Juneteenth kicked off 16 days of family-friendly events as part of the Wawa Welcome America Festival in Philadelphia.
Here are the free events that took place on Monday, June 19, 2023:
Free Admission to African American Museum in Philadelphia
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What: African American Museum in Philadelphia honored the history of the federal holiday by inviting everyone to experience African American heritage and culture at AAMP in the Old City neighborhood.
When: Visitors enjoyed free admission to the museum from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 19
Where: 701 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Also note: Preregistration may be required.
Juneteenth Block Party
You didn't need to enter the museum to celebrate the legacy of emancipation at the Juneteenth Block Party.
Festivalgoers watched live performances from international and local artists, enjoyed a community marketplace featuring Black-owned businesses, vendors, community partners and food trucks. They also got moving with hands-on activities including artmaking and line dancing.
What: Liberation Rising: Juneteenth Block Party features music, games and education.
When: June 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 700 block of Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
The history of Juneteenth
Juneteenth has its roots in the freeing of people who were previously enslaved in Galveston, Texas more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Although the Emancipation Proclamation freed people who were enslaved in the South in 1863, it could not be enforced in many places until after the end of the Civil War in 1865.
On June 19, 1865, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops arrived at Galveston with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. The following year on June 19, celebrations began in Galveston and the observance has grown nationwide since.
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