Juneteenth 2026

Learn the art of quilting from the Atlanta-based, award-winning Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild through a series of demonstrations, displays, hands-on activities and timed talks.

Activities will be available from 10:00am—2:00pm.

Timed talks will take place at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, and 1:30pm.

Join us for an exploration of pre-Civil War agriculture and nature as it relates to the lives of the enslaved in America’s Piedmont region. Explore the Smith Farm while learning about the foodways, medicinal practices, forms of resistance, and horticultural styles these communities practiced to overcome the oppression they faced.

Guided tour offered at 11:00am, 12:00pm, and 1:00pm.

Social change isn’t brought about by intellectual arguments alone — it’s historically excavated and propelled by songs that name our collective intuitions. The social lyric writer takes what is personal and integrates it into a shared belief, for the common good. In this workshop, you’ll learn three patterns that have been embedded in community music – protest songs, hymns, and anthems — and even have the chance to write the beginning of your own song.   

10:45 am, 11:45 am, and 1:45 pm 
 
Micah Dalton is a songwriter, community builder, and lifelong Atlantan whose work lives at the intersection of music, story, and place. As co-founder of ATL Collective, he has spent over a decade cultivating spaces where local artists collaborate across cultures and genres — most notably through Camp Collective, the city’s first community-based songwriting camp and the Preservation Series, a live, inter-scene cover series designed to help Atlantans discover their new favorite artists while singing their old favorites songs.   

This talk will explore how African Americans in Atlanta celebrated freedom in the new Georgia capital during Reconstruction. From new schools, churches, social clubs, and annual Independence Day parades, Black Atlantans offered conspicuous displays of new freedoms throughout the immediate post-Civil War era. 

Jeffrey O. G. Ogbar  is professor of history and founding director of the Center for the Study of Popular Music at the University of Connecticut. He earned his PhD in US history from Indiana University Bloomington and his BA in history from Morehouse College in Atlanta. He lives in Hartford, Connecticut.

2:00pm; space is limited, onsite tickets available, first come first served

Performances at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm

Veronika Jackson is a folk blues artist who has passionately performed traditional grassroots folk and blues for years– her authentic and soulful sound is firmly rooted in African American history and the enduring spirit of the blues. Guided by the deep currents of history and fueled by the promise of Hope, Veronika music is a bridge between generations keeping the legacy of folk alive while inspiring a new generation. 

Performances at 11:15am, 12:15pm, and 1:15pm 

With Billboard Top 5 songwriting credits, film and television placements, and a voice that has filled everything from Off-Broadway theaters to Las Vegas casino stages, Natasha Brown represents the gold standard of versatility in modern music. A celebrated multi-genre vocalist, songwriter, theatrical co-star, vocal arranger, musical director, and producer, she has performed at the Essence Festival, the Walmart Annual Shareholders Meeting, the National Black Theater Festival, and USA Track & Field’s most prestigious events.  

Larry Wilson is a critically acclaimed gospel and jazz artist, producer, instructor, clinician, and engineer. He is the founder of 20-piece big band, The Black Gold Orchestra, the owner of Truth Music Productions, Wilson Works Studios, and Sessions Lane Records, and co-owner of Opal Ally Film Productions alongside his wife, Christine Wilson. 

Performance at 3:15pm 

Servicing as the adult branch of the Atlanta Drum Academy, ADA ELITE was formed in 2020 as a professional drumline for the students of the Academy to return to after college. It is now a group of professional drummers from Atlanta continuing their craft and putting on shows throughout the country.  ADA ELITE is where high energy, education, and percussive entertainment meet!  

Learn the historic trades that—for many enslaved and freed people—provided a means for financial mobility before and after the Civil War. Demonstrations, including  woodworking, cooking, and distilling will be led throughout our historic Smith Farm and will be supplemented with enriched material for your self-guided experience. 

10:00am—2:00pm

Using your five senses, engage with stories of empowerment and resistance to understand how African Americans retained identity, culture, and autonomy despite enslavement. 

10:00am—2:00pm

The Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS), Inc., is a group of family-tree researchers who share historical and genealogical information, methodology and sources about African American ancestry. Chapter members are from the “ATL” area and across the nation and include everyone from beginners to published authors who research all 50 states. For information about our organization, visit us at  www.aahgsatl.org  

10:00am—2:00pm

Explore Civil War artifacts from the United States Colored Troops (USCT), including a military drum, Army medal, and more! Learn about these objects and their history from AHC staff.

10:30am—1:00pm 

Inspired by the biographies of Edward Carter’s 1894 book  The Black Side, these recordings introduce individuals who shaped the  Black community in the years following the Civil War and Reconstruction. From educators to craftsmen to philanthropists, learn how these men and women found new opportunity through freedom and created an impact in Atlanta.

10:00am—4:00pm 

Visit the latest addition to the Gatheround: Stories of Atlanta exhibit that shares the story of the Atlanta Student Movement and how this group of students not only organized to make a major impact on the Civil Rights Movement, but also took their place in the complex story of Black Atlanta.

10:00am—4:00pm  

Create your own colorful shaker or rattle—instruments with deep roots in the African diaspora. After you craft and play, take home your very own musical creation!

10:00am—4:00pm

(Recommended for ages 8 and under; ticket required)  

Explore the joys and wonders of the Goizueta Children’s Experience! Children ages 0-8 can enjoy themed hands-on crafts, playful activities, and creative experiences inspired by Atlanta’s history and culture. 

*Timed ticket required: a limited number of tickets will be available onsite, first come first served.  

10:00am—4:00pm

Kenan Research Center preserves and provides access to extensive primary source holdings for the study of Atlanta and the surrounding region, including a special collection for Southeastern horticultural history in our  Cherokee Garden Library. The center also collects and shares stories of our veterans through the Veterans History Project. Drop by to explore books and select archival material on display and learn about the research services available.

10:00am—4:00pm

Celebrate Juneteenth by connecting with community groups throughout the city of Atlanta. Whether you’d like to get involved in youth empowerment, civic opportunities, or other area nonprofit organizations, there are lots of ways to make a difference. While you’re here, check out the vibrant vendor market, where crates of vinyl, music-inspired goods, and unique local finds come together in one lively space.

12:00pm—4:00pm