The resulting Juneteenth holiday — its name combining “June” and “nineteenth” — has only grown in one-and-a-half centuries. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday — expanding its recognition beyond Black America.

Juneteenth commemorates one of the country’s oldest and most painful journeys: the ongoing fight for true, tangible and equitable freedom.

The Las Vegas valley is gearing up for a weekend of Juneteenth commemorations and celebrations. Juneteenth, an annual holiday on June 19, celebrates the freedom of enslaved people following the Civil War.

Juneteenth isn't just about celebrating freedom — it's a reminder of the moral consequences of power-hoarding systems and what communities can do for themselves.

Here’s a list of what is open and what is closed in Massachusetts for Juneteenth, June 19, 2025. Banks: Most banks will be closed, but check with your local bank.

GALVESTON, Texas — Former President Joe Biden might be a special guest at a Juneteenth celebration on Galveston Island. It wasn't clear which celebration Biden would attend or if he would speak at the event.

Juneteenth Tasting Event, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Celebrate the cuisine of the market’s Black-owned businesses. $40 for 18 samples, $20 for 8 samples. Findlaymarket.org.

The festivities begin Thursday with live entertainment and games at the African American Museum and end Sunday with a concert in Malcolm X Park in West Philly.

Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration (Thursday, June 19, starting at 11 a.m.) 165 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md. Freedom in Full Color: A Juneteenth Paint & Sip Celebration (Thursday, June 19 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.) 162 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.

The year’s Juneteenth in Mt. Pleasant will highlight the power of collaboration to help build community through joy.

Opal Lee, "The Grandmother of Juneteenth," will not participate in this year's Walk for Freedom after her recent hospitalization.