Juneteenth commemoration Wednesday in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — A number of places are closed Wednesday in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Public libraries, city offices, banks, and the U.S. Post Office will be closed. However, businesses such as Walmart, Costco, and Target will remain open.

Juneteenth, which officially became a federal holiday in 2021, commemorates June 19, 1865, when slaves in Texas learned of their freedom. It is a significant day in American history, marking the end of slavery in the United States. Slavery in Kentucky continued for six more months, ending in December 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment.

In Lexington, a Juneteenth commemoration event will be held at the Lyric Theatre on East Third Street. The event will start with a vendor fair at 4 p.m. and will include live jazz, gospel, and hip-hop performances.