2025 Garner Freedom Celebration
Juneteenth Program
June 21st, - 11:00am
(Doors Open at 10:45am)
Garner Performing Arts Center
742 WEST GARNER ROAD, GARNER, NC
Garner’s 2024
Juneteenth Celebration
Garner Freedom Celebration
Saturday, June 21st, 2025
11:00am at Garner Performing Arts Center
Learn. Observe. Celebrate
Let us learn together about the birth and growth of freedom in America
and appreciate its long and challenging journey to reach everyone.
Let us celebrate our successes through and over history
and commit ourselves to a better future starting every day.
History and Origins
Juneteenth is the African American Independence Day.
Union Soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas on June 19th 1865 and informed the enslaved that they were free; more than 2 ½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863).
“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with the Proclamation from the Executive of the United State, all slaves are free.
This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
— General Granger (1865)
Why is Juneteenth Significant to Garner?
As an All-America City, Garner values diversity and inclusiveness.
Garner has been a multiracial community since its beginnings.
Garner affirms the American creed that all people are created equal.
The Garner Juneteenth Committee was formed in September 2020 by the Mayor and approved by Council to explore and research how the Town of Garner could facilitate the observation of Juneteenth in the Garner Community.
Committee Members
Demian Dellinger – Garner Town Council Member
Michael Naylor – Community Member
Melany Paden – Community Member
Celeste Hinnant - Community Member
Professor Mary D. Williams – Community Member
Rick Mercier – Town of Garner Communications Director
Kyle Kettler - Town of Garner Communications Media Coordinator
Bella Soltz - Town of Garner Communications Specialist