June 24, 2026

On Friday evening, something special happened in the Town of Dumfries.

More than 5,000 people gathered at Garrison Park to celebrate Juneteenth. Families brought lawn chairs and blankets. Children played and laughed. Neighbors danced together. Friends reconnected. And for a few hours, people from every background came together as one community.

As I looked across the park, I couldn't help but smile.

This was bigger than a concert.

Yes, Carl Thomas delivered an incredible performance. Yes, the food was amazing, and the vendors and fireworks made the evening unforgettable.

But what I'll remember most is the people.

I'll remember seeing grandparents sitting next to young families. I'll remember watching children dance in front of the stage. I'll remember hearing thousands of voices singing together and seeing smiles everywhere I turned.

I'll remember a community showing the very best of itself.

A Community Comes Together

Even more remarkable, this celebration of more than 5,000 people concluded with no major incidents. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because people choose community. It happens because of incredible staff, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, public safety personnel, and residents who care deeply about this town.

Events like these matter.

They create memories. They build relationships. They strengthen civic pride. They remind us that even in a world that often feels divided, community still has the power to bring people together.

The Power of Community

For years, I've talked about a vision of moving Dumfries from overlooked to unforgettable.

Friday night felt like a glimpse of that future.

A town that people don't simply drive through, but a place they choose to gather, celebrate, and create memories.

A place where people feel they belong.

Thank You

To everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, sponsored, served, and shared your photos and videos—thank you.

Thank you for helping make this year's Juneteenth Block Party one for the history books.

And thank you for continuing to show the world exactly what community looks like in the Town of Dumfries.

The future is being built right now, and on Friday night, we saw it together.

— Mayor Derrick R. Wood