Holly Springs Honors Juneteenth with Proclamation and Community Celebration at Cultural Center
Community-wide Juneteenth event on Saturday, June 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. features live music, kids zone, food vendors and local artisans.
Holly Springs, NC, Jun. 20, 2025 — During its June 17 Town Council meeting, the Town of Holly Springs formally recognized Juneteenth with an official proclamation presented by Mayor Sean Mayefskie to longtime resident and community advocate George Kimball. The proclamation designates June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth in Holly Springs, commemorating the 160th anniversary of one of the most significant milestones in American history.
Juneteenth marks the date in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the last remaining enslaved African Americans of their freedom, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. (Congressional Juneteenth Fact Sheet)
“2025 is the 160th anniversary of the celebration of Juneteenth,” Mayor Mayefskie said, “I do declare that on June 19, 2025, in Holly Springs… I call upon all the residents to become more aware of the significance of the celebration of Juneteenth”.
The proclamation emphasized that while the Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, immediately freed about 500,000 enslaved individuals in rebellious states, millions more remained in bondage until the 13th Amendment was ratified in December 1865.
Mr. Kimball accepted the proclamation during the ceremony, which acknowledged both the historic significance of Juneteenth and the ongoing work needed to ensure equity and opportunity for all Americans.
To celebrate, the Town of Holly Springs—partnering with the Holly Springs MLK Committee—is hosting a community-wide Juneteenth event on Saturday, June 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 West Ballentine Street.
The event will feature:
Live music and performances from The 919 Project and The Harambee Collective
Free kids zone with inflatables and yard games
Local artisan and food vendors offering a wide range of goods and flavors
Community fellowship in a family-friendly, outdoor atmosphere
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the performances on the lawn.
Juneteenth, often referred to as Black Independence Day, has been officially celebrated in Galveston since 1866 and became a federal holiday on June 19, 2021. It has been observed in North Carolina since 2007 (House Bill 1607)
For more information, visit the Town’s Juneteenth page or the Holly Springs MLK Committee site.