Lowndes County Alabama Black Belt Juneteenth Festival
On an early June afternoon, the community of White Hall fills its Freedom Road grounds with music, food, vendors, and families, gathering to celebrate freedom and the county’s role in the long struggle for it. The Black Belt Juneteenth Festival honors the past, celebrates the present, and aims to inspire the future, all in one open, free afternoon.
White Hall sits in Lowndes County, in the heart of Alabama’s Black Belt, between Montgomery and Selma. The county is small, rural, and deeply significant: it was a center of the voting rights movement in the 1960s, and its history is inseparable from the story Juneteenth tells. The festival is a local expression of a national holiday.
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, and enforced the end of slavery, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In Alabama, the holiday is now part of the state calendar, and communities across the state mark it with parades, festivals, and educational events. The Black Belt Juneteenth Festival is one of the most community-rooted of them.
| Festival name | Black Belt Juneteenth Festival |
| Location | White Hall, Lowndes County, Alabama |
| Typical timing | Early June, around Juneteenth |
| Format | Free community festival with music, vendors, and family activities |
| Admission | Free and open to the public |
| Organizers | Local committee with the Town of White Hall |
| Signature features | Live entertainment, cultural performances, kids’ zone, free prizes |
About the Black Belt Juneteenth Festival
The festival is a free, open event built around the themes of freedom, history, and community. It brings together live music, cultural performances, community vendors, local organizations, and food, along with free games, free prizes, and a kids’ zone. Organizers describe it as a celebration with something for everyone, whether visitors come for the entertainment, the history, or simply to spend time with family and friends.
The event is held in White Hall, a small town in Lowndes County, on grounds along Freedom Road. Its purpose is explicit: to honor, preserve, and uplift the civil rights legacy of Lowndes County and the county’s role in self-determination. The festival’s name carries that mission, connecting a national holiday to a specific place with a powerful story.
For visitors interested in how other Alabama counties carry their history forward, the festival joins a wider set of community celebrations, from the Lowndes County Alabama Okra Festival in August to heritage events across the Black Belt. Each one tells a piece of the region’s story.
How the Festival Began
The festival began with a simple idea from a local resident. Teresa Nettles, who chairs the event, approached White Hall’s mayor, fire chief, and a town councilman with the idea of creating a positive community celebration. From that conversation, the Black Belt Juneteenth Festival took shape as a way to bring the community together around freedom and history.
The event has grown into a fixture of the county’s early summer calendar, drawing vendors, organizations, performers, and families from across the area. It is organized by a local committee with support from the town, and it remains free to attend, a point of pride for the organizers.
- Founded by a local resident with town support
- Held in White Hall, Lowndes County
- Free and open to the public
- Features music, vendors, and family activities
- Honors the county’s civil rights legacy
Lowndes County’s Civil Rights Legacy
Lowndes County holds a central place in the history of the civil rights movement. In the 1960s, the county became a landmark in the fight for voting rights, and the Lowndes County Freedom Organization, with its black panther emblem, became a symbol of Black political self-determination. The county seat of Hayneville sits on the Selma to Montgomery March National Historic Trail.
That history gives the Juneteenth Festival a particular weight. Juneteenth commemorates emancipation, and Lowndes County’s story is one of continuing that work long after 1865. By holding the festival in White Hall, organizers connect a national day of remembrance to the specific ground where local people fought for their rights.
What to Expect at the Festival
Live entertainment and culture
Live music and cultural performances run through the afternoon, giving the festival its energy. Performers and community groups take the stage, and the program is designed to celebrate Black culture and history while keeping the mood celebratory. For many attendees, the performances are the highlight of the day.
Vendors and food
Community vendors and local organizations set up booths offering food, goods, and information. The vendor area gives small businesses and community groups a chance to reach neighbors, and the food offerings keep the crowd fed through the afternoon. It is a place to eat well, shop local, and learn what area organizations are doing.
Family activities and free prizes
The festival is built to include children. A kids’ zone, free games, and free prizes make it easy for families to spend the afternoon together, and volunteers often lead children in games and dances. Because admission and activities are free, cost is never a barrier to joining in.
Planning Your Visit
Getting to White Hall
White Hall is in Lowndes County, in central Alabama, reached by U.S. Highway 80 and Interstate 65. The festival is held on Freedom Road, and the drive from Montgomery takes about half an hour. The area is rural, so a car is the practical way to get there.
Where to stay
Lodging in White Hall and the surrounding county is limited, so most out-of-town visitors stay in Montgomery. The state capital offers a full range of hotels, restaurants, and other attractions, and its own Juneteenth programming makes it a natural base for the weekend.
