Juneteenth Celebration kicks off at Emancipation Park, commemorates 150th anniversary

Houston's Emancipation Park hosted a two-day major two-day Juneteenth celebration to commemorate its 150-year anniversary.

HOUSTON - The City of Houston kicked off Juneteenth celebrations on Saturday at Emancipation Park. Hundreds of people spent the day celebrating what many refer to as Independence Day for African Americans.

MORE: Emancipation Park receives $100,000 grant at Juneteenth celebration from Baker Hughes

June 19th, 1865, is the date that the last slaves in our nation, located in Galveston, Texas received news from Union Soldiers that they were free.

Juneteenth is all about celebrating how far the African American community has come and recognizing the people who paved the way.

EXPLAINER: The significance of the holiday and why it's celebrated and commemorated

Several keynote speakers took the stage including congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

"When people understand that the celebration of Juneteenth is the celebration of Texas history and the celebration of America's history," said Mayor Turner.

'And still we rise,' new Juneteenth exhibit opening this weekend in Galveston

A new interactive exhibit will open Sunday in the Carriage House of the 1859 Ashton Villa, offering a historic look at the origins of the holiday FOX 26 Photojournalist Darlene Janik Faires gives us a preview.

Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021, but for decades it's been celebrated and recognized in the African American community.

Around 1,000 people of all ages attended Saturday's event.

MORE JUNETEENTH COVERAGE

The event will continue on Sunday the actual day of Juneteenth from 4 to 10 p.m. at Emancipation Park, it is a ticketed event for more information follow this link. Emancipation Park - Emancipation Park Conservancy (epconservancy.org)