of Asheville

Mission Health

Givens Communities

Deerfield Charitable Foundation

Dogwood Heath Trust

Biltmore

Advent Health

AB Tech Community College

Black Wall St AVL

Image: WNCTimes