Our Impact

 

What began as a vision to create a space where culture, healing, and community could come together has quickly grown into one of the Merrimack Valley’s most impactful and anticipated community celebrations.

Now entering its third year, the Juneteenth Arts & Awareness Festival continues to expand in both reach and impact. In 2025, the festival welcomed more than 1,000 attendees, featured over 30 vendors and community organizations, and showcased live music, cultural performances, wellness experiences, youth activities, local entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders from across the region.

This year, we are building on that momentum with an even larger celebration centered around the theme, Culture is Healing. The 2026 festival will feature over 80 vendors and exhibitors, live music and cultural performances, youth entrepreneurship opportunities, wellness activations, free community resources, live art experiences, a textured hair showcase, family-friendly activities, and opportunities for meaningful connection and learning.

More than a festival, this is a community movement rooted in remembrance, resilience, creativity, healing, and liberation. We believe Juneteenth is not only Black history—it is American history. Through this event, we create opportunities to celebrate culture while educating, inspiring, and honoring the deeper significance of freedom and collective progress.

What started as an idea has become a platform that uplifts local artists, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, youth, and families while strengthening community connections throughout Lawrence and the greater Merrimack Valley.

As the festival continues to grow year after year, our vision remains clear: to build one of New England’s leading cultural and healing-centered community experiences—one that creates lasting impact long after the event concludes.

None of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors, donors, vendors, volunteers, performers, partners, and community members who continue to invest in a stronger, more connected future for all.

RSVP to the juneteenth festival

Make An Impact

The Juneteenth Arts & Awareness Festival exists to create one of the Merrimack Valley’s leading cultural, educational, and healing-centered community experiences rooted in the celebration of Juneteenth and the shared history of the African diaspora.

Through art, music, wellness, education, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, we aim to honor the history of liberation while creating spaces that inspire connection, dialogue, healing, and collective growth.

Our mission is not only to celebrate culture, but to invest directly into the people, artists, youth, organizations, and small businesses that strengthen Lawrence and the greater Merrimack Valley.

As the festival continues to grow, we remain committed to building a lasting tradition that uplifts community voices, preserves history, and creates meaningful impact for generations to come.

Donate Now Become A Sponsor Juneteenth 2025 Photo Gallery

Become A Sponsor

SILVER

$2,500

  • Social Media Coverage

  • Social media: 2 spotlight posts

  • Mention during opening & closing remarks

  • Vendor table included

GOLD

$3,500

  • Social Media Coverage
  • Vendor table included
  • Inclusion in press release before and after the event
  • Gold Sponsor Certificate & trophy

DIAMOND

$5,000

  • Social Media Coverage
  • Vendor tables w. Tent included (Prime location)
  • Inclusion in press release before and after the event
  • Custom social media content for your business (videos & pictures)
  • Custom Diamond Sponsorship certificate
  • 2 minutes to speak

PLATINUM

$7,500

  • 1 Available
  • Only Sponsor
  • Custom Platinum banner
  • Platinum sponsor certificate
  • Website Highlight
  • 5 mins to speak
  • Everything in the Diamond sponsorship

2026 Sponsors / Donors

Get Involved

FOR MORE INFO
Email: Juneteenth@biacircle.com
Michael: (978)429-9311

Organizer

Michael Bastien

CEO of Brothers In Arms Men’s Support Circle

Michael Bastien is a first-generation Haitian American who grew up in Lawrence, MA, a predominantly Hispanic city in New England. Overcoming challenges such as being a minority and struggling with a speech impediment, Michael has emerged as a resilient leader and advocate for change in his community. He organized the largest Black Lives Matter street mural in Lawrence, MA, and Co-founded a men’s mental health nonprofit (Brothers in Arms Men’s Support Circle) aiming to serve 1 million men & youth nationwide and de-stigmatize the views on men’s mental health.

Click here to read our latest Eagle Tribune Feature!

Driven by his own struggles with mental health, Michael is deeply passionate about promoting mental wellness and resilience. Through Brothers In Arms Men’s Support Circle his team has already served over 180 men and youth ages 7 – 80 years old across the Merrimack Valley and hosted two retreats. Michael believes in the power of self-belief and faith to overcome obstacles, exemplifying this through his commitment to personal growth and improvement. He spends his days working out, reading, studying, and journaling, striving to be 1% better every day. Michael’s mantra, “If you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect others to?” reflects his unwavering determination to make a positive impact and inspire others to achieve their fullest potential.

Website: www.biacircle.com