Johnson County recognizes Juneteenth, to host celebration on June 19
Johnson County hosting Juneteenth celebration in Lenexa
Juneteenth is coming up on Monday, June 19, and there are numerous ways you can celebrate this holiday throughout Johnson County.
Johnson County Government will hold its second annual Juneteenth celebration on June 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lenexa Civic Campus Commons (17101 W. 87th St, Lenexa).
Plans for the program include keynote speaker Jessica McCallop-McClellan, emcee Nathan Louis Jackson, live music from the Louis Neal Big Band, comments from Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Kelly, and more.
At the event, the public can engage with staff representing various county programs and services, purchase food and beverages from the Lenexa Public Market and park for free.
How Johnson County is recognizing Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a recognition and celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It became a national holiday in 2021 and was recognized by the county for the first time in 2022.
On Thursday, June 8, the Board of County Commissioners proclaimed June 19, 2023 as Juneteenth in Johnson County. June 19 marks the date in which Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865, ensuring the freedom of all enslaved people in the state.
Johnson County Government administrative offices, libraries and health clinics will be closed on June 19 in observance of the holiday.
The county has a webpage devoted to all things Juneteenth, including local history, upcoming events, library reading lists and more.
Visit jocogov.org/juneteenth to learn more about the importance of Juneteenth and the various ways you can honor the day throughout the county and KC metro.