Council makes Juneteenth a city‑sponsored festival for 2025, agrees to cover two days of in‑kind services and fireworks up to $5,500

Gastonia’s City Council voted unanimously Thursday to designate the Juneteenth celebration presented by Health Carolina as a city festival for 2025 and to provide city support this year for both days of the event, including in‑kind services and fireworks reimbursement up to $5,500.

Tasha White, founder of Health Carolina and the organizer of EbonyFest Juneteenth, told the council that the celebration had been organized as a two‑day event this year because of logistics: county parking lots that support the Rotary Pavilion were not available for use on the holiday date, requiring a Saturday setup to accommodate vendors and a parade. White asked the council to recognize the two‑day plan for 2025 and said that going forward she intends the event to be a single‑day Juneteenth observance when parking access constraints are resolved.

Council members debated three questions: whether the city should adopt Juneteenth as an official city festival, whether to cover one or two days in 2025, and whether the city should assume expenses beyond in‑kind staffing (for example, fireworks). Councilwoman Littlejohn moved to cover both days and all expenses for 2025; the motion was amended and clarified during discussion to cover in‑kind services for both days and reimburse fireworks up to $5,500. Councilwoman Stepp seconded the clarified motion.

City attorney Eric Edgerton said the city would require an indemnification clause in the contract so the organizer would hold the city harmless for liabilities associated with pyrotechnics and other activities; he also noted insurance certificates were already on file for the planned fireworks vendor. Ms. White told the council that the pyrotechnics contractor had already provided required insurance and that the city was listed on the certificate of insurance.

The vote to approve the contract and associated support was unanimous. Council members and staff said the 2025 arrangement was meant to address the immediate logistical needs; several council members said future years should be treated like the city’s other single‑day, city‑sponsored events (for example, Fourth of July). Staff will include an indemnification clause in the contract and confirm insurance documentation with the vendor prior to the event.