AUGUSTA, Ga. ()- The community will be celebrating at the 9th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival hosted by the Band of Brothers Augusta.

This is an inspiring celebration that honors African American culture through music, food, and community connection.

It will be a day full of live entertainment, local vendors, cultural exhibits, and more.

This will be the first year the festival has a title sponsor, Cliffisms Sports Grill.

The restaurant’s ‘co-owner’ tells me why everyone should come out and celebrate.

“Could you imagine being a slave and actually being free and don’t know you’re free and you still enslaved for two years after you’re supposedly free. So, it signifies our release,” said Clifton Thomas.

He also said this celebration will have a little something for everyone.

“It’s a little bit for everybody, a little piece for everybody. You know, whatever you like, whatever your culture is, whatever you know, your drink of choice is, whatever your food is, we have it all.”

The FREE Juneteenth Augusta Festival will be held at the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds on Hale Street from 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

Photojournalist: Dania Alawir