Juneteenth celebrations planned statewide in Massachusetts. Here's where
Former president Joe Biden deemed Juneteenth — also known in the past as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day and Liberation Day — a state and federal holiday in 2021.
The celebration commemorates the day in 1865 when the federal army reached Texas to ensure that enslaved people in the state were freed. Union Gen. Gordon Granger brought news of the end of the war and the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been signed more than two years earlier and could not be enforced in Confederate-controlled territory. He read a statement that all enslaved people were free on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas.
Here is a list of Juneteenth events happening this weekend.
Greenfield
Greenfield Juneteenth Celebration at Court Square from 2 until 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Springfield
3rd annual Juneteenth Freedom Day concert with the Juneteenth Flag Raising at City Hall at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by the Freedom Day concert at 3 p.m. at Symphony Hall.
Boston
Boston celebration at Franklin Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday
Embrace Ideas Festival on Friday and Saturday
Friday Films: 'I am Not Your Negro' from 2 to 4 p.m. at Parker Hill
Juneteenth Open Mic and Arts Day on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch Library
Pieces of Me: A Juneteenth Sewing Program from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Boston Public Library, Jamaica Plain Branch
The Food Group from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Boston Public Library, Brighton Branch
Barnstable
The town of Barnstable will hold a flag-raising ceremony and historical reenactment of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the JFK Hyannis Museum on Main Street in Hyannis.
Fitchburg
3rd Annual Fitchburg Juneteenth Community Collaborative Event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverfront Park on Saturday
Worcester
2025 Juneteenth Festival from noon until 8 p.m. at Institute Park
Mass. beach closures on Thursday, June 19
Mass. weather: Temps to feel like 101 amid severe thunder, tornado risk
With no new signs installed at North Pond Conservation Area, rules continue to be ignored
WMass community summits seek to counter Trump attack on diversity, equity, inclusion
Southwick Town Beach to open for season this Monday
Read the original article on MassLive.
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