Charlottesville Albemarle Black Business Expo

Nationwide, Juneteenth commemorates the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were finally emancipated. In Charlottesville, Juneteenth festivities and the Black Business Expo blend entrepreneurship with cultural heritage. The co-located events will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Jefferson School City Center yard.

At 10 a.m., The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center's annual parade African American organizations will march from Burley Middle School to the Jefferson School lawn, led by this year's Grand Marshal Mayor Juandiego Wade.

The Black Business Expo, presented by Lifeview Marketing and WTJU 91.1 FM, will feature dozens of vendor booths, a business pitch competition, and three panel discussions focused on advancing Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs:

Marketing – Proven strategies to build your brand and reach new audiences

Finance – Tools and tips to secure capital and manage money effectively

Technology to Gain an Edge – Digital tools and innovations to grow smarter

The Juneteenth Celebration will also feature an emancipation concert, headlined by the high-energy, crowd-favorite band Ebony Groove, with opening performance by the soulful Jen Tal. Entertainment will also include Boots on the Ground line dancing and a gaming tent, featuring an NBA 2K tournament.

This event is free and open to everyone.

Slots are still available for vendor booths and the business pitch competition. Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners should visit BlackBusinessExpo.org to sign up.

Join us for a day of networking, knowledge, celebration, and community power. More information at BlackBusinessExpo.org or Jeffschoolheritagecenter.org/events