The Rockbridge area’s Juneteenth celebration, LexRockBVJuneteenth happens on Friday, June 19th in Lexington’s Richardson Park.
Juneteenth, a portmanteau of "June" and "19th," commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It originated in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, when U.S. Army Gen. Gordon Granger arrived there to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. Although President Abraham Lincoln had signed the proclamation nearly three years before, on Sept. 22, 1862, it was not immediately adopted across all states. Enforcement depended on the advancement of U.S. troops, which were scarce in remote Texas, so it became a final holdout. The enforcement of emancipation there after a long wait was truly cause for celebration.
The first Juneteenth celebration took place in Galveston on June 19, 1866, and it has since caught on across the country. Virginia declared it a permanent paid state holiday in June 2020, and Lexington adopted it as a formal city holiday in 2021. Juneteenth became a Federal holiday in 2021..
On Friday, June 19 the festivities get underway in the late afternoon. The event celebrates freedom, history, and community with food, prize events and music. For the most up to date information, go to Facebook and search Lex Rock BV Juneteenth. (Note spaces.)
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