Thursday is a federal holiday, meaning banks, many offices and the U.S. Postal Service will be closed. The date marks the declaration of emancipation of slaves in the United States in 1865, some two years after Abraham Lincoln made the Emancipation Proclamation. It was signed into federal law in 2021.
Originally the holiday was celebrated mostly in Texas, since the date marks the arrival of Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston and proclaimed freedom for enslaved people. Newly freed Black communities held religious services and meals to mark the occasion.
The celebrations gained momentum during the 1960s civil rights movement and Juneteenth – a combination of June and nineteenth – became the preferred name in the 2000s.
Today, the celebrations may typically involve vibrant outdoor festivities such as picnics, cookouts and parades. Juneteenth events also include film screenings, festivals, concerts and other cultural events. Others prefer to reflect, remember and educate on that date by going to museums or presentations that feature Black history.
In Oklahoma City, there is the Juneteenth East Festival on Northeast 23rd Street from North Kelham Avenue and North Hood Street.
In Tulsa, a festival will be held in the historic Greenwood District June 18-21. Norman will hold a festival on June 19 in Reaves Park on Jenkins Avenue, with music and family activities.
Be sure to check community websites and social media sites to affirm the times and dates, especially with summer weather taken into consideration.