Band of Brothers and the City of Augusta reunited again to put on the Eighth Annual Juneteenth Celebration, which took place on the grounds of the James Brown Arena on June 19.
“This is literally the last event that will touch this soil before they start the demolition,” said Chavis Lawrence, Vice President of Band of Brothers.
The gates opened at noon, and the community poured in ready to celebrate the day that marked the end of slavery in the United States. Enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they were free on June 19, 1865, after the Civil War had ended and two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
All ages were in attendance to enjoy the event.
At the far right of the James Brown Arena parking lot was the stage. From the time the gates opened until the event closed, local dance teams, musical artists and even poets graced the stage with their talent.
There was plenty of food as well as vendors.
By the late afternoon into the evening, the crowd grew larger as they waited to see performers including a surprise performance by Pastor Troy, a Paine College alum, and the Hip Hop Duo, YoungBloodZ and Travis Porter.
Darasha Singleton is a correspondent for Augusta Good News. Augusta Good News is an award-winning member of the Georgia Press Association. Sign up for the weekly newsletter here.
