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  • Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S., is celebrated on June 19.
  • Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
  • St. Cloud’s Juneteenth Celebration will take place June 19 with live music, food, vendors and other activities.

An important federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States nears this month.

Juneteenth is on June 19, which is the reason for the holiday’s name. This year, the holiday falls on a Thursday.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that enslaved people within areas rebelling against the Union during the American Civil War were free, according to the National Archives. But the proclamation came with limitations, including that it applied only to states that had seceded from the Union, said the National Archives.

Another limitation was that it couldn’t be implemented in places under Confederate control, said the National Museum of African American History and Culture, meaning that enslaved people weren’t freed until Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced as much.

That occurred on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The History Channel said that emancipation “didn’t happen overnight for everyone,” citing instances in which that information was withheld until after the harvest season.

But another important moment in America’s history came later that year — the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the U.S.

When did Juneteenth start?

While it’s long been recognized and celebrated, it’s only in recent years that it became a federal holiday. In 2021, former President Joe Biden signed a bill establishing Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday, CNN reported that year.

“Juneteenth celebrations then, like now, recognize the ongoing fight for human rights and equality and are commemorated through family cookouts, faith services, musical performances and storytelling,” according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement, while preserving history and community traditions.”

When was the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on Jan. 1, 1863, according to the National Archives.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? See federal holidays for 2025

Juneteenth is a federal holiday. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management lists the holiday schedule for this year. The remaining federal holidays of 2025 are:

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

How is St. Cloud celebrating Juneteenth?

St. Cloud’s annual Juneteenth Celebration, hosted by St. Cloud nonprofit Higher Works Collaborative, will take place noon to 7 p.m. June 19 at Lake George. The event, marking its 28th year, will feature its annual grill off competition, basketball tournament and a first-annual dominoes competition.

Local businesses, food trucks and live music will also be at the event, as well as a Wonderland Kids Zone with activities for children.

Gov. Tim Walz established Juneteenth as a state holiday in February 2023, following it becoming a federal holiday in 2021.

As of 2023, at least 28 states and Washington, D.C. officially recognize the federal holiday at a state level, according to Pew Research Center.

What is closed on Juneteenth? What to know about mail, banks and grocery stores

There will be no regular delivery service on Juneteenth, according to the U.S. Postal Service. UPS locations will be open, and pickup and delivery services will be available on holidays, according to the company.

Last year, most restaurants, grocery, and retail stores like Costco, Walmart and Target were open on the holiday, USA TODAY reported.

Branches of Chase and Wells Fargo will be closed on Juneteenth, according to their holiday schedules. Last year, branches of Capital One, PNC, Citibank, Bank of America, and more were closed for the holiday, according to USA TODAY.

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.