Juneteenth Celebrations Set to Enliven Athens Over the Weekend
As the nation gears up to commemorate Juneteenth, Athens is preparing to host two vibrant events that promise to enrich the cultural tapestry of the city. These back-to-back celebrations provide a chance for the community to come together in honor of this historic day.
The festivities kick off on Friday, June 19th with the “Athens Juneteenth Celebration,” organized by Historic Athens in collaboration with the city. This inaugural event will take place in downtown Athens, running from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and is open to all without charge.
Following this, the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement will present the “Classic City Juneteenth Music and Arts Festival” on Saturday, June 20th. Scheduled from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., this festival will transform the Georgia Square Mall into a hub of music and arts, also free for the public to attend.
Despite the shared goal of celebrating Juneteenth, tensions have arisen between the organizers. The president of the AADM has expressed discontent, alleging that Historic Athens has adopted similar programming to what the AADM has presented in previous years. Notably, the AADM partnered with Athens-Clarke County to host the 2024 and 2025 Juneteenth Festivals.
In 2023, the Juneteenth celebration was spearheaded by Family Connection/Communities in Schools, with county support, branding their event as “19th is the new 4th” at the Rolling Ridge Apartment complex. This year marks a new chapter as Historic Athens takes the reins with county backing, hosting for the first time.
