CENTRALIA JUNETEENTH PROMOTING COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP, TOURISM WITH “HOMECOMING CELEBRATION
Centralia Juneteenth
centraliajuneteenth.com
Described as a “Homecoming Celebration”, the 2025 Centralia Juneteenth event looks to honor the significance of the national holiday while helping highlight the local community.
Held Friday, June 13 and Saturday, 14 in Laura Leake Park, the “Homecoming Celebration” will be packed with attractions and activities, including a vendor market, food court, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, live music, local performances, prize giveaways, family games, and more.
Centralia Juneteenth Marketing Co-Chair, Malaya Downey, noted, however, that this year’s event will be more than just a community-wide party. The “Homecoming Celebration” will be an opportunity to acknowledge local talent, highlight Centralia’s business community, and inviting visitors to the area.
“This is a celebration of liberation and culture that helps empower both economic and community development through fellowship,” said Downey. “We want to highlight the Centralia community and our legacy of community development and leaders. We also want to highlight our local talent and organizations that are going above and beyond for the community.”
“On the surface level this is a community party, but the connections and relationships that are being made here are so much deeper,” Downey continued. “We want this event to be a key element for lasting change.”
Downey said the annual celebration shares a weekend with the Centralia High School Class of 2015 Reunion, and that she hopes it will be a nice boost for the local economy.
“We are welcoming the Centralia Juneteenth tourists, as well as the Class of 2015, that are celebrating 10 years as alumni,” Downey said. “This weekend will serve as a great platform for Centralia natives across the nation. It’s that perfect time to reunite with your families and long-term friends.”
Downey said a “Homecoming Weekend Tour Guide”, which will include all of the Centralia Juneteenth events and feature numerous local businesses, directing tourist on where to shop, eat and hangout in Centralia, will be produced.
