Juneteenth was a uniquely Carrboro - Chapel Hill celebration of freedom and creativity

The morning downpour cleared in time for a sunny celebration of Juneteenth 2026 at the Hargraves Community Center on Friday, June 19th. Local leaders, musicians, poets, vendors, food trucks and a cross section of the Carrboro and Chapel Hill communities gathered to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. and to honor and celebrate the many people – past and present – who foster freedom, community and creativity.

“I’m glad folks come out,” said Johnny Purefoy as he enjoyed his fish dinner at a table under the tent set up for those dining on food from the food trucks. He pointed to his house across the street from Hargraves, saying that he attended Northside Elementary School back when it was still called Lincoln. He recalled that for many years he couldn’t participate in such community celebrations in his hometown because he was serving in the Navy. “I’m proud,” he said as he looked around at his friends and neighbors. ”Now I always come unless I’m under the weather.”

To officially open the event at 4 pm, Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee welcomed everyone from the stage, noting the diversity of the attendees and the spirit of inclusion and community the event aims to promote. The gathering also “shows the richness of black culture,” she said.

The Mayor was followed by Carrboro Poet Laureate, Dr. Amanda Bennett. Musicians provided a musical backdrop throughout the four-hour festival as well as a beat for dancing in the open area in front of the stage.

Vendors lined the field selling everything from hot sauce to head scarfs. Jewelry and accessory designer and owner of Earresistible, Swanda Warren, lucked into a shady spot on the edge of the field. This was her second year at the joint Carrboro-Chapel Hill Juneteenth celebration. She has been impressed by the fair process for determining the vendors and the communication throughout the weeks of event preparation– including an email early in the day reassuring everyone that the event would simply move inside the community center if the morning rain didn’t let up.

“It’s all really well-organized,” she said.

From the organizer’s perspective, Xavi Vallejo, Chapel Hill’s Community Arts & Culture Special Events Coordinator, happily stated “everything is going smoothly.” This year’s celebration likely would attract between 1,000 to 2,000 attendees, he said, surveying the crowd. That’s about what previous years’ attendance has averaged since the event started in 2020.

Various organizations including Black fraternities and sororities had booths to welcome their brothers and sisters. Representatives from the League of Women Voters offered information on voter registration.

“It’s always good to vote,” said Arianne Hartsell of the League of Women Voters, adding that the organization wants to raise awareness of changing voter rules, noting that some of the new policies may discourage some people from voting . “We want everyone to feel comfortable. They don’t need to be worried.”

The NAACP also had a presence, with Michael Parker, who sits on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP’s executive committee, noting “Juneteenth is an important day in our nation’s history.” He also was happy to be attending since it was “a chance to catch up with folks.”

President of the NAACP’s Youth Council and rising senior at Carrboro High School, Kennedy Lytle, expressed her pride in being at the Juneteenth gathering. Often classes on African-American history focus on the negatives and this celebration offers a “break from the negative in the world we live in. We’re trying to show Black joy,” Lytle said.

Younger participants joyfully played games, got their faces painted and collected the free giveaways at the various booths.

“It’s really fun,” said one young attendee. “It celebrates Black history.” His sister added: “It celebrates freedom and rights.”