Logistics and tips
The festival is free, and it runs from late afternoon into the early evening, typically from 4 to 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair, since seating is informal and the program is outdoors. Arrive early to find parking and to settle in before the entertainment begins.
An Afternoon at the Festival
The festival’s late-afternoon timing suits a summer day in Alabama. Visitors arrive as the heat eases, set up lawn chairs, and browse the vendor booths before the entertainment starts. The kids’ zone and free games keep children busy while adults visit with neighbors and friends.
Music and cultural performances fill the middle of the afternoon, and the free prizes add a festive element to the program. Because the event is open to everyone and costs nothing to attend, the crowd is a cross-section of the community, from longtime residents to visitors from nearby towns.
As the evening comes on, the festival winds down with families gathering their chairs and children. Many visitors pair the event with other Juneteenth observances in Montgomery and the surrounding Black Belt, making a full weekend of the holiday.
How It Compares to Nearby Events
The Black Belt has a rich calendar of community festivals, and the Juneteenth Festival is one of its most meaningful. The table below places it alongside a few others in the region.
| Festival | Focus | Typical season |
| Black Belt Juneteenth Festival | Juneteenth, culture, and community | June |
| Okra Festival | Okra, folk art, and live music | August |
| Calico Fort Arts and Crafts Fair | Handmade arts and crafts | April |
| Orrville Festival | Community festival in Orrville | Fall |
A Festival Checklist
- Bring a lawn chair for the outdoor program
- Arrive early to find parking on Freedom Road
- Bring the kids for the free games and kids’ zone
- Support local vendors and community organizations
- Pair the visit with other Juneteenth events in Montgomery
Beyond the Festival
Lowndes County offers visitors a chance to engage with the history the festival celebrates. Hayneville, the county seat, holds a Greek Revival courthouse from the 1850s and sits on the Selma to Montgomery March National Historic Trail. The Lowndes Interpretive Center tells the story of the voting rights struggle that made the county a landmark.
Nearby Montgomery deepens the experience. The city’s civil rights sites, including the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, draw visitors from around the country, and its Juneteenth programming adds to the weekend. Together, the county and the capital make for a meaningful early-summer trip.
Why the Festival Matters
The Black Belt Juneteenth Festival matters because it ties a national holiday to a specific community and its history. Juneteenth is about freedom, and Lowndes County’s story is about the long, hard work of making that freedom real. Holding a free, joyful festival on that ground is a way of honoring the past while building something positive in the present.
It also strengthens the community around it. By giving local vendors, organizations, and families a shared afternoon, the festival builds connections and creates a space where history, culture, and celebration come together. For a small rural county, that is no small thing.
Festival Area Map
The Black Belt Juneteenth Festival is held in White Hall, Lowndes County, Alabama, on Freedom Road, in the heart of the Black Belt between Montgomery and Selma.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Black Belt Juneteenth Festival held?
It is held in early June, in the days around Juneteenth, typically from 4 to 7 p.m. on a Saturday. The exact date is announced by the organizers ahead of the event.
Where is the festival held?
It takes place in White Hall, in Lowndes County, Alabama, on Freedom Road. The grounds are open and informal, with space for lawn chairs and family groups.
Is there an admission fee?
No. The festival is free and open to the public. Entertainment, games, and prizes are free as well, and food and goods are sold by community vendors.
What activities are available for children?
The festival includes a kids’ zone, free games, and free prizes, and volunteers often lead children in dances and activities. The event is designed to be family-friendly from start to finish.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, and enforced the end of slavery, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is now a national holiday and part of Alabama’s state calendar.
Why is the festival held in Lowndes County?
Lowndes County holds a central place in the civil rights movement and the fight for voting rights. The festival honors that legacy and connects the national holiday of Juneteenth to the county’s own history of self-determination.
What to Expect From the Next Juneteenth Festival
The festival has become a fixture of the county’s early summer calendar and continues to grow, drawing vendors, organizations, and families from across the area. Organizers announce each year’s date ahead of the event.
How often is the Black Belt Juneteenth Festival held?
It is held annually, once each June, in the days around Juneteenth.
When is the next Black Belt Juneteenth Festival?
The next edition is expected the following June, following the pattern of previous years. The exact date is announced by the organizers in advance.
Will the location change?
The festival has been held in White Hall in recent years. Details can shift slightly from year to year, so check with the organizers for the current location and schedule.
Last updated: October 2026
The Black Belt Juneteenth Festival turns a national holiday into a local celebration of freedom, history, and community. By holding a free afternoon of music, food, and family fun in White Hall, it honors Lowndes County’s role in the struggle for civil rights while giving residents a joyful day to share. For anyone who wants to mark Juneteenth where the history runs deep, it is an early June event worth attending.
