MACON, Ga. — The Kwanzaa Cultural Access Center and Torchlight Academy held the 32nd annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival in Macon this Saturday and Sunday.
The event will wrap up three days before actual Juneteenth, a day in celebration of when black people learned of their freedom in 1865. However, as noted by the events website, enslaved black people became “freedmen” sometime around April 20, 1865.
This happened when Tattnall Square Park was surrendered to a Union Army General. In July 1865, a formal proclamation of slavery’s end was made from the Bibb County courthouse.
Saturday’s festivities will run from 1 to 9 p.m. and will take place at Tattnall Square Park. Sunday’s will start two hours later and will run from 3 to 9 p.m. at Douglass Theatre.
The event is free for attendees and has a wide array of activities.
People can experience historical exhibits, live cultural arts performances, community information presenters and health and wellness activities.
There will also be plenty of vendors at the event. Some sold food, while others sold art, jewelry or various other accessories.
Sunday’s celebrations will also have a parade from 3 to 5 p.m.