Juneteenth is Wednesday, June 19, and the Richmond area is hosting events all month long.

Though it has been observed for nearly 150 years, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. It commemorates the day in 1865 when, two months after the Civil War officially ended, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth would become a "second independence day" for our country.

The city's Jubilation in June series will include Festival of Arts concerts tonight and on Sunday, June 16, both at 8 p.m. Saturday festivities can be found at Intermediate Terminal starting at 3:30 p.m. featuring rapper Talib Kweli. Pro tip: For easy access to the event, take the Pulse to the Riverfront station.

New York Deli claims to be the birthplace of the sailor sandwich. | Photo by RICtoday

A number of events are on the books for Saturday, June 15. In Carytown, the VOWS Foundation will host its fourth annual Juneteenth Jamboree festival, which kicks off with a 5K at 10 a.m. The festival starts at 12 p.m. and will go until 6 p.m. There will also be a Pop-Up Juneteenth Festival from 1-6 p.m. at 4103 Monument Ave.

Henrico will have a vendor fair, two stages, a kids zone, and fireworks at Dorey Park on Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. Chesterfield has put together a series of events, including a Juneteenth Day Festival at the county fairgrounds beginning at 3 p.m.

On the day itself, Juneteenth: Freedom Day will take place at St. Peter's, St. Philip's, and St. John's Episcopal Churches in Church Hill from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Lewis Ginter is also offering free admission on Juneteenth.

Mark your calendar for the Juneteenth Pop Up Night Vendor Market at the Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education on Saturday, June 29.