This year, Juneteenth is more than just one day. The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, stewards of Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area 20 minutes east of Atlanta, is celebrating Juneteenth all month long with a slate of exciting signature events. On the docket is a Salute to Black Music Month at the New Black Wall Street Market in Stonecrest, a screening and discussion about the new film Rustin in Historic Downtown Lithonia, and a Juneteenth Storytelling Festival at Lithonia’s Bruce Street School, DeKalb County’s first public school for Black children. 

“The thought that I and our staff, and many others, are off on Juneteenth, and that it’s now observed as a national holiday is an amazing feeling, it really is,” said Revonda Cosby, Executive Director of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance. “To be able to host these events and share stories and things that we all have in common, particularly in this month, is one of the best times of the year in the National Heritage Area. I hope as many as possible can come out and join us.” This year marks the most events that the Heritage Area has ever hosted or sponsored for Juneteenth. Below is a detailed schedule:

June 1, 2-5pm—Salute to Black Music Month: Held at the New Black Wall Street Market at 8109 Mall Pkwy, Stonecrest, GA 30038, this event will feature three hours of a soulful musical homage to Black Music Month. Expect a lineup of live local musical guests along with a pop-up historical exhibit about the fascinating Lithonia Country Club and Black music during the Jim Crow South.

June 15, 5:30-9pm— Rustin screening at Occasions on Main in Lithonia: The 2023 film Rustin portrays the incredible true story of Bayard Rustin, close friend of Dr. King and one of the Civil Rights Era’s most integral figures who was ostracized by his own movement and eventually even Dr. King for his homosexuality. The film stars Colman Domingo as the titular character and was produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground. Held at Occasions on Main at 6957 Main St, Lithonia, GA 30058, this screening will feature a thirty minute happy hour from 5:30-6pm with a panel discussion after the screening from 8-9pm featuring local activists and our Assistant Executive Director and Historian Brigette Jones. 

June 18, 11am-2pm—Juneteenth Storytelling Festival at Bruce Street: Returning for its second year, the Arabia Alliance’s Juneteenth Storytelling Festival will again be held by the Bruce Street School ruins and the East DeKalb at Bruce Street Senior Center at 2449 Bruce Street, Lithonia, GA 30058. The theme of this second Annual Storytelling Fest will be "The Streets Where We Lived,” giving visitors the opportunity to share stories and oral histories about vibrant African Americans communities in the segregated South. Tickets will include fresh produce and lunch.