Juneteenth Events in Davidson County
Juneteenth is more than a date. It’s a declaration, a drumbeat and, for some, still a waiting room. While freedom was promised, justice has never come easy. From the graves of the enslaved in Lexington to the live music and cowboy boots in Thomasville, Davidson County is honoring freedom with reverence, rhythm and real community.
This year, Juneteenth commemorations stretch beyond June 19. Local events highlight the complex and beautiful truth of emancipation: that joy and justice can and must exist together.
June 19 – Lexington Community Day and Enslaved Gravesite Dedication
Start your Juneteenth with a burst of creative energy at Arts Theatre 202 (202 N. Main Street, Lexington), where Community Day runs from 12 PM to 5 PM. This free celebration of art, music, drama and unity is hosted by Anything for Our Youth Group, Daitrell, Arts Davidson County and the Black Butterfly Network. It will feature a live performance by Daitrell, who performs under the tagline “Be Dazzled. Be Dope. Be You.”
Also, a group of churches will host a viewing of Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom (teaser trailer) from Our Daily Bread's Voices Collection.
Later that evening, the community will trade microphones for memory.
At 6 PM, gather at Lexington City Cemetery, located off North State Street just beyond Uptown, for a Historical Site Dedication at the enslaved gravesite. Organized by the Dedication Committee, this solemn ceremony recognizes the unnamed and unmourned—those buried without choice, voice or headstone. The inscription reads: “Before the Civil War, slaves were buried by their masters.”
This dedication brings long-silenced history into the light, honoring the lives that built this land but were too often buried beneath it both literally and figuratively.
June 21 – Trailride Thomasville at Pace Park
Just two days later, the community will turn up the volume but not the amnesia. Councilman Jacquez Johnson presents Trailride Thomasville on Saturday, June 21 from 4 PM to 9 PM at Pace Park (1 E. Main Street, Thomasville).
With live music, food trucks and free entry, this event invites you to come as you are—boots, hats and history in tow. The slogan says it best: “Hats On. Boots Down. History in the Making.”
This event isn’t just a country good time. It’s a cultural remix. Trailride culture has deep Southern Black roots, blending cowboy grit with community pride. This ain’t your granddaddy’s rodeo but it might make him proud.
Why This Matters
Juneteenth is about reclaiming a story that was buried, delayed and distorted. In Davidson County, we’re not just remembering that history. We’re putting our boots on it, putting names to it and passing the mic to those who’ve lived its legacy.
From the enslaved gravesite on North State to the joy-filled streets of Thomasville, these events remind us that freedom isn’t finished. It’s still being written.
Whether you come to grieve, groove or give thanks, just come. This is history in real time.
