Oakland County invites employees, residents, and visitors to come together for our annual Juneteenth celebration centered around the theme: “Journey to Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom and Community.” The event will take place Thursday, June 18, 2026, outside the county courthouse, 1200 N. Telegraph in Pontiac.
Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19 and also known as Freedom Day, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved Black people in Texas learned they were free, following the enforcement the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier. This officially declared the end of slavery.
The county celebration kicks off at 11:30 a.m. inviting attendees to explore local vendors, grab lunch at the food trucks, browse the community Meet & Greet tables to learn about county services, and grab free ice cream sponsored by Oakland County Human Resources while supplies last. The afternoon features interactive fun including a 360 photo booth, a coloring station by The Coloring Museum, face painting by Jazzy the Clown, a planting seed station by KwanzaaMe and various giveaways.
At noon, the event transitions to the main stage for the formal presentation and remarks from community leaders, including:
- Oakland County Executive David Coulter
- Chief DEI Officer Harry Weaver III
- County Commissioner Angela Powell
- State Representative Brenda Carter
- Parks Commission Chair Ebony Bagley
Emceed by Bobbie Benton, vice chair of the Black Excellence and Empowerment (B.E.E.) Employee Resource Group, the presentation includes a flag-raising ceremony, a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, also known as the Black National Anthem by recent North Farmington High School graduate, Elena Recinto. It concludes with a ceremony honoring the talented K–12 and post-secondary winners of this year’s Oakland County Juneteenth Art & Essay Contest.
Food Truck Lineup
Come hungry! We are hosting a diverse array of local food trucks serving up incredible flavors:
Heavenly Chicken & Waffles
313 Hotdogs
Foodies Food Truck
Flavors of Jamaica
Uncle Jerry’s BBQ
Seoul Rolls
Live Entertainment and Performances
The courtyard will be alive with energy all afternoon, thanks to a phenomenal lineup of local performers and artists:
- DJ Dr. Darrius (formerly of WJLB)
- Impulse Dance Academy of Southfield
- Esau Parker, Poet, Spoken Word Artist and Author
- Ber-Henda Williams, Keynote Speaker and Feminine Leadership Coach
- Youth Poets from Inside Out Literary Arts
- Detroit School of Arts African Dancers
- Motor City Jack and Jill Youth Performers
It promises to be an afternoon dedicated to joy, reflection, and fostering inclusion and collaboration across our region. Whether you are stopping by on your lunch break or bringing the family, there is something for everyone.
Hope to see you there! Discover more Juneteenth Celebrations in and around Oakland County by using our interactive map.
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