Thank you for attending our 4 day Juneteenth Cultural Celebration!

The 4th annual Cultural Juneteenth celebration will be hosted once again in the heart of Franklin city. Historically part of Southampton County, the organizers highlight that Franklin is home to two of the most famous figures in American history: Nat Turner and Dredd Scott. Located 40 miles west of Norfolk and nine miles north of the North Carolina border, this event promises to be a significant cultural celebration. Community sponsorships play a vital role in making these Juneteenth events possible. For more information about the celebration, you may contact the City of Franklin.

Secure community sponsorships to support our cultural celebration. Make a donation to help fund our Juneteenth events. Purchase souvenir brochures to commemorate the occasion. Additionally, consider our Juneteenth event consultation services.

The Spectacular Juneteenth Cultural Celebration brochure serves as a tangible souvenir that chronicles the various Juneteenth events during the four-day occasion, designed to be a collector's item for years to come. This unique cultural celebration is not intended to be a traditional festival; rather, it aims to become an annual Virginia tourist attraction, supported by community sponsorships, that will endure for generations.

Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021 in the United States, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. This cultural celebration marks the anniversary of General Order No. 3 announced by Union Army General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas who were unaware or not allowed to observe the Emancipation Proclamation issued in 1863 by President Lincoln. The first Juneteenth events took place in Galveston, Texas. While Juneteenth in Virginia and Texas didn't initially gain significant national recognition, Virginia's history is notable as the birthplace of slavery in the United States and the former capital of the Confederacy. The state is also known for its freedom fighters, including Nat Turner, who led the largest slave revolt in American history in Southampton County in 1831. Community sponsorships have helped to further promote the significance of Juneteenth, highlighting its importance in the ongoing fight for freedom and equality.