Block parties, festivals and more: U.S. celebrates Juneteenth

CBC
·4 min read
Kyler Wilson holds a sign at a block party Sunday to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, over two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the U.S. (Kevin Wurm/Reuters - image credit)
Kyler Wilson holds a sign at a block party Sunday to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, over two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the U.S. (Kevin Wurm/Reuters - image credit)

Americans are observing Juneteenth today, a relatively new federal holiday in the United States. It marks the day when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were notified the Civil War had ended and they were free.

U.S. President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021. Here's a look at some of the festivities held south of the border over the long weekend and earlier this month.

Block parties

Maya Smith, left, blows bubbles during the Queer Juneteenth Block Party, featuring games, costumes and dance, in New York City on Sunday.

Maya Smith, left, blows bubbles during the Queer Juneteenth Block Party, sponsored by The Center, Sunday, June 18, 2023, in New York.
Maya Smith, left, blows bubbles during the Queer Juneteenth Block Party, sponsored by The Center, Sunday, June 18, 2023, in New York.

Maya Smith, left, blows bubbles during the Queer Juneteenth Block Party, sponsored by The Center, Sunday, June 18, 2023, in New York. (Jeenah Moon/The Associated Press)

(Jeenah Moon/The Associated Press)

Trumpeter Crystal Howard marches down the street while playing with her band during a block party to mark Juneteenth in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday.

Trumpeter Crystal Howard marches down the street while playing with her band during a block party to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, over two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the U.S., in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., June 17, 2023.
Trumpeter Crystal Howard marches down the street while playing with her band during a block party to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, over two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the U.S., in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., June 17, 2023.

Trumpeter Crystal Howard marches down the street while playing with her band during a block party to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, over two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the U.S., in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., June 17, 2023. (Kevin Wurm/Reuters)

(Kevin Wurm/Reuters)

Adrian (Flexx) Couch hypes the crowd up during the block party in Nashville.

Adrian "Flexx" Couch hypes the crowd up during a block party to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, over two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the U.S., in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., June 17, 2023.
Adrian "Flexx" Couch hypes the crowd up during a block party to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, over two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the U.S., in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., June 17, 2023.

Adrian "Flexx" Couch hypes the crowd up during a block party to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, over two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the U.S., in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., June 17, 2023. (Kevin Wurm/Reuters)

(Kevin Wurm/Reuters)

Festivals

Jamboree Thomas, 8, kicks Juneteenth-themed balloons down the street during a neighbourhood festival in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 17: Jamboree Thomas, 8, kicks Juneteenth-themed balloons down the street during a neighborhood Juneteenth festival on June 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. Two years ago, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day on June 19, 1865 when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas stating all enslaved people in the state were free according to federal law.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 17: Jamboree Thomas, 8, kicks Juneteenth-themed balloons down the street during a neighborhood Juneteenth festival on June 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. Two years ago, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day on June 19, 1865 when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas stating all enslaved people in the state were free according to federal law. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

(Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Line dancers perform during the festival.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 17: Line dancers perform during a neighborhood Juneteenth festival on June 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. Two years ago, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day on June 19, 1865, when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas, stating all enslaved people in the state were free according to federal law.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 17: Line dancers perform during a neighborhood Juneteenth festival on June 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. Two years ago, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day on June 19, 1865, when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas, stating all enslaved people in the state were free according to federal law. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

(Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Casius Caligula watches a band with his dogs during Juneteenth festivities at Discovery Green public park in downtown Houston, Texas, on Sunday.

Casius Caligula watches a band with his pit bull dogs Mephistopheles, Maximilian, Medusa and Maleficent during Juneteenth festivities at Discovery Green in Houston, Texas, U.S., June 18, 2023.
Casius Caligula watches a band with his pit bull dogs Mephistopheles, Maximilian, Medusa and Maleficent during Juneteenth festivities at Discovery Green in Houston, Texas, U.S., June 18, 2023.

Casius Caligula watches a band with his pit bull dogs Mephistopheles, Maximilian, Medusa and Maleficent during Juneteenth festivities at Discovery Green in Houston, Texas, U.S., June 18, 2023. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

(Adrees Latif/Reuters)

Other celebrations

Juneteenth ambassador Madison Swain tosses candy to children during the Juneteenth parade in Galveston on Saturday.

Juneteenth Ambassador Madison Swain tosses candy towards children during the Juneteenth Parade in Galveston, Texas, U.S., June 17, 2023.
Juneteenth Ambassador Madison Swain tosses candy towards children during the Juneteenth Parade in Galveston, Texas, U.S., June 17, 2023.

Juneteenth Ambassador Madison Swain tosses candy towards children during the Juneteenth Parade in Galveston, Texas, U.S., June 17, 2023. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

(Adrees Latif/Reuters)

A local resident takes cover under an umbrella from the hot weather during the parade in Galveston.

A local resident takes cover from hot weather under an umbrella during the Juneteenth Parade in Galveston, Texas, U.S., June 17, 2023. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
A local resident takes cover from hot weather under an umbrella during the Juneteenth Parade in Galveston, Texas, U.S., June 17, 2023. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

A local resident takes cover from hot weather under an umbrella during the Juneteenth Parade in Galveston, Texas, U.S., June 17, 2023. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

(Adrees Latif/Reuters)

Members of the Tennessee State University marching band perform as President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris host a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 13.

Members of the Tennessee State University marching band perform as U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris host a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 13, 2023.
Members of the Tennessee State University marching band perform as U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris host a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 13, 2023.

Members of the Tennessee State University marching band perform as U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris host a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 13, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

(Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Members of the Tennessee State University marching band perform as U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris host a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 13, 2023.
Members of the Tennessee State University marching band perform as U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris host a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 13, 2023.

Members of the Tennessee State University marching band perform as U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris host a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 13, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

(Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Singer Jennifer Hudson performs during the concert. The White House hosted the concert to mark the nation's newest federal holiday that was established in 2021.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: Jennifer Hudson performs during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. The White House hosted the concert to mark the nation’s newest federal holiday that was established in 2021.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: Jennifer Hudson performs during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. The White House hosted the concert to mark the nation’s newest federal holiday that was established in 2021.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: Jennifer Hudson performs during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. The White House hosted the concert to mark the nation’s newest federal holiday that was established in 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

(Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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