ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — 

Asheville is celebrating Juneteenth this week with block parties, live music and a look back at history.

Juneteenth, observed nationwide on Wednesday, June 19, is a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States and celebration of Black voices and freedom. The holiday became federally recognized in 2021 but has been celebrated in some form and fashion since 1865.  

This week, the City of Asheville joins the festivities with a series of free Juneteenth events, several coordinated by the Martin Luther King Jr. Association.

Wednesday, June 19

Among the largest celebrations is Juneteenth on The Block, a celebration from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. 

The block party will be held in The Block neighborhood downtown near Pack Square Park. Participating community partners and organizations include LEAF Global Arts, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, JD Ellison & Company, Noir Collective AVL and others. 

Juneteenth on the Block will culminate at The Foundry Hotel in the Workshop Lounge for a final evening gathering. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.

Also on Wednesday, North Carolina gospel singer and historian Mary D. Williams will give a Distinguished Speaker Presentation and Reception, “From Slavery to Juneteenth Jubilee,” noon to 2 p.m. at Black Wall Street AVL, 8 River Arts Place, Asheville. 

Thursday, June 20

A Juneteenth Gala will be held for the public at the Stephens-Lee Community Center. Attendees can expect an evening of catered appetizers, beverages, live music and a fashion show presented by local artists of color. The gala begins 7 p.m. Thursday at the Stephens-Lee Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville. 

Friday, June 21

The music festival Downtown After 5 returns for its June concert with a special Juneteenth themed event. Sierra Green & the Giants headlines the concert with Lyric, which begins at 5 p.m. on North Lexington Avenue, Asheville. 

The festival will feature BIPOC craft vendors, Black-owned food trucks and engagement stations for community nonprofits. This iteration of Downtown After 5 is a collaboration with the Martin Luther King Jr. Association. 

Throughout the week, there also is a series of “Lunch and Learn” events. These catered lunches will center around topics like Civil Rights history, Black history in Asheville and neighborhood gentrification. Each will take place between noon and 1:30 p.m. at community centers around town.

  • Tuesday, June 18, “First African American Families of Asheville and Buncombe County” will be held at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St. 
  • Thursday, June 20, “Reflections on Gentrification of the African American Neighborhoods” will be held at Burton Street Recreation Center, 134 Burton St. 
  • Friday, June 21, “Early African American Health Care & Today’s African American Inequities” will conclude the series at Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Drive. 

More information about Juneteenth and Juneteenth events can be found on the MLK Association’s website, www.mlkasheville.org/events/juneteenth-2024-events/. 

Correction: An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect time for the Juneteenth on the Block event. The correct time is 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday.