Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth in Charlottesville and Albemarle County

With a rich history and a vibrant Black community, the Charlottesville area comes alive during Juneteenth. Explore all of the events happening this month to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

UPDATED 4/27/26

1. Attend Local Events

2. Explore Local Sites

Take a Public Walking Tour of the Downtown Mall

Seasonally, we offer historic walking tours that take guests through the history of Court Square, the Downtown Mall, or Charlottesville’s Black barbers and barbershops...

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Take the ​‘From Slavery to Freedom’ Tour at Monticello

This small-group, guided tour has a specific focus on slavery at Monticello and its legacies. Guests will participate in a facilitated dialogue on race and the legacies of slavery in the United States...

Visit the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at UVA

The Memorial to Enslaved Laborers (MEL) acknowledges the work and individual lives of the enslaved African Americans who built the University of Virginia...

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Visit the ​“Pride Overcomes Prejudice” Exhibit

Visit the Jefferson School’s permanent exhibition, Pride Overcomes Prejudice. The exhibition presents the history of the African American communities of Charlottesville and Albemarle County through the lives of those students and teachers who built and fostered the Jefferson School...

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Take the ​‘Enslaved Community Tour’ at Montpelier

This walking tour of significant sites examines one of America’s largest paradoxes: a nation where “all men are created equal” built by those who are denied the exact freedoms they were laboring to establish...

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3. Support Black-Owned Businesses

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