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About Juneteenth

About Juneteenth History

The History of the Celebration of Juneteenth:

Dating back to what is widely known as “Freedom’s Eve,” on the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all who were enslaved in Confederate States were declared legally free from enslavement.
But the ending was a delayed process, due to the fact that the Confederate territories weren’t compelled to observe the Emancipation Proclamation that was made effective in 1863. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be released from enslavement until much later. On June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union Troops, many of whom were black arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army enforced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were emancipated by executive decree. This day came to be known as “Juneteenth,” by the newly emancipated people in Texas.
However, legal chattel enslavement still continued in some remaining states. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did it officially end once and for all throughout the United States.
On June 17th, 2021, Juneteenth was finally declared a federal holiday, to be celebrated annually on June 19th, a tradition that dates back to 1866. This day pays tribute to the journey towards freedom and celebrates the contributions, ingenuity, and sacrifices of those who paved the way for us. It’s a time for us to come together with our friends, families, and community, to reflect on our history, and to consider where we still need to go.

Juneteenth Questions

About Juneteenth

Why Attend Juneteenth Freedom Fest?

Celebrating Juneteenth in Charleston, South Carolina as a large-scale event is significant to our heritage and who we are as a people. Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, or Juneteenth Independence Day, is a holiday commemorating the end of legal chattel enslavement in the United States. We will celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Riverfront Park in North Charleston, SC.

Juneteenth Freedom Fest Charleston is free to the public with an anticipated 3000 guests in attendance. The event will last all day kicking off at 2 pm and ending at 10 pm with a Grand Fireworks Show Finale! Live Performances, Black Art, Music, Food, and Kids Activities are sure to make this event a fun filled day

1st Annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest Charleston is a community-based event aiming to create a celebration of our progress towards freedom and a platform to educate our people about the accomplishments and the lessons learned as we continue our protracted struggle to freedom for all people of African (Afrikan) descent.

Join us and let’s celebrate together!
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ABout Juneteenth

Juneteenth is an annual observance commemorating the date Union soldiers enforced the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all that remained enslaved after the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.

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