Freedom Season 2026
What is Freedom Season?
For more than 1300 years, people from all walks of life have made the Natchez region home. From the Native Americans who thrived on the land for nearly 1000 years before French settlement in 1716 to the enslaved Africans whose genius and free labor were the backbone of a multi-billion-dollar agriculture industry, Natchez has always been a hub of multiculturalism. And that's what Freedom Season is all about. Freedom Season is a celebration of all the unique people and cultures that have enriched Natchez and America. Whether you live in the Natchez region or just visiting for the first time, Freedom Season has something for you!
Join us for a summer of culture, learning, and fun with celebrations commemorating Juneteenth (June 19), 4th of July, and Julyteenth—which commemorates the arrival of Union troops in Natchez on July 13, 1863.
Julyteenth
As a nation, we celebrate JUNEteenth to commemorate the day the enslaved men and women in Galveston, Texas got news of their freedom in June 1865. But here in Natchez, freedom came two years prior on July 13, 1863- six months after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When the Union troops arrived, enslaved men and women in the Natchez region vacated the plantations and domiciles that held Africans captive for more than 150 years and sought refuge among the Union Army. Many of them enlisted to support the Union occupation. JULYteenth, a term coined by local historian Ser Boxley, celebrates the day freedom came to Natchez!
Experiences & Excursions
Experience the soul of Natchez through food, music and local stories told by descendants of long-time Natchez cook and caregiver Augusta Seiferth, fondly known as "Ms. Gusta." Guests will enjoy Natchez favorites inspired by Ms Gusta's eight decades of Southern cooking. From our warm buttery biscuits to our house-made Natchez Fruit Punch, this experience in Southern culture is not one you'll soon forget.
Run time: 45-60 minutes
Freedom Season Reading List
What is summer without a great book? Check out these picks curated by BlackNatchez.org founder Joseph A.C. Smith and drop by 1720 Gallery to grab your copy today.
Written by Natchez author and curator of the Natchez Museum of African-American History and Culture Bobby Dennis, this quick read explores local black history and culture.
This is the herioc story of Lilly Ann Granderson who started a night school in the basement of her master's home in Natchez. Granderson's school laid the foundation for what would eventually become Jackson State University.
Ron Davis' seminal work on the history of Black people in the Natchez region.
The story of an enslaved man with magical powers, this book inspired our slogan: "Look anywhere in Natchez and you'll see the genius of the slaves that built it."
Written by Washington's long time adminstrator and strategist Emmett Scott and Lyman Beecher Stowe, father of Harriet Beecher Stowe, this book documents the life of Booker Washington and includes details of his visits to Natchez in the early 1900s.
Learn about the unique lives of two important Americans and how their work together helped to advance the ideals of liberty and justice for all.
Learn the ancient secrets of earning, investing, and saving money through a tale set in ancient Babylon.
A 2026 release, this memoir and exposé explores the hidden culture of power, wealth, and influence at Stanford, revealing how the university functions as a pipeline for Silicon Valley's elite.
A short read but powerful read to help you move from ideas to action. A must read once a year.
Freedom Season Playlist
2026 Partners
To become a 2026 Freedom Season Partner, email us blacknatchez@gmail.com to explore partnership opportunities.
Past Events
