Juneteenth: What you need to know about how the holiday is celebrated in the Daytona area
For some, it's a well-needed day off. But Juneteenth, celebrated this Thursday, June 19, in communities across the nation, holds a sacred place in African-American history.
Juneteenth, established by President Joe Biden in 2021, is the most recently added federal holiday. Sometimes referred to as 'Black Independence Day" or "Freedom Day," Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that news of the Emancipation Proclamation made it to enslaved people in the South — nearly three years after it was actually signed.
Here's what you need to know about Juneteenth 2025: what it is, why it's celebrated, and what's going on in the Daytona Beach area.
Non-essential federal, state, and city government offices are closed. Public and private schools may also be closed. Banks, the stock market, and the U.S. Postal Service are closed. Although many private-sector employers give employees the day off, workers in retail, grocery stores, and restaurants are not as lucky as many of those outlets are open for business.
It is always on June 19, but Juneteenth (short for "June Nineteenth") but may fall on different days each year.
The holiday marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people in Texas and the nation be freed, on June 19, 1865, History.com says.
The next year, the now-free people started celebrating Juneteenth in Texas. Its observance has continued around the nation and the world ever since. Events include concerts, parades, readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, and other celebrations of Black culture and history.
The annual Hometown Heroes Awards Banquet coincides this year with Daytona Beach's Juneteenth celebrations. Slated to take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mori Hosseini Student Center on the campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the soul food buffet banquet recognizes Daytona Beach-area residents who strive to make a difference in the community. For more information, visit www.juneteenthdaytona.com.
Another Juneteenth celebration will be held on Saturday at Master's Domain Church of God in Christ, located at 511 Fremont Ave. in Daytona Beach. The event is being billed as a citywide celebration and begins at 4 p.m. Several local churches, organizations, youth groups, and community leaders will be included in the event. There will be free food, vendors, and special performances from area groups. The event will also honor several people who have dedicated their lives to community service.
The Miss Juneteenth Volusia County Pageant takes place Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Babe James Community Center, 201 N Myrtle Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Pre-registration is required, but the event is free and open to the public.
Eileen Zaffiro-Kean contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Juneteenth in Daytona: Here's what to know about the federal holiday
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Juneteenth: What you need to know about how the holiday is celebrated in the Daytona area
For some, it's a well-needed day off. But Juneteenth, celebrated this Thursday, June 19, in communities across the nation, holds a sacred place in African-American history. Juneteenth, established by President Joe Biden in 2021, is the most recently added federal holiday. Sometimes referred to as 'Black Independence Day" or "Freedom Day," Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that news of the Emancipation Proclamation made it to enslaved people in the South — nearly three years after it was actually signed. Here's what you need to know about Juneteenth 2025: what it is, why it's celebrated, and what's going on in the Daytona Beach area. Non-essential federal, state, and city government offices are closed. Public and private schools may also be closed. Banks, the stock market, and the U.S. Postal Service are closed. Although many private-sector employers give employees the day off, workers in retail, grocery stores, and restaurants are not as lucky as many of those outlets are open for business. It is always on June 19, but Juneteenth (short for "June Nineteenth") but may fall on different days each year. The holiday marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people in Texas and the nation be freed, on June 19, 1865, says. The next year, the now-free people started celebrating Juneteenth in Texas. Its observance has continued around the nation and the world ever since. Events include concerts, parades, readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, and other celebrations of Black culture and history. The annual Hometown Heroes Awards Banquet coincides this year with Daytona Beach's Juneteenth celebrations. Slated to take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mori Hosseini Student Center on the campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the soul food buffet banquet recognizes Daytona Beach-area residents who strive to make a difference in the community. For more information, visit Another Juneteenth celebration will be held on Saturday at Master's Domain Church of God in Christ, located at 511 Fremont Ave. in Daytona Beach. The event is being billed as a citywide celebration and begins at 4 p.m. Several local churches, organizations, youth groups, and community leaders will be included in the event. There will be free food, vendors, and special performances from area groups. The event will also honor several people who have dedicated their lives to community service. The Miss Juneteenth Volusia County Pageant takes place Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Babe James Community Center, 201 N Myrtle Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Pre-registration is required, but the event is free and open to the public. Eileen Zaffiro-Kean contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Juneteenth in Daytona: Here's what to know about the federal holiday
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