Juneteenth Kicks Off In Morris County This Weekend

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Juneteenth observances in Morris County kick off this weekend with three local celebrations.

Morristown's Juneteenth Weekend brings together five non-profit organizations to create a three-day event commemorating the national holiday.

This free weekend honors the Black community by providing the general public with access to local artists, food, music and other festivities at major cultural venues in Morristown and Morris Township.

Juneteenth, traditionally observed on June 19, commemorates Black liberation from slavery at the end of the Civil War, when President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation became law in all states.

The day also emphasizes the Black Community's resilience, solidarity and culture.

The weekend begins on Thursday, June 15, with a public reception of Black Art in the Sun, presented by Art in the Atrium, Inc., at the Atrium Gallery, which is located at 10 Court St., in Morristown.

The 31st Annual Exhibit of Black Fine Art, its signature event, will feature artist Ron 'REAP' Powell as well as the work of 30 other artists.

The exhibition will run until Aug. 15, 2023.

The weekend will culminate on June 17 with a Juneteenth festival on the Morristown Green from 12 to 5 p.m. The Morris County Juneteenth Festival is a family-friendly event that honors the tenacity, unity, history, and culture of the Black community.

Throughout the day, live performances will be given by the Kofi and Sankofa Drum and Dance Ensemble, The Bradford Hays Quartet, Lynette Sheard Live, The Unity Steppers, local artists, and a tribute to famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who made a historic visit to Morristown in 1865.

Crafts, free book giveaways, face painting, balloon animals, and other activities will be available for children.

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.

Nearby, Philadelphia is one of the top destinations to celebrate Juneteenth, U.S. News & World Report said in a story earlier this month. Their annual Juneteenth Parade draws more than 25,000 spectators each year. Festivals also mark the event.

• Related: What Is Juneteenth? Celebrating The End Of Slavery

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