Program Description
Event Details
Celebrate Juneteenth with BLAC Fest, Orange County Public Library's Black Literature, Arts, & Culture Festival June 7th-18th 2025! BLAC Fest features a series of events and activities during the two weeks leading up to Juneteenth including crafts, exhibits, book discussions, local history, self care events, opportunities to win prizes, and more!
A tentative list of events and activities follows below. Updates will be added frequently.
Read Black | Ongoing All June at Main Library | Discover genres of Black Literature on display at Main Library! For all ages. Click for lists of Black literature divided by genres.
Celebrate Nigerian Media | Ongoing All June at Southern Branch | In June the Global Books & Media Series at Southern Branch Library encourages you to enjoy Nigerian books, films, & shows then discuss while making Nigerian-inspired art on Sat, 6/21 at 2pm. Click for a list of books by and about Nigerians to get you started.
Story Quilt Activities | Ongoing All June at Main Library | Stop by the library and create a square for our community-made story quilt in honor of the late Faith Ringgold, artist, quilter, and author of the classic children's book, Tar Beach. The quilt that we make over the summer will be highlighted as part of our Artember festivities in September of this year. While you're visiting, you can also learn more about story quilts and Ringgold’s life and legacy at our ongoing puzzle table which features a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle depicting Ringgold’s quilt, Tar Beach 2. Both activities are for all ages.
Summer Reading Kickoff & Resource Fair | Sat., June 7th, 10am-12pm at River Park in Hillsborough | Stop by this family- friendly event to learn about Summer Reading programs for every age group and other community initiatives. For all ages.
Why Eustressin’? Coping with Stress Basics | Sat., June 7th, 2-4pm at Southern Branch Library | What are the differences between stress, eustress, and distress? OCPL and Central Carolina Black Nurses Council, Inc. welcome you to join in an overview and discussion of mental health fundamentals and practical strategies for coping with various challenges. Therapist, Janae Carroll, of Good Stress Company leads this discussion.
Book Discussion of Lovely One by Ketanji Brown Jackson | Tue., June 10th, 6:30-7:30pm at Main Library | Tuesday Evening Book Club hosts this discussion of the best-selling biography by the Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Book Discussion of Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler | Wed., June 11th 6:30-7:30pm at Main Library | Spotlight Books & Film Series presents a discussion of one of Butler's most most discussed works.
Juneteenth Lunch & Film Discussion | Fri., June 13th, 2pm at Main Library | Enjoy a catered lunch, a screening of Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches, and a community dialogue centered on freedom, storytelling, and intergenerational connection. Registration is preferred for this free event hosted by the Orange County Office of Civil Rights & Civic Life as part of its annual full day of Juneteenth Celebration events.
The Local Legacy of the Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray | Sat., June 14th, 10am – 1:30pm at Southern Branch Library | UNC Public Humanities presents a discussion of the life and legacy of local civil rights activist, Pauli Murray.
Telling the Full Story | Sun., June 15th - Wed., July 30th at Main Library | Explore a powerful visual installation that spotlights Hillsborough's history through stories shared by people connected to our town and collected by the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough. Learn more about the project at historichillsborough.org/map
6 Questions Interactive Art Exhibit | Sun., June 15th - Wed., July 30th at Main Library | How do we share history in the present and preserve it for the future? View 6 questions previously posed to the community and the responses aimed at addressing how we share & preserve history. Add your own responses and see where the conversation takes you.
Fatherhood in Root & Word: A Writing Workshop with Zelda Lockhart | Sun., June 15th, 2pm at Main Library | Join us at Main Library this Father's Day as we welcome local author, Zelda Lockhart in leading a writing workshop centered around fatherhood and the generational story of our fathers' kinfolks. This workshop is free and open to adult writers at all levels of experience. Registration is preferred.
Hillsborough's Black & Indigenous History Guided Tour | Thu, June 19th, 10-11:30am beginning outside the front doors of Main Library | As part of BLAC Fest, Indigenous Memories and the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough present a 90 minute, guided walking tour of Hillsborough's Black and Indigenous History on Juneteenth led by Judge Beverly Scarlett. The tour will begin outside the front doors of Main Library (which will be closed) and follow a route through downtown and includes the history of Indigenous peoples, Maroons, Free People of Color, and enslaved people of Orange County. Registration is required. This event is free and open to the public.
Juneteenth at Stagville | The Library is closed on Juneteenth (June 19th), but Jubilee Day celebration will be taking place at Stagville State Historic Site in Durham. Historic Stagville preserves the remnants of one of the largest plantations in North Carolina. We encourage you to visit, celebrate, and learn.
(Bonus Event) Nigerian Media & Crafts | Sat., June 21st, 2pm at Southern Branch | Throughout June, read books or watch movies and shows by Nigerian creators, then meet to chat while crafting Yoruba adire oniko style tie-dyed napkins. This event is part of the Global Books & Entertainment series.
Adult Summer Reading