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  • Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., is celebrated annually on June 19.
  • It became a federal holiday in 2021, but observance varies by state and local governments.
  • Celebrations range from community gatherings and festivals to concerts and educational events.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth commemorates the so-called second U.S. independence day, June 19, 1865. That’s when when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger led Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation that President Abraham Lincoln signed 2½ years earlier to free the country’s slaves.

Because of communication delays and incalcitrant slave owners ignoring the law, many Black people in Texas and a few other states still weren’t free when Granger arrived and even afterward.

June 19 came to be known as “Juneteenth” — a combination of “June” and “nineteenth” — and an annual day of celebration by the newly freed people in Texas. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Is Juneteenth an official holiday?

Yes and no. Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, so federal agencies and courts, banks and the stock market will be closed. But it is not a state holiday in Florida, so state agencies will be open.

Local governments are a mixed bag so check ahead. The city of Jacksonville and Clay, Nassau and St. Johns county governments observe the holiday but Putnam County government does not. The 4th Judicial Circuit serving Clay, Duval and Nassau counties will be closed, while the 7th Judicial Circuit serving Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties will be open.

How has Juneteenth been celebrated?

Initially, Juneteenth was celebrated informally in family and church gatherings, which for many former slaves and their families and descendants evolved into annual pilgrimages to Galveston, according to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“The celebrations spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on food festivals,” according to the museum.

Two Texans — the Rev. Ronald Myers Sr. and Opal Lee, whom many consider the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” — spent decades lobbying for Juneteenth to be a federal holiday. President Joe Biden and Congress fulfilling their mission in 2021 “sparked an outpouring of joy and unity across this country. From coast to coast, Americans of all backgrounds enjoyed parties, attended soulful concerts and shared communal feasts in a triumphant reminder of the rich tapestry of African American culture we celebrate today,” according to the museum.

How will Juneteenth 2025 be celebrated in Jacksonville?

Here is a roundup of Juneteenth-related events:

Juneteenth Celebration 365

3 p.m. Saturday, June 14, on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard. Free. 

About 200 Black-owned businesses are scheduled to be on hand for a Juneteenth celebration on a street named for a pioneering civil rights activist. Info: melanincollaborativegroup.org  

JWJ BDay 5K and Block Party  

5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at J. Weldon Johnson Park. Free. 

Juneteenth Concert 

1 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. $25. 

Jacksonville’s Ritz Chamber Players perform “Juneteenth: Voices of Freedom.” Info: cummermuseum.org 

Phatt Katz Juneteenth Celebration 

7 p.m. Friday, June 20, at Breezy Jazz House. $25-$35. 

Comedian Spunky Robinson headlines, 904Nika is the feature comic, Ozrick Cooley hosts and DJ Ray Groove City provides the tunes. Info: phattkatz.com 

Ritz Chamber Players 

7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Terry Concert Hall. Free.  

The Players finish their season with “Juneteenth: Voices of Freedom.” Info: ritzchamberplayers.org 

Excelsior High School Centennial Celebration 

June 19-21 at the Lincolnville Museum & Culture Center, St. Augustine. Free-$125. 

Excelsior High, which opened in 1925, was the first public high school for Black students in St. Johns County and operated until the 1960s. Today, the Lincolnville Museum occupies the site, and is celebrating the school’s centennial with a new exhibit, a Harlem Nights Gala, a reunion prom and field day. Info: lincolnvillemuseum.org 

Will the U.S. Postal Service deliver mail on Juneteenth?

Post offices will be closed, so don’t expect regular mail delivery. But Priority Mail Express service will still be available on that day, as it is 365 days a year. 

Will UPS and FedEx deliver packages on Juneteenth?

UPS and FedEx stores will be open and all services available.

Will garbage be collected on Juneteenth?

Yes, in Jacksonville and Clay, Putnam, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

What is open, closed on Juneteenth?

Most major retail store chains, including Publix, Target and Walmart, will remain open on the holiday. Most restaurants and food chains will be open as well, including McDonalds, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A and Burger King.

bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109