06/20/2025
CBSNEWS: People across the country are coming together today in honor of Juneteenth a federal holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War. Also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth falls annually on June 19, the date in 1865 when Union troops brought the news to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, that they had been freed.
Communities have paid hommage for well over a century, with the earliest documented Juneteenth celebrations dating back to the first anniversary of that emancipation in Galveston.
Juneteenth became a U.S. holiday under the Biden administration in 2021, with this year marking the fifth time it has been celebrated. . Advocates for some learning about the origins, evolution and significance of the holiday can be an important form of observance on its own, but public festivities have also grown tremendously since Juneteenth gained national recognition.
From small gatherings to enormous parades, art shows, educational workshops and more, here's a look at how towns and cities across the U.S. have been celebrating Juneteenth since it became a federal holiday.
