Flint preparing for Juneteenth celebration

FLINT, Mich. (WNEM) – The city of Flint is gearing up for its annual Juneteenth celebration.

The day, which is on June 19, marks the end of the Civil War in 1865 and is also referred to as Emancipation Day.

While Juneteenth is the the oldest known celebration honoring the end of slavery in the United States, it only became recognized as a national holiday in 2021 and Flint was one of the cities to lead the way.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley said Juneteenth was officially recognized as a holiday by Flint in 2020, a year before the federal government, and it was the first city in Michigan to recognize it as a holiday.

If you haven’t celebrated Juneteenth in Flint before, Neeley said it’s a lot like the Fourth of July.

In downtown Flint, there will be a parade, food trucks, and State Rep. Cynthia Neeley will be handing out copies of the U.S. Constitution. In addition, the long-awaited brick project on Saginaw Street is expected to be completed. The night will end dazzling with a 25 minute-long fireworks show.

Neeley said Juneteenth signifies freedom for everyone and that’s why the city goes all out to celebrate and educate on the historic day.

“Come on out and celebrate this with us because this everyone’s holiday, you know. So, we have adopted this. This is a day where we can all appreciate and celebrate together. This is one nation, one Flint, one community, and we are celebrating together becoming a holiday – not only a city holiday, but a national holiday – that is a major, major movement,” Neeley said. “It’s beautiful to see that others can celebrate this along with us and understanding a very, very rich history of our country.”

To learn more about the celebration, click here.

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