Augusta, GA
Augusta fairgrounds holds ninth annual Juneteenth Festival
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Thursday’s federal holiday, many are heading out to a Juneteenth celebration in Augusta at the fairgrounds.
Augusta’s ninth annual Juneteenth Festival is taking place on Thursday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is being hosted by Band of Brothers Augusta.
It’s a commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. and celebrates African American culture, and for many, not just another day off.
Attendees and officials wanted to emphasize why we celebrate the holiday.
”Can you imagine someone coming up to you and letting you know that you are free? I mean, I’m just sure they was in pure jubilee. And so, we want to keep that spirit up. That’s why I’m here,” said Valente Fanning, Washington-Wilkes Black History Advisory Commission.
“It’s important to shine light on that date, shine light on why it’s important and why we actually celebrate it, as well as having a good time,” said Chavis Lawrence, vice president, Band of Brothers.
“You just reflect on where you came from, so that you can move forward to your future,” said Patrick Frazier, attended the festival.
The Festival is being held at the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds with food, exhibits and music, all while bringing the community together and teaching everyone what Juneteenth is about.
“I have the freedom to start this business as a local entrepreneur. You know, those people then, they did their due diligence, and they sacrificed their lives and everything to allow me to be free to do this,” said Brig Westmoreland, Elite Shaken Lemonade.
Nearly a decade ago, the founder of the festival, Travis Wright, organized the festival for more reasons than one.
“Everybody knows about the 4th of July. But this is our Freedom Day in 1863. Everyone knows Abraham Lincoln; he freed the slaves through the Emancipation Proclamation, but it took that word two whole years to travel all the way to Galveston, Texas, where the last group of slaves were freed in 1865. And that is what we celebrate,” said Wright.
Fanning came all the way from Washington County to celebrate.
“I came out here because we’re actually planning our Juneteenth celebration at Washington, Ga on the 21st. And so, in the spirit of Juneteenth, my birthday was actually yesterday. I just turned 35, and so this is part of my birthday celebration as well as Juneteenth, because I wanted to see how other cities do their Juneteenth celebration. And also, just to support our beautiful Augusta,” said Fanning.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with local legal organizations for the 15th Annual Georgia Food Frenzy.
The fundraising competition is held in partnership with Feeding Georgia, the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
The two-week competition runs from April 20th through May 1st, and every dollar raised stays local, supporting Golden Harvest’s work across the state of Georgia.
Groups can register at www.galegalfoodfrenzy.org/sign-up, and registration will remain open throughout the competition.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
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