We all know the story. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The historic edict had the ironic effect of unenforceable “freeing” of slaves in the rebellious Confederate states, while leaving enslaved those unfortunates living in the non-Confederate “border states.”
Two years later, hundreds of thousands of African Americans remained enslaved in Texas, unaware of the Emancipation Proclamation. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger and Union Army troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that all slaves were freed. This was the first Juneteenth.
Juneteenth became a Texas state holiday in 1980, and, on June 17, 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, when a proclamation was signed into law by President Joe Biden.
You can participate locally in one of several celebrations in our area:
Travis County’s 34th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, Friday,June 16, 2023, from 10 am-2 pm underneath the parking garage at 800 Lavaca St. Travis County employees and the general public are invited. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/juneteenth#:~:text=Juneteenth%202023:%20Showtime%20at%20Juneteenth,the%20general%20public%20are%20invited!%5C
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival, 10 am Saturday, June 17, Rosewood Park, 2300 Rosewood Ave, Austin. Presented by the Greater East Austin Youth Association (GEAYA). https://www.austintexas.org/event/central-texas-juneteenth-parade-%26-festival/372490/#:~:text=Juneteenth%2C%20also%20known%20as%20%22Freedom,local%20vendors%20at%20Rosewood%20Park
Georgetown: The 71st annual Juneteenth celebration in Georgetown on June 16-17 includes multiple events. The Georgetown Juneteenth events are sponsored by the Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association and GTX Connect. In addition to these events, a Juneteenth photo exhibit will be on display at the Georgetown Public Library on June 12-18. https://georgetown.org/2023/05/23/juneteenth-celebration-in-georgetown/
Round Rock: The Voice Inc. (non-profit organization) and the City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department are joining forces again for the 17th annual FREE Round Rock Juneteenth Festival at the Lakeview Pavilion and festival area in Old Settlers Park. The event is FREE for the entire family. Parking is $10 cash. https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/events/category/city-events/day/2023-06-17/
Leander: Robin Bledsoe Park, 601 S Bagdad Rd, Leander. https://www.leandertx.gov/parksrec/page/juneteenth-block-party
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