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Classic City Juneteenth Celebration: By the people, for the people

ATHENS, GA — The Classic City Juneteenth Music & Arts Fest 2026, hosted by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM), will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Georgia Square Mall, located at 3700 Atlanta Highway, Athens, Georgia 30606.

Under the theme, “For the People. By the People,” means that Classic City Juneteenth Music and Arts Festival is more than an event. It is a community gathering, a cultural experience, and a reminder that when people come together with purpose, we can build something meaningful, often with limited resources, but with an abundance of love, resilience, creativity, and collective power.

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement successfully hosted Juneteenth celebrations in Downtown Athens in 2024 and 2025, helping establish a community-centered tradition that combined cultural performances, libation, the Freedom Walk, civic education, and opportunities to support Black artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations. Those celebrations created spaces where residents could gather not only commemorate emancipation, but also to reflect, learn, and celebrate the enduring contributions of Black communities.

This year’s celebration represents an evolution of that work. While the location has changed, the heart of organizers remains the same. Rooted in the vision that inspired its creation, Classic City Juneteenth Music & Arts Fest 2026 continues to be a celebration built with and for the community.


While Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865—the day enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom—Classic City Juneteenth also recognizes Athens’ own emancipation story.

On May 4, 1865, Athens experienced what became known as the Day of Jubilee, when enslaved people in the area learned they were free. By connecting Athens’ local history to the national observance of Juneteenth, the celebration acknowledges that freedom came in waves across the South—often delayed, but never denied.

The Classic City Juneteenth Music and Arts Fest 2026 will begin with a powerful tribute to those who endured slavery and fought for freedom. Community members are encouraged to gather by 2:45 p.m., as the opening ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.

Outside Georgia Square Mall, the celebration will open with a Libation Ceremony, honoring our ancestors and acknowledging the sacrifices of those who came before us. The ceremony will be followed by a Bell Ringing, symbolizing the long-awaited announcement of freedom and the enduring call to justice.

Participants will then join in a Freedom Walk, symbolically walking together from remembrance to celebration as they enter Georgia Square Mall.

Community Conversation: We’re Not Going Back

A highlight of this year’s program will be a community conversation titled “We’re Not Going Back,” creating space for dialogue about the importance of civic participation, protecting hard-won rights, and ensuring future generations understand the value of representation and community engagement. Featuring guest speakers Jasmine Clark, a microbiologist, educator, and public servant who has represented Georgia's 108th House District since 2019 and Charles S. Bullock III, author of “The History of Redistricting in Georgia.” Moderated by Kimberly Davis

The festival will feature an exciting lineup of local artists and performers, including:

  • Classic City Reign Majorettes

  • Yonni Bonnie

  • Mile Stone

  • Abatsu African Dance and Drummers

  • Kaliah Hearts

  • Ali & Lil One

  • Ishues

  • Duddy Ken

  • Trina Meade & Band

  • Nena East Athens Dance Center Community Dance Session

Guest speakers and ceremonial participants include:

  • Dr. Akinloye Ojo

  • Linda Davis

  • Dr. Christina Hylton

  • Brandon Frazier

  • And additional community voices

Together, these artists and speakers represent the creativity, leadership, talent, and cultural richness that continue to shape Athens and beyond.

One thing history has shown is that Black communities know how to build something from nothing. Through resilience, faith, creativity, and collective action, generations before us transformed struggle into strength and obstacles into opportunity.

Classic City Juneteenth Music & Arts Festival 2026 honors that legacy. It is a celebration of freedom won, sacrifices made, and the work that still lies ahead. It is an invitation to gather in joy, remember our history, educate future generations, support one another, and recommit ourselves to building a more just and equitable future.

As we celebrate under the theme

“For the People. By the People” we invite the entire community to join us in carrying this tradition forward.

For vendor registration and additional information, visit:

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