More than 2,600 people gathered at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center Friday as Community Uplift Initiatives hosted its fourth annual Sampson Juneteenth Celebration, one of two events held locally to commemorate the holiday weekend.
Featuring more than 60 vendors, live entertainment, community discussions and family activities, the celebration highlighted both the history of Juneteenth and the continued importance of bringing communities together. The festivities continued Saturday with the second annual Juneteenth parade hosted by Wyld Boar Ryderz in Clinton.
The celebration began with a community panel discussion featuring local leaders who answered questions from audience members. Among the panelists were Sampson County NAACP President Larry Sutton, Phyllis Carter Goodman, Wanda Hunter, retired Col. Stephanie Dawson and Clinton City Council member Wanda Corbett.
Entertainment followed throughout the afternoon and evening, with performances by the New Wave Line Dancers, The Mickens, Silver and Gold Steppers, Chukk Gregory and the 803 Band, and James Rich and Friends.
Clinton Mayor Lew Starling also addressed those in attendance, encouraging residents to exercise their right to vote — a right many before them fought to secure.
Throughout the event, organizers held raffles featuring numerous prizes, including gift cards, a Hisense 40-inch television and a Mongoose bicycle.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved African Americans in Texas, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The date has since become a celebration of freedom, resilience and African American culture across the United States.
“Sampson Juneteenth has become one of the largest cultural events in Sampson County,” event coordinator Stephanie Graham said. “That’s because the community continues to show up. This year’s turnout, energy and support were a powerful reminder that when people come together with purpose, we can create something truly meaningful for generations to come.”
One of the raffle winners was Brenda Marable, who left the celebration with the Hisense television.
“I was super excited,” Marable said after learning she had won. “When they sent me my copy for the ticket, they put the wrong phone number on there. I told them to take the wrong numbers off my TV ticket,” she added with a laugh. “I was surprised when I won.”
Marable said she particularly enjoyed the performances by James Rich and Friends and The Mickens, but noted that the entire event provided an opportunity for people to gather and enjoy one another’s company.
“It means a lot to see us get together and have a good time,” she said. “Because in this day and time, you don’t see that often.”
Also attending the celebration was Aaron Badger, who described the event as a positive experience from start to finish.
“To be honest, it’s all been great,” Badger said. “The music, fellowship, the food — you name it. Juneteenth means everything. We’re celebrating ourselves, and we’re celebrating love.”
For Marable, Juneteenth serves as an important reminder of the need to continue uplifting and supporting one another.
“We have to realize that now, with what we’ve got in office, we have to get back to celebrating each other,” Marable said. “We don’t do that enough.”
The celebration continued Saturday morning with the second annual Juneteenth parade hosted by Wyld Boar Ryderz.
Participants began gathering around 8 a.m., bringing motorcycles, ATVs, Corvettes, trucks and a variety of other vehicles to take part in the ride. The parade departed from the City Market in Clinton around 9:30 a.m., traveled through the city and around the Sampson County Courthouse before arriving at Newkirk Park.
Later in the morning, participants traveled to Fayetteville, where they circled the historic Market House.
The Market House has long been a source of debate because of its ties to slavery. Enslaved African Americans were bought and sold there during the 19th century. In 2020, following the death of George Floyd, protesters gathered at the site and called for its removal as communities across the nation grappled with questions surrounding historical monuments and public spaces.
Following the trip to Fayetteville, participants returned to Newkirk Park to continue the day’s festivities, capping off a weekend dedicated to celebration, reflection and community.
While the events featured music, food, entertainment and fellowship, organizers and attendees alike emphasized that Juneteenth remains rooted in something larger. For many, the holiday serves as both a remembrance of the struggles endured by those who came before and a celebration of the freedoms won through perseverance and sacrifice.
From the packed Agri-Exposition Center on Friday to the parade route through Clinton and Fayetteville on Saturday, the weekend’s events demonstrated the continued desire within Sampson County to honor that history, celebrate culture and strengthen community ties for future generations.