The Freedom Festival is one of Arkansas’ largest commemoration and celebration recognizing Juneteenth, the federal holiday that marks the ending of slavery in the United States.  Freedom Festival is a day for Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas to gather, reflect and share in a festival of music, food, and fun. The Freedom Festival committee invites everyone to experience the goodwill and positivity of the thousands who gather in downtown Springdale for what has become an indispensable, annual NWA tradition.

Over 4,300 people attended to enjoy the family friendly Festival with activations that included a kid’s zone with games and activities, a vendor market featuring local entrepreneurs and businesses, horse riding, giveaways for attendees, Food Truck Market, and

 Freedom Festival is one of Arkansas’ largest celebrations recognizing Juneteenth, the federal holiday that marks the ending of slavery in the United States.  This celebration is a day for Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas to gather, reflect and celebrate. On June 20, 2026, all are invited to Luther George Park in Springdale, AR to experience African-American/Black traditions through food, music, and community involvement in the heart of Northwest Arkansas. 

This year, Music Moves aims to continue sharing Black traditions with all people and communities. “Our focus is to foster a unified community, celebrating the richness of black musical traditions,” said Anthony Ball, Music Moves Vice President and Program Director. Reginald James, Music Moves President added, “We want the spirit of Juneteenth to resonate beyond the park and throughout Northwest Arkansas.”

Freedom Festival will include activities including a kid’s zone with games and activities, a vendor market featuring local entrepreneurs and businesses, horse rides, and talent including Hurricane Chris, Rose Royce, and GS Boyz. Music Moves will also host opportunities for attendees to support its mission through on-site fundraising efforts during the event, helping sustain its educational programming and cultural initiatives.

If you are interested in sponsoring the event or participating as a vendor, please contact: info@musicmovesar.com

Quotes:

“I’m looking forward to the Annual Freedom Festival celebrating Juneteenth in Northwest Arkansas. It’s exciting to see the momentum and growth of this event drawing in even more members of the community, which only underscores the importance of history as we continue to look forward.  Happy Juneteenth!”

— Charles Robinson, University of Arkansas Chancellor

“We are going into our 5th Annual and the expectations are very high haha! We have a great music line up and event, and people are coming from all over the country to be a part of this great NWA tradition. Who knew folks from Memphis, Houston, Tulsa, and Little Rock would be coming to Northwest Arkansas for our Juneteenth Celebration? This is a great sign of all the great things happening here. More importantly, my partners and I are excited to build this celebration in a way that ALL people feel welcome as we celebrate something we hold dear as Americans, and that’s FREEDOM!”

– Anthony Ball- Music Moves VP & Program Director