June 19, also called Juneteenth National Independence Day, is an American holiday celebrating the date when the last slaves in the United States were freed after the Civil War.
While President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 when the final enforcement of the order was officially carried out. Slaves in Galveston, Texas were the last to learn they were free.
The date later became a celebration, featuring parades, festivals and cookouts across the U.S. Juneteenth is now a federal and state holiday in Georgia.
Here’s a list of events happening around the metro Atlanta area for Juneteenth.
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ATLANTA
The Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival will take place all weekend with events happening each day.
The Juneteenth Atlanta Freedom Day Parade starts Saturday at 10 a.m. along Boulevard NE at Highland Ave and ends at 10th Street by Piedmont Park.
On Sunday, the Juneteenth Atlanta 5K Freedom Run, Walk, Roll and Crawl will begin at 9 a.m. It also starts and finishes at Piedmont Park. It costs $35 to register.
COLLEGE PARK
College Park will hold a Juneteenth Parade and Community Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The parade will begin at 9 a.m. near the VA Center on Phoenix Blvd. and finish at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Complex. The community day event will feature live music, games and special performance. College Park is also offering health screenings.
CONYERS
The City of Conyers will host a Juneteenth celebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. It will take place at the Conyers Convention & Visitors Bureau on Railroad Street.
HAMPTON
Juneteenth Art Show will take place in Hampton from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Visitors can stop by the Hampton Train Depot on East Main Street.
HAPEVILLE
The city of Hapeville will host its Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hapeville Depot Museum. It’s free to attend.
Attendees can take part in genealogy workshops at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., history lectures at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and panel discussion at 3:30 p.m. There will also be live music, dance performances, games, food trucks and more during the event.
JONESBORO
The City of Jonesboro will hosts its 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration 5:00–9:00 PM at Lee Street Park Amphitheatre.
Visitors can enjoy live entertainment, special guest performances, food, and a vibrant evening.
MARIETTA
Marietta and the Cobb County NAACP will host a weekend-long celebration.
The event will have over 150 vendors for food, music, raffle, health screenings and more at Historic Marietta Square and Glover Park.
Juneteenth celebration runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
ROSWELL
Roswell will be hosting a Juneteenth Artist Market and Exhibit on Friday.
Organizers say you can explore the artwork, hear the stories behind the pieces, and shop prints and original works. The event is free at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center starting at 1 p.m.
SANDY SPRINGS
Sandy Springs will host a free event for families. The city will have educational experiences, live performances, and immersive art exhibitions in honor of Juneteenth.
This year’s celebration will take place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the City Springs District.
SMYRNA
The City of Smyrna will honor Juneteenth with an evening of music, food, vendors, and family-friendly activities. It will take place from 6 p.m. at the Village Green Park.
TRILITH
The Town at Trilith will host its fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The event will feature performances by Chantae Cann, ATL Drum Academy, Sound Cannon and Luvher. There will also be a curated Juneteenth market, interactive children’s experiences and a community-wide dance celebration.
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