The City of Wills Point will once again serve as the central hub for area Juneteenth activities, playing host to the largest Juneteenth celebration in the area June 18.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with the news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were now free.

This announcement came two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. The celebration of June 19 became “Juneteenth,” and the observance has grown beyond the borders of Texas and traveled to other countries. It became an official state holiday in Texas after having been signed into law on June 13, 1979.

Events are scheduled to kick off this year beginning 11 a.m. June 18 with a parade making its way down from the intersection of O’Neal and S. Fourth St. towards South Park. Once the parade has concluded, a party will be held in the park with free food, games and fellowship for the community.

Local Juneteenth celebrations have become a staple of the summer calendar, drawing large crowds together from Wills Point and beyond to commemorate the holiday.

Organizers invite everyone to attend, noting, “If you want to eat a great meal, enjoy the music and company of your friends and family, please come out and help us celebrate this holiday. We look forward to spending time with you during this joyous occasion.”