JUNETEENTH in Colonial Beach

Start: Thursday, June 19, 2025 11:00AM
End: Thursday, June 19, 2025 4:00PM

Our 4th Annual Juneteenth Event is made possible in part by a grant from Virginia Humanities. Join us on Thursday June 19th from 11 to 4 on Town Hill in Colonial Beach. Juneteenth commemorates the end of legalized slavery, marking the day in June 1865 when Major General Gordon Grander ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas. Originating in Galveston in 1866, "Juneteenth" has been observed in many locations around the county to celebrate Freedom and African American Culture. In 2020, Juneteenth became a State Holiday in Virginia and in 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law making June 19th a Federal Holiday.

Here in Colonial Beach, our local Juneteenth Event celebrates freedom AND recognizes the contributions of enslaved people and their descendants throughout our Northern Neck History with music, dancing, storytelling, drumming, and the spoken word. Presentations and Performances from the Town Stage will run from 11-4. Cultural, historical, educational, and vendor exhibits will be set up on Town Hill and open to the public from 11 to 4.

We are excited to announce that Becky and Slam! Stewart and the BST Band will be providing the DJ, Ceremonial Drumming, and Music for our 4th Annual Juneteenth event in Colonial Beach! Enjoy the jazz funk and world music of the BST Band, a fusion of world musicians brought together by husband-and-wife musical duo, Becky Stewart (piano and vocals) and Slam Stewart (drums), and their sister, Tanyah Dadze (keyboard synthesizer and vocals) who most recently toured the world with local artist "Gaye Adegbalola and the Wild Rutz". Added to the musical mix are the flavors of Puerto Rico with Marta Fuentes on percussion and vocals (who also toured with, "Gaye Adegbalola and the Wild Rutz"); Jorge Rosario, on bass and guitar; and saxophonist, Daphne Cashion. To top off this eclectic mix of musicians, world-renowned Conguero, Alberto Limonta Perez (or "Limon"), provides the authentic Afrocuban flavor or "sabor afrocubano" on the Congas.

Artists / Speakers: BST Band, Slamone LLC, Burkett Lyburn