Juneteenth Celebration Moves to Fairgrounds

The Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions, along with the Minority Outreach Coalition, will host their 21st annual Juneteenth Freedom Day event on June 7, 2025, at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds.

The event will run from noon to 6pm. Admission is free.

Juneteenth, a national holiday, commemorates the end of slavery in the US and celebrates a rich, diverse cultural heritage. UCAC’s event will open at noon with a presentation of the colors, official proclamations, special awards, and a living history performance by Ms. Story, Shemika Renée.

The June 7 event will continue through the afternoon with live music featuring Ni Dembaya African Dance and Drumming, St. Maries Choral Arts, and the SIXX and the System and GET2GETHER bands. Ms. Story will be featured in a 3pm performance in Tolerance Hall, bringing to life women from history.

There will be a variety of commercial and nonprofit vendors, food trucks, and children’s activities including crafts, face painting, balloon art, Superheroes, and horseback riding.

There will be bleachers but bring your lawn chairs if desired.

Interested vendors or sponsors should click here to learn more.

The fairgrounds are on Route 5, south of Leonardtown.

Visit Drayden Schoolhouse

The UCAC offers free open houses at the Drayden African American Schoolhouse in Drayden, on the first and third Saturday of the month from 11am to 2pm. Dates of the open houses include June 7, 19, 20, and 21 (special Juneteenth holiday weekend hours), July 5 and 19, August 2 and 16, September 6 and 20, and October 4 and 18.

The Drayden African American Schoolhouse is one of the nation’s best-preserved one-room African American schoolhouses. Its story represents a significant part of St. Mary’s County’s African American history. Visitors will learn more about the restored schoolhouse, its history, and its importance to education in St. Mary’s County. Hear stories about how African American students learned in the school up until the mid-20th century.

Volunteers will be available to share stories about the schoolhouse’s history. All ages are welcome, and admission is free.

Special programs are also offered for school, bus, and other tour groups that would like to schedule a visit to the Drayden site. Individual visitors who would like to see the schoolhouse during times outside open house hours should contact the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum at 301-994-1471 to arrange a visit.

For more information about the schoolhouse open houses, programs, admission prices, and more, visit the Drayden African American Schoolhouse Facebook page at Facebook.com/DraydenSchool or call 301-994-1471.

The schoolhouse is at 18287 Cherryfield Road.