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The federal holiday Juneteenth will be observed Thursday, June 19, and, due to it being the nation’s newest holiday, questions arise about what’s open and what’s closed.

When is Juneteenth 2025?

Juneteenth, commemorating June 19, 1865, the day that the country’s last slaves were freed after the Civil War, is always celebrated on June 19. This year, the date falls on a Thursday.

Will government offices be closed on Juneteenth?

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Thursday, June 19 is designated as a federal holiday and non-essential government offices will be closed on the day.

Many public institutions at the local and state levels will follow suit, but it’s best to check with Bucks County government and Montgomery County government on closures in our area.

Is the post office open on Juneteenth? Will mail be delivered?

All post offices will be closed for retail transactions and there will be no regular residential or business mail deliveries on Thursday, June 19, according to the U.S. Postal Service’s website.

Priority Mail Express is available 365 days a year, including federal holidays.

Collaborative art celebrates Juneteenth: Bucks County artist to unveil Juneteenth art piece honoring 160 years of Black history

What does Juneteenth commemorate?

President Abraham Lincoln freed enslaved people in Confederate states by signing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Lincoln signed the Thirteenth Amendment, which freed all enslaved people in the U.S., in February 1865.

However, not all enslaved people were freed. More than 250,000 people remained enslaved in Texas until June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas in 1865 with 2,000 Union troops to proclaim that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free – two and a half years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.

The newly freed Texans started celebrating the anniversary of their freedom on Juneteenth in 1866. The first Juneteenth celebrations included political rallies to teach freed Black people about their voting rights, and later included picnics, family reunions, dramatic readings, blues festivals and ball games.

Over the last 159 years, the holiday has grown beyond Texas, becoming simultaneously a celebration of Black joy and progress and an opportunity to recognize the enduring impacts of slavery, racism and oppression. 

Juneteenth events in Bucks County, Montco

There are several Juneteenth events across Bucks and Montgomery counties that strive to reflect on the nation’s history and uplift the Black community. Here’s how you can get involved:

Book Talk and Lunch, Bristol

Join the African American Museum of Bucks County for a conversation with authors Pat Mervine and Joe Coleman, who will discuss their book, “Slavery, Friends, and Freedom in Bucks County.” Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and all proceeds will go to the African American Museum of Bucks County. Free to attend. Books costs $30 and are available for purchase.

Juneteenth Tours at the Peter Wentz Farmstead, Lansdale

The Peter Wentz Farmstead, a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site, will present special tours focused on the people enslaved by the Wentz family and how their stories relate to the history of slavery in Pennsylvania. The tours are free, but registration is required. The tours are suggested for those aged 13 and older. 

  • When: Saturday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to  3:30 p.m. (last tour starts at 3 p.m.)
  • Where: Peter Wentz Farmstead, 2030 Shearer Road in Lansdale (east of the intersection of Routes 73 & 363)
  • More info: https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/calendar

Juneteenth Jubilee Street Festival, Norristown

This annual street festival celebrates heritage and community with live entertainment, music, vendors, food, drink, art show, a living history reenactment and a kids zone with carnival games and zoo animals.

  • When: Thursday, June 19 from noon to 6 p.m.
  • Where: Dekalb and Main streets in Norristown
  • More info: norristown.org/calendar

2025 federal holiday calendar

Here’s the federal holiday calendar for the remainder of 2025, according to the OPM:

  • Juneteenth: Thursday, June 19
  • Independence Day: Friday, July 4
  • Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 1
  • Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 13
  • Veterans Day: Tuesday, Nov. 11
  • Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 27
  • Christmas: Thursday, Dec. 25

Gabe Hauari of USA TODAY contributed to this story.