Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on June 19 in the United States. The day commemorates the day in 1865 when Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The celebration of Juneteenth has roots in African American communities and has been observed since the late 1800s. It is a day to remember and honor the struggles and sacrifices of African Americans in their continued fight for freedom and equality.
Check out one of the many Juneteenth celebrations happening in our community!
- Bellevue: Juneteenth Community Celebration, Saturday, June 13, 11:00 – 5:30pm, Crossroads Park
- Kirkland: Eastside Honoring Juneteenth, Saturday, June 13, noon – 4:00pm, Juanita High School
- Mercer Island: Juneteenth Community Celebration, Thursday, June 19, noon – 3:00pm, Mercerdale Park
- Seattle: Juneteenth Festival, Thursday, June 19, noon – 8:00pm, Jimi Hendrix Park
- Seattle: Juneteenth Worship Service, Thursday, June 19, 7:00pm, Bethany Green Lake Chapel
- Tacoma: Juneteenth Celebration, Thursday, June 19, noon – 6:00 pm, Lemay Car Museum Haub Family Field