Hey Philly editor Asha Prihar contributed to this article.
Juneteenth is a significant day in U.S. history. The National Museum of African American History and Culture refers to Juneteenth as our country’s second independence day. Short for “June Nineteenth,” it is also known as “Freedom Day” and “Emancipation Day.”
What is Juneteenth?
On Jan. 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in states that rebelled against the Union were now free. In the lead-up to the end of the Civil War in April 1865, Union soldiers traveled throughout Confederate states to read the proclamation to enslaved people.
On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure that all the slaves were freed. But the news had yet to reach them, and they were the last to hear about their freedom. The following year, June 19 became a day of remembrance and “Jubilee Day” for the over 250,000 newly freed slaves. Juneteenth has since been widely celebrated in the African American community.
Road to Federal Recognition
Texas became the first state to designate Juneteenth as a holiday in 1980. In the summer of 2020, nationwide protests demanding racial justice and an end to police brutality brought an increased awareness of Juneteenth and its significance. Houston artist Reginald Adams and his team created a Juneteenth mural in 2021, and their work has had a ripple effect across the United States. Juneteenth murals have since been painted in 14 different cities, including Philly. “Philly’s First Juneteenth Mural” by artist Keisha Whatley was unveiled in Germantown last year.
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden officially signed Juneteenth into law as the 11th federally recognized U.S. holiday.
How to Celebrate Juneteenth This Year in Philly
Saturday, June 15
- 🏛️ Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Free | Penn Museum
- 🎊 Johnson House Juneteenth Festival | 12–7 p.m. | Pay As You Go | Germantown
- 📝 Juneteenth Historical and Cultural Institution Resource and Information Fair | 1 p.m. | Free | Parkway Central Library
- 🍷 Juneteenth Wine & Arts Festival | 1–6 p.m. | $0–$75 | Cherry Street Pier
- 🎤 Juneteenth Family Celebration | 2–4 p.m. | Free | Woodmere Art Museum
Sunday, June 16
- 🎨 Juneteenth Marketplace & Art in the Park | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | Pay As You Go | Malcolm X Park
- 🌳 Juneteenth Jubilee | 11 a.m.–4 p.m. | Free | Bartram’s Garden
- 🎉 Juneteenth Parade | Noon–2 p.m. | Free | West Philly
- 🎵 Juneteenth Music Festival | 3–7 p.m. | Free | Malcolm X Park
Wednesday, June 19
- 🎟️ Free Museum Admission | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | African American Museum in Philadelphia
- 🎫 Free Museum Admission & Juneteenth Programming | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | National Constitution Center
- 📚 JUNE-teenth: A June Jordan Inspired Family Reunion | Noon–6 p.m. | $0–$20 | Fishtown
- 🎶 Rhythms of Liberation: Juneteenth Block Party | Noon–7 p.m. | Pay As You Go | African American Museum in Philadelphia
- 🧘 Juneteenth Dream Space | 2–8 p.m. | Suggested $20 Donation | Norris Square
This article has been updated to correct the date of the Civil War ending.
