Newport News Plans Juneteenth Celebration
City events mark freedom, reflect on history of strength and resilience
The City of Newport News is preparing to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth with a series of events in 2025. The celebration aims to honor freedom, reflect on history, and celebrate African American culture and resilience. The city invites the community to mark the end of slavery in the United States through education, awareness, and commemoration.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved people were free. This occurred more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. While the Emancipation Proclamation declared an end to slavery in Confederate states, it did not immediately free enslaved people in areas loyal to the Union or those already under Union control. Freedom in these areas generally came through other means before the war's end, or with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment on December 6, 1865, which abolished chattel slavery nationwide. Juneteenth has been more widely celebrated among African-American communities since the 1980s and 1990s and has seen increasing mainstream attention.
The city's programming for Juneteenth 2025 will feature a diverse range of events throughout the city. These include festivals, performances, educational forums, and family-friendly activities.
Special events planned include:
Juneteenth Movie: Glory on Thursday, June 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Main Street Library. This showing of the historical drama about the first African American regiment in the Union Army is free, and light refreshments will be provided.
Prelude to Freedom: The Contraband Slaves Story.
Juneteenth Craft on The Go, available from Monday, June 16 to 23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Main Street Library. This take-home craft kit is for youth, with no registration required. The Main Street Library is located at 100 Main St.
StoryWalk® at Grissom Library, featuring Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper along the walking path outside the library from June 16–22.
Drum, Artz, & Yoga on Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. at 2510 Wickham Ave. This event for all ages celebrates Juneteenth with West African rhythms and movements.
Juneteenth Inspired Paint Night with Wanda on Wednesday, June 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 366 Deshazor Dr. Led by artist Wanda Basley, this painting class celebrates Juneteenth as a day of art, music, drama, joy, reflection, and unity, honoring the past and working towards a brighter future.
In observance of the holiday, all Newport News Public Libraries and city offices will be closed on Thursday, June 19. Garbage, Recycling & Bulk Waste collections scheduled for Thursday will take place on Friday, June 20, 2025. However, there will be no holiday collection delay for 18-gallon Black Bin recyclers. The Recovery Operations Center will also be closed on Thursday, June 19, and will reopen the following day. The Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter's Reunite Lobby will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 19.
More information about Juneteenth related events can be found by visiting the city's official website.
A Newport News Daily editor used AI to produce this post from these sources:
Juneteenth Civic Alert: https://www.nnva.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx
City Juneteenth Website: https://www.nnva.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2409
Juneteenth Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth