The Town of Andover will host its fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Central Street, adjacent to Andover Baptist Church. This year’s event, themed “Freedom of Expression: Honoring Our Past, Living Our Present, and Shaping Our Future,” will feature family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and educational workshops.
The free, block-style celebration will include music, arts and crafts, food vendors, games, trivia with prizes, history and community exhibits, and a vendor mini-market. Two workshops will be held inside the Andover Baptist Church parlor as part of the program:
- Healing Intergenerational Trauma – 4:30 p.m.
Led by mind-body coach and Somatic Experiencing practitioner Abria Wynn, this session will explore how unresolved trauma can be passed across generations. Participants will learn about the transgenerational transmission of trauma, engage in guided exercises, and reflect on ancestral influences. - Wisdom Conversations – 6:00 p.m.
Also facilitated by Wynn, this session focuses on envisioning personal and collective futures through goal-setting from a mind-body perspective. Drawing on somatic practices, attendees will examine internalized patterns and learn tools to move toward individual and communal healing.
Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved people in the United States, who were freed in Texas in 1865. It is also a time to honor the resilience and achievements of African Americans.
The celebration is presented by Andover Baptist Church in collaboration with Christ Church, Temple Emanuel, the Social Justice Coalition of South Church, the Andover DEI Commission, Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices, and the Town of Andover.
Organizers encourage attendees to greet one another with “Happy Juneteenth!” during the festivities.