Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom
Join ACHS for our 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom on June 19! First celebrated in the late 19th century, Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, when news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, TX, officially ending slavery in the Unites States. Traditional celebrations included community picnics, concerts, reenactments, and more. In 2026, join us as we do all of that and more!
What were some of the conversations that were happening among Ashland County families in the 1850s and 1870s? How did the issue of slavery affect us in Ashland County? What were the experiences of freed families when one generation was born into slavery and the next born free? How did the events of the mid-19th century shape our sense of place and self? Join us as we explore these topics in an engaging, welcoming, and exciting way this year!
Here’s what to expect:
ACHS Campus
3:00, 3:15, 3:30 – Guided Tours & Living History Experiences, Storytime with Ashland Public Library
4:30 – President Abraham Lincoln & the Emancipation Proclamation
4:45 – Free Community Picnic Begins (must check-in to receive token for food)
5:00 – Live Jazz Performance by the Afrxnts
6:05 – Guided Tour & Living History Experience, Storytime with Ashland Public Library
3:00, 3:15, 3:30 – Guided Tours & Living History Experiences, Storytime with Ashland Public Library
4:30 – President Abraham Lincoln & the Emancipation Proclamation
4:45 – Free Community Picnic Begins (must check-in to receive token for food)
5:00 – Live Jazz Performance by the Afrxnts
6:05 – Guided Tour & Living History Experience, Storytime with Ashland Public Library
The Ashland Theatre
7:00 – Documentary Screening of A Higher Law: The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of 1858* followed by Q&A with the filmmakers and the Oberlin Heritage Center
7:00 – Documentary Screening of A Higher Law: The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of 1858* followed by Q&A with the filmmakers and the Oberlin Heritage Center
Ongoing from 3:00-7:00
• Ashland Public Library Bookmobile on site!
• Explore the Manor House for self-guided tours
• Preview and dive deeper into the mid-19th Century Ashland County history from the upcoming exhibit Moments that Made Us
• Ashland Public Library Bookmobile on site!
• Explore the Manor House for self-guided tours
• Preview and dive deeper into the mid-19th Century Ashland County history from the upcoming exhibit Moments that Made Us
This event is free and open to the public, and we can’t wait for you to explore undertold stories of Ashland County’s role in abolition, the Civil War, and the lived experiences of freed families who settled here.
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Special Thanks
This event is a culmination of amazing community partnerships, and we thank the following who are helping to make this event our best yet!
This event is a culmination of amazing community partnerships, and we thank the following who are helping to make this event our best yet!
America 250-Ohio Commission, Ashland Public Library, Ashland Main Street, The Ashland Juneteenth Planning Committee, Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, Oberlin Heritage Center, Richland County Historical Society, Production Partners Media, Lighthouse Wealth Management, and Baker, Boman & Co. CPAs.
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*Please note that the documentary will be shown in one of the upstairs theatres at The Ashland. This location is currently only accessible via staircase. If you wish to view the documentary, you can via the link above. The Q&A will be recorded and added to our YouTube channel later this year.
