The History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom — over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It became a federal holiday in 2021 and is widely observed as a celebration of freedom and African American culture.

This date is shown automatically on every calendar — a specific school or district can mark itself open or closed for this holiday from its own settings.