Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, to announce that all enslaved people were free. This year marks the second that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, although Memphians have hosted organized celebrations for decades.
There are several places to learn more and to gather this week. Here are just two, which are both free and will feature live performances, local vendors, food, games, and more.
The Memphis Juneteenth Festival, Memphis’s longest continually operating Juneteenth commemoration, runs Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Health Sciences Park.
Black arts and culture nonprofit TONE hosts a Juneteenth Family Reunion Festival from 5-11:00 p.m. June 19 at the Orange Mound Tower—the historic United Equipment building on Lamar, which Tone will help transform into mixed-use development.
Click here to see The Daily Memphian's list of these and other ways to celebrate Juneteenth locally over the weekend.