Journey to Juneteenth

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What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated every year on June 19th in the United States, commemorating the end of slavery. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free. This happened more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The delay was due to the slow spread of news and the reluctance of some slaveholders to relinquish their property. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas and spread to other states over time. In 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas, and in 2021, it was declared a federal holiday in the United States.

Many cities across America celebrate in different ways. Some will hold festivals, parades, and other activities to mark the occasion. There are events happening right here in Pensacola this year. There will be a Juneteenth themed Gallery Night as well as other events to celebrate the Journey of Juneteenth.

How can I celebrate in Pensacola?

The City of Pensacola is highlighting a variety of events scheduled to celebrate Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

"I am excited to see the Pensacola community come together to celebrate Juneteenth and everything this day represents for the Black community and our entire country," District 5 Councilwoman Teniadé Broughton said. "I grew up celebrating Juneteenth right here in Pensacola, and I want to see it keep growing more and more each year. Juneteenth is not just for the Black community to celebrate – it is a national holiday focused on Black people and Black history, but everyone is invited to celebrate and enjoy the many great events we have planned right here in Pensacola."

In addition to several city-sponsored events, many local businesses and organizations are hosting Juneteenth events to commemorate the holiday.

Tour Fort Pickens via Pensacola City Ferry

The National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom accepted Fort Pickens, managed by Gulf Islands National Seashore, as one of over 650 sites, programs, and facilities within the Network. It joins 12 new listings from the 40th round of Network to Freedom applications, representing sites and programs in eight states across the United States. New listings were accepted in the final days of September, which represented International Underground Railroad Month in 11 states.

Fort Pickens, located on Pensacola Bay in northwest Florida, became a destination for freedom seekers starting in 1861. Eight enslaved people sought their freedom at the fort one month before the start of the Civil War. The commanding Union officer, however, sent them back to slavery. As a Union base throughout the war, untold numbers of freedom seekers chose to make their way to Fort Pickens later in 1861 and in 1862. In 1864, elements of the 25th U.S. Colored Troops marched into the fort. From Fort Pickens, these Black soldiers fought to defend the Union and destroy slavery.

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(Juneteenth) obviously commemorates a significant time in our history and more than deserves this recognition
Mayor D.C. Reeves | City of Pensacola

How is Juneteenth traditionally celebrated?

The very first Juneteenth took place in 1866, a year after the slaves were finally freed. It was known as Jubilee Day, and as its name suggests, there was plenty of jubilation to be found. A typical Juneteenth celebration consisted of barbecues and music, and plenty of prayer and worship among freed Blacks who gathered to mark the occasion.

As Black people traveled throughout America, they took the tradition of the celebration with them. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated across the country with cookouts, neighborhood get-togethers, fairs, parades, and more.

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