06/04/2026
The end of slavery was proclaimed in Tallahassee on May 20, 1865, 11 days after the end of the Civil War, and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln.
The lengthy delay in some states' announcements after the delivery of the federal Emancipation Proclamation was caused by the fact that the Civil War still raging. Because of this, news and enforcement had been slow to reach the more remote slave states
The very last reading of the federal orders of emancipation occurred in Galveston, TX, on June 19, 1865, finally bringing freedom to all enslaved persons in the country. This is the reason behind the national Juneteenth observance.
The Juneteenth Celebration in Bartow will be held on June 6 from noon - 5pm at Over the Branch Park, 715 W. Polk St. Free and family friendly, the event includes food and vendors, live entertainment and a scholarship award announcements.
The Juneteenth Celebration Luncheon, “Spotlight on Community Initiatives & Service,” will be held on June 19 at 11am at the Bartow Civic Center. More information is available here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/bartow-juneteenth-festival
At yesterday's City Commission meeting, the proclamation declaring Juneteenth in the City was accepted by the BartowJuneteenth Empowerment Committee Co-Chairpersons Zelma Harris and Jamie Gaskins and other members.
