LEONARDTOWN, Md. — From the smell of sizzling funnel cake to the sound of laughter echoing across the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, the annual Juneteenth Festival turned a hot June day into a celebration of freedom, heritage and togetherness.
Hosted by the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC), the event drew hundreds of families, neighbors and visitors for a day packed with culture and community pride. Children lined up for face painting and bounce houses, while adults browsed rows of vendors selling everything from Afrocentric art and handmade jewelry to natural beauty products and self-published books. Local food trucks served up fried fish, funnel cakes and ice-cold lemonade — filling the air with flavor and nostalgia.
There were educational displays highlighting African American achievements, interactive exhibits for kids and storytelling circles where elders shared history the textbooks left out. In quieter corners, community members engaged in discussions about local issues, health initiatives and upcoming civic projects — conversations that reflected a desire not just to celebrate freedom, but to sustain it.
Juneteenth marks the date in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally informed of their freedom — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. What began as a regional observance has grown into a national holiday. And here in Southern Maryland, it has become more than a commemoration — it’s a call to remember, to honor and to build.
UCAC, a nonprofit founded in 1995 by Elmer Brown, continues to preserve and promote the history of African Americans in St. Mary’s County through events like this and ongoing advocacy in education, health and community development. Their work is steady and intentional — amplifying stories that have been buried, and creating space for a more connected future.
Whether it was dancing in the grass, supporting Black-owned businesses or simply taking in the richness of culture on full display, this year’s Juneteenth Festival reminded us all that freedom isn’t just a date — it’s a responsibility. And it’s something we keep alive, together.
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