Gloucester Township's First Juneteenth Celebration Coming Up

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township will soon hold its first official Juneteenth event, celebrating culture and community at Veterans Park.

The family-friendly event will feature a cultural marketplace, local businesses, food, live music and other entertainment, according to the township. It will run from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, with a Sunday rain date.

Juneteenth commemorates the nation's end of chattel slavery in 1865, when the last enslaved people learned that the Civil War had ended and they were free. Celebrations date back to 1866, but Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.

Gloucester Township's event falls a few days before the holiday, which is annually observed on June 19.

See event info.