Thursday, June 19, is not your typical day. Juneteenth, also referred to as Emancipation Day, celebrates the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation + commemorates the liberation of enslaved people throughout the US. This year, the City of Winston-Salem will host a weeklong celebration honoring the 225th anniversary of Peter Oliver’s freedom, a Winstonian who gained his freedom and returned to the town of Salem. Oliver was known as a respected tradesman and trailblazer until he died in 1810. Get a first look at what the future Peter Oliver Pavilion in Winston-Salem will look like.

In the meantime, here are activities to celebrate his milestones:

Note: Registration is strongly encouraged for these events.

Family Remembrance Walk | Friday, June 13 | 3:30 p.m. | Old Salem Museums & Gardens | Donations accepted | The guided tour will showcase points of interest related to Peter Oliver’s life, including Home Moravian Church, the Fire House, Single Brothers’ House, Pottery Site, Oliver’s farm site, graveyard, and the doctor’s house. An informal reception will follow at the Creative Corridors office (500 S. Church St.).

Peter Oliver’s Freedom Day | Saturday, June 14 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Old Salem Museums & Gardens | $30 | Watch powerful storytelling, hands-on demos, and guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. honoring Peter Oliver. Get a general admission ticket to partake in the activities.

Peter Oliver Life and Legacy Lecture | Tuesday, June 17 | 5:30 p.m. | Archie K. Davis Center, 457 S. Church Street | Free, RSVP | Archivist Sabrina Garity will discuss how Oliver's story has been pieced together through archival records, including his enslavement and the Salem settlement.
Peter Oliver Vault Tour | Wednesday, June 18 | Archie K. Davis Center | 4:30 p.m. | Donations accepted | Get a special tour of the archives and see his memoir, financial records, and a collection of his family descendants.

Symposium on Peter Oliver & Film Premiere | Thursday, June 19 | 2-4:30 p.m. | Milton Rhodes Center | Free | Get an overview of the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery project, join a panel discussion with historians who did foundational research on Peter Oliver's life + hear one of his descendants share closing reflections.

Film Premiere: “The Life and Legacy of Peter Oliver” | Thursday, June 19 | 7 p.m. | Free | Milton Rhodes Center | Written and filmed by Wake Forest University students, the documentary weaves together rare archival materials, expert insights, and heartfelt interviews with Oliver’s descendants.

While most events are free, donations to the Creative Corridors Coalition are encouraged to help bring the Peter Oliver Pavilion to life.