Philadelphia will host a number of events, festivals and activities to celebrate the June Festival this year to commemorate the liberation of slavery in the United States.

This holiday commemorates the day when news of the end of slavery reached Galveston, Texas, one of the deepest places in the Confederacy in 1865.

Philadelphia recognizes June Festival as An official city holiday last year, And Mayor Jim Kenney to extend the festival to 2021. The city is working hard to recognize this holiday permanently.

Just a few days before the holiday, the U.S. Senate Approved a bill The June Festival is designated as a federal holiday and is called the June Festival National Independence Day. The bill still needs to pass the House of Representatives and be signed by President Joe Biden to become law.

The Pennsylvania Senate is working to pass a Similar bills Recognize the state’s holidays. It comes from Philadelphia State Senator Sharif Street (District D-3) and State Senator Judith Schwank (District D-11).

The bill reads: “Today’s holiday aims to spread the idea of ??self-improvement, celebration of African culture and respect for all cultures.” “This proud day is of great significance to many Pennsylvanians, and therefore, it should be recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. .”

The city’s July 4th celebration “Wawa Welcome America” ??will be the first June festival in cooperation with the Philadelphia African American Museum. The museum will host several events from June 17th to July 3rd.

“We welcome members of the Greater Philadelphia community, country, and world to join us to explore and commemorate the historical significance and connections of June 1st and July 4th,” Said Ivan Henderson, vice president of programs at the African American Museum of Philadelphia“AAMP is proud to be part of this year’s Wawa Welcome America partnership, because when we live and work at our own current decisive moments, we reflect on the experience of African Americans at those decisive moments in history.”

The following are upcoming events:

Thursday, June 16

The African American Museum in the Philadelphia series opens on Thursday ArtBreak at 12:30 pm, hosted by Dr. Gabrielle Foreman Pennsylvania State University and the Colored People’s Convention Project. The focus of the speech was the historical and contemporary influences of June and July 4th.

City organizes ReJUNEvenation: Pop-up store for June Festival Cultural Festival There will be a multi-genre percussion ensemble as well as poetry, storytelling and other musical performances at LOVE Park from 12 to 1:30 pm.

The event is free, and the city will broadcast live all performances through the following methods Live on Facebook.

Friday, June 17

Buildings on the Philadelphia skyline, such as the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Lincoln Financial Field, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, will Light up Red, black, and green from June 13th to 19th to commemorate Juneteenth.

Saturday, June 18

This Philadelphia June Festival Parade and Festival It starts at 9:30 am on 52nd Street and Haverford Avenue and runs all day.Due to COVID-19, there will be no parade, but a Freedom Day rally plan, and then a parade along 52nd Street at 11 am

Participants can then watch the first “Art in the Park” exhibition at Malcolm X Park and participate in the Supplier Fair.There will be one Philadelphia June Freedom Day Floating House Competition.

Black male participation office will host The 3rd Brothas Stroll Healthy Walking and Community Day It will be held from 11 am to 3 pm at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church at 2800 W. Cheltenham Ave. The event aims to bring black men, their families and their communities together for games, music, etc.

Hosted by AAMP Saturday Night Jazz It will be held from 5pm to 8pm at the Woodmere Art Museum located at 9201 Germantown Ave.

Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble will perform selections from the jazz opera “Never Back Down”, as well as poems and musical performances by award-winning Black lyricist and author Nina “Lyrispect” Ball. Tickets will be provided for two meetings at a cost of $25 each.

Sunday, June 19

AAMP will hold a Celebrate all day It features family-friendly outdoor celebrations, educational activities, food, vendor sales and live performances, featuring Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, Nina “Lyrispect” Ball, Aijee, Drum Like a Lady, Warren Oree and Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble, and V. Shayne provided Frederick.

AAMP also offers free timed admission at 10 am and 5 pm on June 19 and June 20, provided by Wawa.

The National Constitution Center will also have free admission all day on Sunday to see the Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality exhibition

The Museum of the American Revolution will host a virtual walking tour on June 19 at 10 am Facebook. The museum also houses June Exhibition Includes performances and gallery lectures from June 17th to 19th.

Fairmont Park Conservatory of Music is hosting a June Festival celebrations at Hatfield House There will be DJs, events, face painting and gifts on June 19th and June 20th from 2-5 pm.