June 19, or Juneteenth, marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and the enslaved were now free.
An estimated 250,000 slaves residing in Texas were informed of their freedom. This news came two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Because there was a minimal number of Union troops in Texas to enforce Lincoln’s Executive Order, it wasn’t until the surrender of General Lee and the arrival of General Gordon Granger’s regiment that slaves were finally set free in Texas.
Many Texans embrace Juneteenth as a time to honor African-American heritage with events across the state.
Here is a list of Juneteenth events set to take place in Texas this month:
Austin:
June 16: Juneteenth 2K Freedom Walk/Run
June 16: Historical Juneteenth Parade
June 16: Park Celebration
June 16: Juneteenth Celebration at the Carver Museum
June 23: Juneteenth Health Festival 2018
Dallas:
June 16: Juneteenth Celebration at the Dallas Public Library
June 19: 2018 Juneteenth Celebration at MLK Community Center
Houston:
June 16: Juneteenth Celebration at the Rutherford Yates Museum
June 16: Mayor Turner's 7th Annual Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade
June 19: Juneteenth Annual Celebration in Emancipation Park
June 19: Juneteenth Mural Unveiling
Galveston:
June 16: Galveston Juneteenth Parade
June 19: Juneteenth Picnic in the Park
San Antonio:
June 19: Ode to Juneteenth
Editorial Note: Progress Texas is not an organizer of these events. If you have more Juneteenth events or celebrations you would like to add to the list, please send them my way: wesley@progresstexas.org
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