Juneteenth Festival FAQs

Camilla Black Cultural and Awareness Committee

Link to FAQ: https://bit.ly/3HwiFOe

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Black Independence Day.  It marks the date when, on June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery.  The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, had legally freed slaves in Texas on January 1, 1863, almost 2½ years earlier. Even after the general order, some slave masters withheld the information from their enslaved Black people, holding them captive through at least one more harvest season. Thus, Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African American freedom.

DATES AND HOURS:

The 2022 Juneteenth Festival will occur on Saturday, June 18th, from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM and Sunday, June 19th, from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. 

VENUE:

The Juneteenth Festival will occur on the Mitchell County Courthouse grounds.

PARKING:

The P & C Bank and City Hall  parking lot will be available for free parking, along with the Old Snipes Finer Food parking lot. We strongly encourage attendees to utilize all pedestrian crosswalks when entering festival grounds.

The North Harney St. access will be closed. This is at the intersection of W. Broad and E. Oakland Ave.

SECURITY:

The Camilla Police Department will be onsite providing Festival security and assisting with traffic control and medical emergencies if needed.

HOW WE ARE KEEPING ATTENDEES SAFE:

Given the size of the site, attendees can physically distance themselves. ‘The Oaks’ (Oak Trees) will also be a  great place for people to get shade.

Masks can be worn and those who choose to wear them will be respected.

Many vendors will be selling bottled water. The committee however, will have free water options available. Please see a Festival Volunteer if medical assistance is needed.

ACCESSIBILITY FOR GUESTS:

The Juneteenth Festival is an outdoor event, held in a natural setting. Wheelchairs and motorized wheelchairs are welcome.

RESTROOMS:

There will be public portable toilets across the Festival grounds.

IS THERE AN ATM?

We have three local banks in walking distance of the Festival grounds with outside ATM options. P & C Bank, Bank of Camilla, and Family Bank.

VENDORS:

We have over 25 vendors confirmed for the festival. Several food options, arts & crafts, and pop up vendors.

PETS:

Pets are allowed on Festival grounds but must be on a leash. Owners must also be  prepared to collect pet’s droppings.

FIREARMS/WEAPONS:

The Festival is occurring on County/Courthouse property. State Law prohibits firearms on certain Government property.