Gastonia EbonyFest Juneteenth Festival & Fireworks

The Fifth Annual Gastonia EbonyFest Juneteenth Festival is a multi-day celebration of Juneteenth. It’s free to the public. It also includes several events leading up to the big weekend.

Learn about other Juneteenth celebrations in the Charlotte area!

Here are all the events associated with EbonyFest Juneteenth.

Buy Black Pop Up Market at the Rotary Centennial Pavilion
Saturday, April 22, 2023
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rotary Centennial Pavilion
111 N South Street, Gastonia, NC
Free

Shop from Black owned businesses at the EbonyFest Buy Black Pop Up Market.

Buy Black Pop Up Market at the Rotary Centennial Pavilion
Saturday, May 27, 2023
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rotary Centennial Pavilion
111 N South Street, Gastonia, NC
Free

Shop from Black owned businesses at the EbonyFest Buy Black Pop Up Market.

Health & Wellness Fair
Saturday, June 17, 2023
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Highland Health Center
609 N Highland Street, Gastonia, NC
Free

Health & Wellness Fair and luncheon sponsored by Highland Health Center, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and Highland Neighborhood Association.

Barbershop Rap Session and Buy Black Pop Up Market
Saturday, June 17, 2023
1 to 5 p.m.
Erwin Center
913 N Pryor Street, Gastonia, NC
Free

Inside the Erwin Center, Gastonia Police Department will lead the conversation with youth during the Barber Shop Rap Session in the gymnasium, followed by youth luncheon, and AAU Basketball Game.

Outside Erwin: The 2023 Gastonia EbonyFest Juneteenth Festival Day 1 will kick off the celebration with the EbonyFest Buy Black Pop Up Market and Food Truck Fair! DJ Ace I Rockwell and hosts, Mr Ivey Barnes and Yoshi the Hebrew Cowboy will keep you entertained. There will be performances, entertainment, and so much more, as well as plenty of shopping and food to enjoy.

Juneteenth Festival and Parade
Sunday, June 18, 2023
4 p.m.
Main Street in Gastonia, and Rotary Centennial Pavilion, 111 N South Street, Gastonia, NC
Free

Parade at 4 p.m. down Main Street in Gastonia: The 2nd Annual Gastonia EbonyFest Juneteenth Parade will take place along Main St from 4 to 5 p.m. This year’s Grand Marshal is Mrs Dot Guthrie. Ms Guthrie is the cofounder of the African American History Museum! She is a pioneer for our community and she is still making strides and breaking barriers, not only for women, but for all of us.

Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Pavilion: This year, the theme for the fifth annual Gastonia EbonyFest Juneteenth Festival is “My Black Is Beautiful My Black Is Powerful.” The goal is to bring awareness to Juneteenth and the importance of people of color and our contributions to America and abroad. Opening the EbonyFest Juneteenth Festival this year, will be Charlotte African Drum and Dance Collective.

Hosts Ivey and Yoshi & DJ Ace I Rockwell are sure to keep us on our toes. There are scheduled performances from local artists, youth groups, and community advocates to share in the message of freedom, equality, and community for all. There will also be vendors, food trucks, exhibitors, influencers, a kids’ corner and lots of surprises in store for the entire family.

Juneteenth Festival, Performances and Fireworks
Monday, June 19, 2023
6 p.m.
Rotary Centennial Pavilion
111 N South Street, Gastonia, NCFree

Performances from local artists, youth groups, speeches from community advocates, food trucks, exhibitors, kids’ corner and more. At 9 p.m. end the night of Juneteenth Freedom Day with fireworks.