Happy Juneteenth, Little Rock!

Today, we pause to honor the power and promise of freedom. Juneteenth is a time for reflection, celebration, and renewed commitment to one another, to our community, and to the ongoing work of equity and progress.

We observe Juneteenth as a paid City holiday to give our team members the space to recognize and honor this day in a way that’s meaningful to them.

There are many ways to celebrate Juneteenth 2025, including the 16th annual Juneteenth in Da Rock Festival on Saturday, June 21, along historic Ninth Street and at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. This street festival not only brings joy and connection, but also lifts up the deep history of Ninth Street as a hub for Black culture, business, and community.

In my Juneteenth greeting, I share how the City of Little Rock is working to re-ignite commerce and entrepreneurship along Ninth Street through implementation of our first-ever Downtown Master Plan. As part of the plan, we want to emphasize the historical and cultural contributions of anchor institutions like the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.

We invite you to come out, celebrate, and be a part of this movement. Whether you attend the festival or any of the other Juneteenth events happening across our City, your presence matters. Together, let’s celebrate how far we’ve come while we commit to building a future rooted in unity, justice, and shared opportunity for all.