Juneteenth is just under a week away, but in many places around Fairfax County, the celebrations will start this weekend.
Officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, it is observed annually on June 19, the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to liberate some 250,000 enslaved people who had not been freed despite President Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Juneteenth was officially declared a holiday by the state of Virginia, Falls Church and Fairfax County in 2020. The towns of Vienna and Herndon recognized it as a holiday in 2021, when it was first observed by the federal government.
Here are a few of the local Juneteenth events on the calendar.
Frying Pan Baptist Meeting House Exploration
Saturday, June 15
Tours times: 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.
Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 West Ox Road)
Explore the history of the free and enslaved Black members of the Frying Pan Baptist Meeting House located in the Floris area of Fairfax County. Tours of the house and the surrounding grounds reveal the ways Black members advocated for freedoms within the church and established communities after the end of slavery in the South. Register for the free tours online.
Herndon Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 15
Noon-8 p.m.
Arts Herndon (750 Center Street)
The Town of Herndon’s free event will feature family activities, music and vendors. The Herndon Historical Society will present the talk, “The Freedom of Henry Simms,” the story of Herndon’s first Black businessman. A beer in Simms’s honor will be available at the ticketed beer tasting, Brewbilee, featuring the creations of local, Black-owned breweries.
Fairfax City Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 15
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive)
Visit Old Town Hall for face painting, then flaunt your new look at the selfie station. Children’s crafts, temporary tattoos and cookie decorating will also be onsite. Head down to Old Town Square for live entertainment, with performances by the Anthony Swamp Dog Clark Band, Lemonade Dream, Melanie Bates and Soultrí.
Saturday, June 15
11-3 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Vienna (450 Orchard Street NW)
The Town of Vienna will mark the beginning of Liberty Amendments Month with a Juneteenth celebration opening ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Vienna.
Event-goers will enjoy an Earth, Wind, and Fire cover band, food trucks and craft vendors. There will also be children’s book giveaways and activities along with voter registration resources. The festivities move down the road to the James H. Hayes-Bull Run Lodge #529 at 250 Nutley Street NW for a classic car show featuring models made before 2000. Registration for the car show is from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Juneteenth Commemoration at Sully Historic Site
Wednesday, June 19
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly
The Fairfax County Park Authority will commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. with tours of the Sully Historic Site, once a home and a farmstead. The tours will provide a better understanding of daily life for the enslaved living in that area prior to emancipation.
Storytellers, history interpreters and special exhibits will be on site along with food trucks and HealthWorks for free health screenings. Register for the Juneteenth Celebration online.
History Talks — The Long Road to Freedom: The U.S. Army and Juneteenth
Wednesday, June 19th
Noon (Virtual and in-person)
1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir
The National Museum of the United States Army peels back layers of history and examines the army’s role in liberating enslaved people in the Confederacy. The talk will also discuss Juneteenth as a time to honor the Black soldiers who served in the Civil War. Online registration is required to attend in-person and virtually. In-person seating is first come, first served.
This story was updated to correct the address for Fairfax City’s Old Town Hall.
