Juneteenth African American Heritage Festival

About Us:

Juneteenth originated as a celebration of the ending of slavery in Texas.  On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and 1,800 troops of the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and all slaves were free.  Even though President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had gone into effect on January 1, 1863, freeing all slaves in those states in rebellion against the United States, for various reasons the decree had not yet taken effect in Texas.

That evening, thousands of people in Galveston celebrated their freedom with dancing, singing, and feasting.  In the years that followed, other southern cities also began to organized Juneteenth festivities.  It was not until January 1, 1980, however, that Juneteenth was designated an official state holiday in Texas. Through the efforts of African American state legislator Al Edwards, Juneteenth became the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition.

Today, Juneteenth is celebrated not only in Texas, but in cities throughout the United States.  Typical Juneteenth activities include picnics, parades, barbecues, ball games, and family reunions.  It is also a time for people to recount the events of the past.  Today Juneteenth has taken on a more national perspective, celebrating African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures.