LEXINGTON, Ky. — LexTran will operate on a regular weekday schedule Friday, June 19 to observe Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when enslaved Texans learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The celebration began in Texas and spread nationwide, becoming a federal holiday in 2021. Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of slavery.

The LexTran Customer Service phone line and the Loudon Avenue Customer Service Window will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. LexTran Administrative Offices will be closed for the holiday.

The announcement comes as Lexington hosts a week of Juneteenth celebrations from June 14 through June 21. New this year is the first annual Miss and Miss Junior Juneteenth pageant, celebrating leadership and cultural pride of Black girls and teens in Lexington, scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m. on June 14 downtown at the Farish Theater. On June 17, Juneteenth Jubilee presented by African Cemetery Number Two will have an encampment with tents and equipment reenacted by Union soldiers.

Built around the Juneteenth holiday, SoulFeast Week is a week-long celebration of culture, cuisine, and community that shines a spotlight on Lexington, KY as a soulful destination for flavor, cultural expression, and shared joy.

In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, and celebrations recognize the ongoing fight for human rights and equality and are commemorated through family cookouts, faith services, musical performances and storytelling.