Juneteenth is an annual celebration of slave emancipation that began in 1865 and became a federal holiday in 2021. This national holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. The name “Juneteenth” combines the words “June” and “nineteenth” and marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved individuals were free.  Check out these Juneteenth events and festivals commemorating this historic day:

June 8

Republic Bank's Fourth Annual Juneteenth Celebration, Louisville

June 14-15

Heart of Kentucky Juneteenth Celebration, Harrodsburg

June 14-16

5th Annual “Juneteenth Weekend Celebration 2K24, Bowling Green

June 15

MELANnaire Marketplace Juneteenth Celebration, Louisville

Juneteenth Solidarity Bicycle Ride, Louisville

Juneteenth Festival, Louisville

Vine Grove Unity in the Community Juneteenth Celebration, Vine Grove

Juneteenth, Georgetown

Juneteenth Celebration, Shelbyville

Soulteenth Fest, Lexington

Midway Juneteeth Festival, Midway

Oldham County History Center Juneteenth Celebration, LaGrange

2024 Juneteenth Showcase, Louisville

June 19

Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration, Paducah

Juneteenth Celebration, Louisville

Juneteenth Freedom Day, Henderson

June 22

Lake Cumberland Juneteenth Jubilee 2024, Somerset

Juneteenth Festival, Lexington

Camp Nelson National Monument and Mammoth Cave National Park Commemorate Juneteenth