About Freedom Weekend

“Celebrating African American Freedom & Achievement”

3rd Annual Juneteenth “Freedom Weekend” Celebration in Gulfport

City-wide three-day event to celebrate Juneteenth

(GULFPORT, MS) – Gulfport, the second largest Mississippi city to commemorate the celebration of  African-American freedom and achievement, will host its 3rd Annual City-Wide Juneteenth celebration from June 16 -17, 2023.

Juneteenth - also known as Freedom Day - commemorates the day in Galveston, Texas, where thousands of slaves were not aware of their freedom during the Civil War until June 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and issued an order officially freeing them.  Freedom Day marks the moment when emancipation finally reached those in the deepest parts of the former Confederacy.

The family-friendly three-day Gulfport City-Wide Juneteenth Celebration - Freedom Weekend commences Thursday, June 15, 2023 with the Harry C. Tartt Ecumenical Service. In honor of Mr. Harry C. Tartt, we are celebrating the history of Juneteenth and the trailblazers who have helped shape our community. The annual service is a way for the Griots and Juneteenth Committee to kick-off the weekend activities. The service will include various speakers on Afro-American education and history, cultural entertainment, a memorial for community trailblazers, and more.

On Friday, June 16th at 6:19 p.m. the weekend goes into full gear with the Black Excellence Celebration. The Celebration’s activities will include the 3rd Annual Mary Spinks-Thigpen Oratorical Contest which provides scholarships to children k-12 that receive first place in four tiers, and the 3rd Annual Jamii/Community Awards presentation that will recognize outstanding community leaders and individuals.

The Juneteenth festivities will kick into high gear on Saturday, June 17, on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard with an afternoon festival at the Isaiah Fredricks Community Center & Ball Fields in North Gulfport at 12:19 p.m. Activities include live musical performances, dancers, children's activities, local food and craft vendors and more.

Gulfport City-Wide Juneteenth Celebration Committee hopes Gulfport residents will embrace the spirit of the celebration and come out to enjoy the festivities and celebrate African-American history and culture.