Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum is proud to announce that it will host Lancaster’s annual Juneteenth Celebration on Thursday, June 19, 2025. This historic event, organized in partnership with the Lancaster Chapter of the National Action Network (NAN), will mark the first time Juneteenth is celebrated at Landis Valley as part of its 100th Anniversary year.
The Juneteenth Celebration has a long and rich history in Lancaster, originating as the Strawberry Street Festival—the earliest known African American celebration in the county. Oral histories suggest that the festival may date back as early as 1905, with its tradition continuing until around 1965. In 1997, Paul Culbreth and Darlene Colon revived the event as a Juneteenth Celebration at Thaddeus Stevens College, ensuring that this vital piece of Lancaster’s cultural history remained alive.
In 2025, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum is honored to serve as the new host site for this historic and deeply meaningful event. This year’s Juneteenth Celebration will immerse visitors in a living history experience, aligning with the museum’s mission of preserving and interpreting Pennsylvania’s diverse heritage. The event will feature:
* Live historical reenactments and performances by the PA Past Players
* Local gospel choirs performing spirituals and songs of the era
* Vendors and food trucks showcasing African American-owned businesses and traditional cuisine
* Educational programming exploring the legacy of emancipation and the impact of Juneteenth in Pennsylvania
“Hosting Juneteenth at Landis Valley allows us to continue a Lancaster tradition while providing the same type of engaging historical experience that our visitors and members have grown accustomed to,” said Shawn Gladden, Site Administrator of Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. “We are excited to celebrate this momentous occasion in our museum’s 100th year by welcoming the community to experience history in an immersive and meaningful way.”
Paul Culbreth, co-founder of the revived Juneteenth Celebration, added:
"First and foremost, it is a pleasure and honor for The National Action Network (NAN) Lancaster Chapter to partner with Landis Valley on this endeavor. This event will hopefully showcase some of the rich cultural history of our county and the contributions it made to the U.S."
This year’s Juneteenth Celebration will offer reduced admission for the day, thanks to the generous support of sponsors, including Discover Lancaster and Members First, among others.
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