How to Celebrate Juneteenth in Chicago

Wednesday marks Juneteenth, also known as our country’s second independence day. Here’s what to know about the holiday and how to celebrate in Chicago.

What is Juneteenth?

On Jan. 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in states that rebelled against the Union were now free. In the lead-up to the end of the Civil War in April 1865, Union soldiers traveled throughout Confederate states to read the proclamation to slaves.

But news didn’t reach slaves in Galveston, Texas, until June 19, 1865. The following year, June 19 became a day of remembrance and “Jubilee Day” for the over 250,000 newly freed slaves.

Road to Federal Recognition

Texas became the first state to designate Juneteenth as a holiday in 1980. The summer of 2020’s nationwide protests against police brutality and demanding racial justice brought an increased awareness of Juneteenth and its significance. In 2021, President Joe Biden officially signed Juneteenth into law as the 11th federally recognized U.S. holiday.

Where to Celebrate Juneteenth in Chicago

• Juneteenth Celebration 🎉 DuSable Museum | 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Free
• Juneteenth Skate or Bowl Celebration 🛼 Auburn Gresham | 5–8 p.m. | $20
• Cookout Comedy Show 😆 North Center | 7–9 p.m. | $12