Columbia, SC. The South Carolina Juneteenth Freedom Fest extends our deepest gratitude to the community for coming out in record numbers for our 10th Annual Celebration at Finlay Park. Our community showed up to honor Juneteenth, support local businesses, celebrate culture, uplift family, and demonstrate the power of coming together with purpose. That overwhelming support matters, and we do not take it lightly.
This year marked the largest South Carolina Juneteenth Freedom Fest in our history. For ten years, this celebration has been about more than one day in the park. It has become a growing institution built around culture, education, wellness, economic opportunity, family, history, and the ongoing work of honoring Juneteenth with purpose.
Throughout the day, thousands of people gathered peacefully. Families celebrated together. Vendors and small businesses were supported. Young people participated in positive activities. Performers shared their gifts. Community members connected across generations. That is the full story of the day, and one unfortunate incident should not erase the spirit, work, and impact of the full celebration.
During the evening portion of the festival, several altercations involving a small number of individuals occurred in and around the park. Columbia Police Department officers responded, and at the direction of law enforcement, festival programming ended early in the interest of public safety. Once that directive was given, our team complied immediately and began notifying attendees that the event was ending.
Based on information publicly shared by officials and local reporting, there were no reported injuries, no shots fired, and no weapons found in connection with the incident. Several individuals, reportedly including juveniles and one adult, were taken into custody. We will not speculate beyond the information provided by law enforcement.
We are grateful for the Columbia Police Department, the officers on site, the Yellow Jackets, fire officials, EMS, volunteers, city staff, and everyone who moved quickly to help protect the public.
We also recognize the disappointment felt by attendees who were unable to enjoy the remainder of the evening’s programming. We deeply appreciate the performers whose sets were interrupted or unable to take place, including F.L.Y. Fast Life Youngstaz, Live in the Flesh Band, and Midnight Star. We respect the time, talent, and energy they brought to this milestone celebration.
At the same time, we will not allow the actions of a few people to define the thousands who came in peace, celebrated responsibly, and represented our community well. We especially want to acknowledge the many young people who attended, volunteered, performed, supported vendors, participated respectfully, and showed the promise of the next generation. Their positive presence deserves to be seen too.
This moment also reminds us that community safety is not only an event day issue. Parents, mentors, educators, faith leaders, neighborhood leaders, organizations, and institutions all share responsibility in guiding and supporting our young people. Accountability matters. Prevention matters. Investment matters. Our children need correction when necessary, but they also need consistent expectations, mentorship, opportunity, and spaces where they are seen before problems occur.
The South Carolina Juneteenth Freedom Fest remains committed to being part of that solution. We will conduct a full after action review with public safety partners, strengthen our event safety planning, and continue building youth and community programming that creates positive spaces for learning, leadership, culture, and connection.
We thank everyone who stood with us, supported us, volunteered, sponsored, performed, attended, and helped make this milestone possible. We refuse to let one incident overshadow a decade of progress, celebration, education, and community impact.
Juneteenth is still sacred. Our mission is still strong. We will keep moving forward together.
