Locally hosted Juneteenth celebration returns to Oxford
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that enslaved people were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.
The biennial Juneteenth celebration, organized by an Oxford resident and local 501(c)(7), will unfold through a series of public events between June 18 and 20.
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that enslaved people were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.
Brian Revere, an Oxford resident of three years, organized the first Juneteenth celebration in Oxford last year, four years after it became a nationally recognized holiday. Revere also formed O.N.E.UNITED (Organization, Networking and Empowerment) with an advancement committee to assist with future events.
Revere said he first proposed a Juneteenth event in Oxford to the city’s Recreation Board, but eventually founded O.N.E.UNITED himself in May 2025, just a month before the first celebration, with the determination that it would come together in time.
“God told me, ‘Build and they will come,’” he said, adding he wanted to see an event wholly representative of the Black population of Oxford.
The motto of O.N.E.UNITED is “Celebrate, Educate and Appreciate,” and Revere said the ultimate goal of the group is to have four annual events in Oxford that aim to do just that.
“I see the rich history within Oxford,” Revere said. “That’s what made me want to come and celebrate the people from Oxford … and having a Juneteenth event to show my appreciation for what I’ve seen and learned from them, that’s what this is all about.”
Revere said attendance at last year’s celebrations, although an exact headcount wasn’t taken, was “great.”
“The people who needed to come (were) there,” Revere said.
This year’s celebration will begin with a featured performance by Next Fazze, a cover band from Columbus that also performed last year, during Enjoy Oxford’s Uptown Music event on June 18.
During the performance, Revere said he will also be tabling, and a raffle will be available for guests to enter to win several prizes courtesy of O.N.E.UNITED and its contributors. The winners will be announced at the celebration’s conclusion on June 20. One of the prizes is a picture of Jack Yates, the “grandfather of Juneteenth,” drawn by Revere.
Attendees can also pick up custom Juneteenth t-shirts designed by Revere for a minimum donation of $20, with all proceeds going to O.N.E.UNITED and future event organization.
At the conclusion of the concert, Revere will lead a march in honor of Juneteenth from the Uptown Parks to the Oxford Municipal Building.
The celebration will continue on June 19, the date nationally recognized as Juneteenth, with a recognition banquet from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Oxford Presbyterian Church annex building at 204 Church St. Tickets for the banquet cost $25, and space is limited.
Revere said the purpose of the banquet is to recognize people in the Oxford community who have contributed in a positive way.
Juiquetta Harmon, also known as Kiki the Barber and owner of Kiki the Barber + The Style Collective located at 118 S. Locust St., will be the keynote speaker for the banquet. Harmon is also a member of the Oxford Chamber of Commerce.
Craig Powell, executive coordinator of The PowerNet Group of Tampa, Florida, will also be a guest speaker at the banquet. John Burg of Middletown, a local musician and former contestant of the television show “Star Search,” will perform.
For the final day of the celebration on June 20, O.N.E.UNITED has organized a community cookout from 2-6 p.m. at Uptown Parks. Free food will be provided to guests while supplies last, and representatives from organizations like the Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services and the League of Women Voters will table at the event.
DJ Pernell Huff of Middletown is also returning to perform at the cookout following his appearance at last year’s celebration.
This year’s contributors to the Juneteenth events include Starbucks; SoHi; Dairy Queen; Mike Patterson, owner of Paesano’s and Patterson’s Café; Burger King, Waffle House; Best Western; Enjoy Oxford; Lebowski Tees and Design; Oxford Copy Shop; Revere’Cence; KiKi the Barber + The Style Collective; Walmart; Oxford Presbyterian Church; the Oxford Creative Arts Center (OCAC); Oxford Citizens for Peace and Justice; the Oxford NAACP chapter; and Rhonda Revere, recorder for O.N.E.UNITED.
Information about banquet tickets, ways to donate or join O.N.E.UNITED can be found by texting Brian Revere at 810-377-689.
The OCAC, located at 10 S. College Ave., will also have a “Legacy of Juneteenth” art exhibit from June 12 through July 2 featuring some of Revere’s other works, as well as works by Larry Collins, Ellen Price, Thom Shaw and Laura Brooks.
