Join Poplar Forest for the historic home’s first Juneteenth celebration. The oldest national commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the United States and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans living in the former Confederate states, Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the date of the first reading of General Order No. 3, the total emancipation of slaves in Galveston, Texas. Admission to the Juneteeth event is free!

The festivities begin with readings of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the Virginia Resolution Abolishing Slavery on Mr. Jefferson’s south lawn at 11:00 a.m. followed by music and dance performances showcasing local talent, including Kuumba Dance Ensemble, Inc.

Discover a myriad of community resources as you peruse the information booths sponsored by local educational, wellness, civic and social organizations; enjoy a bite to eat from the area’s finest food trucks; and shop for works by regional artisans. Learn about the foodways of the enslaved from costumed interpreter, Cheyney McKnight of “Not Your Momma’s History.” Observe as Jerome Bias, a skilled furniture maker, demonstrates and interprets the intricate joinery work created by talented, enslaved craftsmen like John Hemmings.