free food, music, activities for all ages, guest speakers, and hair braiding

Come visit us at the 2nd annual Juneteenth Community Celebration, organized by the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union and held at the SVSU Central Office at 113 Depot Street in Bennington. We will have activities for kids as well as historical information about slavery in Vermont. Callie Raspuzzi, Bennington Museum’s Collections Manager, will speak about the history of Juneteenth and about our efforts to learn more about the lives of early Black Benningtonians.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is our newest Federal holiday, but it has been celebrated in African-American communities since 1866, a year after enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation). It’s a time to celebrate, reflect and learn. Everyone in the community is invited to join the fun and learn something new. The event is free, including hot dogs and hamburgers and red velvet cake!

See you there!