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Greetings! My name is Denise Sunta, a proud Athenian born and raised, and the Event Chair of the 2026 Athens Juneteenth Celebration & Festival. I learned about Athens’ Day of Jubilee before I learned about Juneteenth, but even that wasn’t until I was out of high school. Like many, I grew up learning history from national and state perspectives, but was exposed to very little local history. Being able to connect with local leaders, places, and events of the past changed how I understand Athens and my place within it. That is why I joined Historic Athens in the first place: to help connect our community with each other and with our shared history, particularly the histories that have not always been highlighted as much as they should be. While Athens observed its own Day of Jubilee nearly a month earlier, Juneteenth has become an important national moment of remembrance and celebration. It gives us the opportunity to honor and celebrate the anniversary of the freedom granted to all Americans under the 13th Amendment, while also recognizing the long and ongoing history of Black leadership, resilience, creativity, and community-building. This year, we are grateful for the opportunity to bring people together in downtown Athens to be a part of that tradition. The 2026 Athens Juneteenth Celebration & Festival will begin with a Freedom March at 10:30 AM from the Morton Theatre to Athens City Hall, followed by the raising of the Juneteenth Flag and an afternoon festival in front of and around City Hall. Throughout the day, attendees will experience live performances, storytelling, community vendors, bouncy houses and face painting, food, music, and pop-up history exhibits around Black history in Athens. We are excited to feature a lineup that reflects the culture, diversity, and spirit of our community, from local musicians and poets to organizations and artists whose work showcases the creativity that Athens has to offer. This year, we have also worked to introduce new elements that connect the celebration more deeply to local history and invite attendees to engage with the past in meaningful ways. At 1:00 PM, we will honor past and present Black elected officials from Athens and hear remarks from author and former State Representative Michael Thurmond at the park next to the Costa Building. The ceremony will conclude with each elected official signing our petition to rename the park after Madison Davis and Alfred Richardson, the first two Black state representatives from Athens. The park will also be the space for interactive activities designed to introduce young people to local Black history, including a “Freedom Garden” seed planting activity and a quilt-making activity in celebration of local folk artist Harriet Powers. Attendees will also be invited to participate in a storytelling booth where they can share their own memories and experiences to be preserved for future generations. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped make this celebration possible. Thank you to the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, Mayor and Commission, the Athens Juneteenth planning committee, Historic Athens staff, our performers, vendors, volunteers, community partners, and every person who has offered their time, ideas, labor, and support. This day is so much bigger than one event or one organization, but on behalf of Historic Athens, it has been an honor to help plan and execute this year’s celebration. I hope this year’s Juneteenth gives each of us a chance to learn something new, feel connected to one another, and leave with a deeper appreciation for the community we love. With gratitude, Denise Sunta
2026 Athens Juneteenth Event Chair & Historic Athens Sr. Director of Operations
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