Juneteenth Heritage Festival planned for June 14

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The Vicksburg Juneteenth Heritage Festival Committee has announced plans for the 2025 Juneteenth Festival, set for Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Halls Ferry Park, 130 Halls Ferry Park Road.

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Freedom,” and the event promises a full day of family-friendly activities, cultural education, live entertainment and community engagement. Admission is free.

Supported by the City of Vicksburg, Visit Vicksburg, Visit Mississippi and International Paper, the festival will highlight the significance of Juneteenth through the voices of guest speakers including Jerry Jenkins III, courtesy of the Mississippi Humanities Council, Thelma Sims Dukes and Dwayne Griffin.

A wide variety of vendors will offer food, arts, crafts, and community resources. Live performances will span several genres, with Vicksburg native and blues recording artist Vickie Baker headlining the entertainment lineup. Also scheduled to perform are The Blues Experience, gospel artist Marquis Goodwin, The Christian Harmonizers of Jefferson/Claiborne Counties, rhythm and blues artist Deatra Robinson Cable, the Time to Move Band of Jackson, southern soul performer Ka-Marie, and more.

Youth performances will include routines from Hype Athletics and the Pretty Pink Panthers Dance Team. Children’s activities will feature games, face painting, drumming demonstrations, storytelling and a poetry competition.

DJs Supreme, Calcutta, Buck Nasty and Country Que will keep the music going throughout the day.

For more information, contact the Vicksburg Juneteenth Heritage Festival Committee at 601-630-5847 or vicksburgjuneteenth@yahoo.com.