What's Happening For Juneteenth In The Shrewsbury Area

SHREWSBURY, MA — Juneteenth will be observed in the area with a variety of celebrations, flag-raisings and educational events.

The June 19 national holiday commemorates the day in 1865, more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, when word finally reached the last enslaved people in Texas that the Civil War had ended, and they were free.

Also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day and Jubilee Day, Juneteenth is the oldest-known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making it a federal holiday, the first since the addition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

If you're looking for a way to mark Juneteenth, here are some ways to participate in the area:

• Worcester — Juneteenth flag raising, Worcester City Hall, 455 Main St., on June 16 at 5 p.m.
• Worcester — Black Heritage Festival at Institute Park in Worcester from noon to 8 p.m., July 1.
• Fitchburg — Live music, food and history lessons at Abolitionist Park on Saturday starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Sudbury — For the second year, the Sudbury Valley Trustees has mapped a 2-1/2 mile hike to commemorate the 2-1/2 years it took for slaves in Texas to learn they were free.
• Ashland — A Juneteenth commemoration will take place at the weekly farmers market featuring performers, speakers and live poetry.
• Sturbridge — Old Sturbridge Village on Monday will feature guest speakers and performers interpreting the history of Juneteenth.
• Wayland — A community nature walk will happen at the Upper Mill Brook with readings of poetry by Black Americans.
• Medfield — An all-day party starting at noon Saturday at the Bellforge Arts Center at the former Medfield State Hospital campus featuring DJs, food and drinks.
• Medway — A screening of the film "Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom" will take place beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday. A community Juneteenth celebration will take place on Monday at Medway Community Farm featuring food, art, music and a beer garden.
• Framingham — A Juneteenth celebration will be held at Farm Pond beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Because Juneteenth is an official U.S. holiday, banks, federal offices, town offices and post offices in Shrewsbury will be closed Monday.

Do you have a Juneteenth event you want included? Email [email protected].