ASHLAND — Listen, read and watch history unfold at the Ashland County Historical Society’s Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom and Family on Friday.
The goal of this year’s event is to transport visitors to the mid-19th century through living history tours, exhibits and a documentary that brings Ashland’s history to life.
The celebration will be from 3 to 7 p.m. at 420 Center St.
The event is Ashland’s third annual Juneteenth celebration. It also marks the 75th anniversary of the Ashland County Historical Society, which creates the celebration.
“We want to be able to uplift and really embrace the mission, the original mission of the Ashland County Historical Society, to amplify our local community’s histories,” said society Executive Director Sara Fisher.
The last two years have gathered crowds of around 100 people. Fisher said she hopes for larger crowds this year. The federal holiday falls on Friday and other events for America’s 250th anniversary are upcoming.
And it’s the day before the city’s Ale Fest.
One of the event’s highlights that has carried over from the previous two years are living history tours. Actors portray former Ashland County residents through first-person interactions.
Fisher said she was excited about this year’s living history experience. She said the planning committee wanted to appeal to different learning styles and create an immersive experience.
“Some folks, when they go to a museum or historic site, they’re reading every single word on every single panel,” Fisher said. “Some people learn better hands-on, or even through a play production.”
In previous years, the tours featured individuals sharing their stories. This year, two-person debates will immerse visitors in the family, cultural and political perspectives from the mid-19th century.
“That mirrors what’s happening in a lot of our households, even in 2026, where you have different generations having similar conversations about the views on the world, politics and religion,” Fisher said.
Organizing the event was a community effort. Fisher reached out to neighboring partners, including the Oberlin Heritage Center and the Richland County Historical Society.
The Mohican Community Theatre in Loudonville provided guidance and direction for the actors. The Mansfield Playhouse lent costumes for the performances.
In addition to the living history tours, the celebration will provide free food, a live jazz performance by THE AFRXNTS, the bookmobile, tours of the Manor House, a visit from President Abraham Lincoln and a documentary screening.
New this year is a screening of “A Higher Law: The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of 1858” at the Ashland Theatre. This Emmy award-winning documentary tells a lesser-known story about Ohio’s Underground Railroad history.
The Oberlin Heritage Center and filmmakers will attend the screening and conduct a question-and-answer afterward.
Visitors at the Juneteenth celebration will get to preview “The Moments That Made Us,” a new exhibit developing soon as part of America’s 250th anniversary.
The exhibit is an adaptation of a national display used by museums and historical societies across the nation. This exhibit explores how Ashland County became part of America’s history.
“The city of Ashland, the state of Ohio didn’t exist in 1776, but we are that legacy,” Fisher said.
The exhibit will focus on the mid-19th century for Friday, featuring local stories that are not discussed in the living history walks. Topics include Ashland’s role in the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, experiences of freed families and women’s contributions of organizations like the Ladies Aid Society.
The exhibit will also feature two local newspapers that were on opposite ends of the political spectrum and their exchanged responses. The full exhibit is still a work in progress.
Once complete, the exhibit will share history from the first settlers to what would become Ashland County.
Fisher said their project reflects the society’s efforts to connect local history to the state and nation.
“History doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” Fisher said.
“The history of Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, of community and of joy,” Fisher said.
“Come together as a community, and of joy in that we are so privileged to live in the time that we do. And to understand the history that got us here. Because the moments that happened 160 years ago, they made us into what we are today.”
