LEXINGTON, Ky. — The city is preparing for its annual Juneteenth celebration with a week of events running from June 14-21, according to Mayor Linda Gorton.

"Our Juneteenth celebration is made possible by the dedication and hard work of countless event organizers and volunteers who give their time and talents to create a meaningful experience for everyone in our community," Gorton said at a news conference. "This week-long celebration provides an opportunity to come together in honor of freedom and unity, while reflecting on our past, present, and future."

Local celebrations will include multiple community events, including the 20th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee at the African Cemetery No. 2 on June 14, and the "We Still Dance" celebration at the Lyric Theater on June 19. The city will also display commemorative flags on Main Street and place banners along the Legacy Trail from Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden to the North Lexington YMCA.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, became a federal holiday in 2021, and marks the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The holiday commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States, nearly two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

The June 19 federal holiday has emerged as a time for Americans to gather as communities and reflect on the nation's history of slavery and systemic racism. Early Juneteenth celebrations in Texas featured picnics, parades, and church and community events, traditions that remain central to modern commemorations.