DALLAS — Juneteenth marks the day the last group of enslaved people were told that they were free.
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, declaring freedom for "all persons held as slaves." However, news of the proclamation didn't get to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, until June 19, 1865.
The African American community has celebrated Juneteenth for decades, but it wasn't considered an official U.S. holiday until 2021.
Here's a list of ways you can honor June 19 across North Texas:
Thursday, June 13
There will be a series of events and parties that include an Official Kickoff Party, and so much more.
Time: June 13 - 16
Where: Various locations, Dallas
Friday, June 14
Get ready to learn about healthy living, fitness tips, and nutritious recipes.
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel in Irving, TX
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Enjoy music, entertainment, food, and various attractions for an evening of celebration and unity.
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Tyre Park in Grand Prairie, TX
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Join us as we embrace the spirit of community by honoring the legacy of the past, celebrating the present, and embracing the future of freedom.
Time: Friday 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Saturday 3:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Heritage Park in Irving
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Join us at the Film Festival for a weekend of celebration and reflection, honoring Juneteenth through cinema.
Time: noon June 14 - 15
Where: AMC Palace 9, 220 E 3rd St Fort Worth, TX
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Based on the true story of TCC's first Black Plant Superintendent the late Timothy R. Grace Sr. (AF Veteran) Sharing Fort Worth Black History through the Arts
Time: June 14, 7 p.m.
Where: IM Terrell Performing Arts Center, 1411 I M Terrell Cir S, Fort Worth, TX
Saturday, June 15
The festival features diverse activities, including a community cleanup, an affordable housing summit, a mural installation, and one of North Texas's largest vendor markets and food truck parks.
Time: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Where: The Fair Park Automobile Building & Amphitheater
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Affordable housing workshop and symposium.
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: African American Museum, 3536 Grand Avenue
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The celebration in the historic Elm Thicket/Northpark neighborhood includes live music, food, a health fair, and other activities.
Time: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: K.B. Polk Recreation Center, 6801 Roper Street
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The event will begin with a 4K Freedom Walk for health and wellness, and end with a free community festival with live entertainment, vendors, and fun activities for the entire family.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
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Time: Sat, 1 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Sycamore Community Center, 2525 E. Rosedale Street Fort Worth, TX
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Join us for our 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration at the Levitt on June 15th! There will be food trucks, vendors, and other activities around the lawn!
Time: Sat, 4 – 10 p.m.
Where: Levitt Pavilion, 100 W Abram Street Arlington, TX
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Traditional Saturday Celebration. The Juneteenth parade will begin at 10 a.m. and continue to Tyre Park for more festivities.
Time: Sat, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Grand Prairie City Hall, 300 W. Main Street Grand Prairie, TX
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Time: Sat, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: Williams Blair Jr Park, 3000 Municipal Street Dallas, TX
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The 5th Annual Juneteenth Bicycle Rally is a vibrant celebration of freedom, community, and the rich cultural heritage of Frisco and McKinney, Texas.
Time: Sat, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: Kuykendall Stadium, 6950 Stadium Lane Frisco, Texas 75033
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For the second year in a row, people will line the streets in Tarrant County for the Fort Worth Juneteenth Parade. Festival vendors often offer a wide variety of food and drinks, from traditional dishes many cultural cuisine.
Time: Sat, 11 a.m.
Where: Foodland Markets, 1212 S Ayers Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76105
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The tour, led by Remembering Black Dallas, visits significant sites from the 19th and 20th centuries featuring stops in Tenth Street and Joppa, information about William Brown Miller’s cabin and plantation mansion, Millermore, and additional sites.
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 1408 N. Washington Avenue.
Sunday, June 16
Commemorating the Juneteenth Holiday with live music, dancing, food, scholarship giveaways, vendors and more.
Time: Sun, noon – 6 p.m.
Where: Lofty Spaces, 816 Montgomery Street Dallas, TX
Wednesday, June 19
There's no better way to honor Juneteenth than with the woman known for leading the way to make it a national holiday. Ms. Opal Lee (AKA "The Grandmother of Juneteenth") will embark on a 2.5-mile walk in honor of the 2.5 years it took for news of the emancipation to reach Texas in the mid-1860s.
Time: Walk begins at 9 a.m.
Where: African American Museum, Dallas in Fair Park
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Time: Wed, 8 a.m.
Where: Golf Club of Irving, 2000 E. Shady Grove Road, Irving, TX
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The event will feature “A Celebration of Freedom” Symposium on the history of the holiday, musical guests, and the airing of the film Emancipation.
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Where: African American Museum, 3536 Grand Avenue
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The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is offering free admission on Juneteenth
Time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX
Thursday, June 20
Time: Thu, 8 a.m.
Where: Cobb Park, 2700 Cobb Park Drive West
Saturday, June 22
Time: Sat, 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Where: The Warehouse, 1125 E. Berry Street Fort Worth, TX
