Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP LEFT: Celebrants at a Juneteenth festival in Daytona Beach earlier in the week; CENTER: Paisley Renee Henry, daughter of Mayor Derrick Henry and Dr. Stephanie Henry, recognized as Miss Juneteenth 2025. The caption for her reads: 'Congratulations, Paisley Renee Henry, for being crowned Miss Juneteenth Daytona Beach, FL.'
LEFT: Celebrating Juneteenth in Daytona Beach, Florida.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Today is June 19th, also known as Juneteenth in the City of Daytona Beach and elsewhere across the United States!
On this day, 160 years ago, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver a long-overdue message: Enslaved African Americans were free. Two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, this moment marked a powerful turning point in our nation’s history.
• The City of Daytona Beach stands united in recognizing Juneteenth as a vital part of the American story: "We encourage residents to reflect, engage, and celebrate the enduring pursuit of freedom and equality for all."
Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry on Juneteenth:
"Today, we honor Juneteenth — the day when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom in 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day is more than history; it is a powerful reminder of our resilience, our struggle, and our unyielding pursuit of justice and liberation."
Besides Daytona Beach, here's a glimpse of some of the celebrations in Central Florida:
Central Florida is celebrating Juneteenth with a variety of events, including festivals, concerts, and educational programs Many events are free and family-friendly, offering opportunities to learn about the holiday's history and celebrate African American culture.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Juneteenth:
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer wrote on Tuesday in a social media post: "Orlando will join in the commemoration of Juneteenth, marking the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. Recognizing Juneteenth helps us celebrate civil rights progress and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that Orlando is welcoming to all."
Orlando:
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Facets of Freedom Juneteenth Festival:
A vibrant arts and cultural festival with performances, activities, and a marketplace for Black-owned businesses.
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Love & Liberation: A Boldly Unapologetic Juneteenth Pride Celebration:
A free, family-friendly event at the Central Florida Fairgrounds with live performances, speakers, vendors, and food trucks.
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Juneteenth at Camping World Stadium in greater Orlando:
A free, family-friendly event hosted by the City of Orlando with live music, food, vendors, and entertainment.
Eatonville:
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Juneteenth Soul & Sunshine Pop-Up:
A celebration featuring soul food, music, and community at Angel's Chicken Express.
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Juneteenth Celebration Week: Eatonville, known as the heart of Black history, is hosting a week of events.
Winter Garden: A Juneteenth Community Celebration with live music, shopping, food, and family activities.
Kissimmee: The Kissimmee Civic Center hosts a Juneteenth Festival with live music, food, and activities.
Oviedo: A Juneteenth celebration featuring live music, art, and community health information.
Sanford: A Juneteenth block party with live music, food, and dancing at the Sanford Riverwalk.
Clermont: A Juneteenth celebration with cultural performances, food, games, vendors, and an art and essay contest.
St. Cloud: A Juneteenth Gospel Celebration with local gospel artists and church choirs.
Examples of Juneteenth Celebrations across the US:
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Galveston, Texas: The birthplace of Juneteenth, Galveston, holds a major celebration, including a parade and festival.
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Atlanta, Georgia: Juneteenth Atlanta is one of the largest Juneteenth festivals in the country.
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Detroit, Michigan: Detroit hosts a variety of events, including a parade, a block party, and musical performances.
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia also has a range of Juneteenth celebrations.
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Other Cities: Many other cities across the US, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston, have their own Juneteenth events.
Beyond the US:
- Juneteenth is also celebrated in some parts of the world, recognizing the global impact of the end of slavery. Juneteenth celebrations serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality, and an opportunity to honor the cultural heritage of Black Americans.
Daytona Beach's recognition of Juneteenth:
• Daytona Beach Fire Department: Celebrating Juneteenth: "Today, we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and honor the strength, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans—past and present. As firefighters, we’re committed to serving every community member with respect, unity, and compassion."
• Juneteenth Daytona: "This Juneteenth, we salute the Hometown Heroes who uplift, inspire, and lead. Join us at the banquet as we shine a spotlight on the changemakers in our own backyard — and celebrate their impact!"
Thursday, June 19 | ERAU: 610 Aerospace Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
This year, Hometown Heroes will honor @brittany_yisrael, who has over a decade of experience in public safety and mentorship and has impacted countless lives through crisis intervention, community outreach, and youth mentorship. Yisrael leads with compassion and purpose as she also mentors young men in Bethune-Cookman University’s AIM Higher Program.
Brittany Yisrrael is an active member of organizations dedicated to serving, including the Deland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Council of Negro Women, Daytona Beach Section, and the NAACP, West Volusia Branch. Brittany founded Divine Designs Event Planning & Decor LLC, a platform our hero uses to support fundraising and local engagement initiatives.
This year, we will honor @brittany_yisrael, who has over a decade of experience in public safety and mentorship and has impacted countless lives through crisis intervention, community outreach, and youth mentorship. Yisrael leads with compassion and purpose as she also mentors young men in Bethune-Cookman University’s AIM Higher Program.
Brittany Yisrael is an active member of organizations dedicated to serving, including the Deland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Council of Negro Women, Daytona Beach Section, and the NAACP, West Volusia Branch. Brittany founded Divine Designs Event Planning & Decor LLC, a platform our hero uses to support fundraising and local engagement initiatives.
This year's Hometown Heroes event will honor Mr. Tucker Harris, the principal of Seabreeze High School, for his dedication to Volusia County's public school students, according to an Instagram post https://www.instagram.com/p/DKe7GZhv116/ from Juneteenth Daytona Beach. The banquet will also feature Junkanoo performers and stilt walkers from Africa.
In addition to the banquet, other Juneteenth celebrations in Daytona Beach include:
- A community festival is on Saturday at Master's Domain Church of God in Christ, featuring free food, vendors, and performances.
- The Miss Juneteenth Volusia County Pageant is on Saturday at the Babe James Community Center in New Smyrna Beach.
Juneteenth message from Cynthia Slater, president, Volusia County - Daytona Beach Chapter of the NAACP:
"Good morning, friends! Juneteenth/Freedom Day is a solemn reminder of who we are and where we came from! My mom was from Texas, and as a young child, she would tell us about Juneteenth and how it was celebrated in Texas when she was a child. Not knowing that it was such a word, we brushed it off. Many years later, it has not only been realized but also recognized as a national holiday. Thank you, Mom (my yellow rose of Texas), for teaching us this history over 60 years ago! Happy Juneteenth!"
Reuters news service explainer on Juneteenth:
Juneteenth, a day that marks the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans, is always observed on June 19 each year. It became a U.S. federal holiday in 2021, following the signing of a bill by former President Joe Biden. Long a regional holiday in the South, Juneteenth rose in prominence across the country following protests that swept the world in 2020 over the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and other Black Americans.
Juneteenth, a combination of the words June and 19th, is also known as Emancipation Day. It commemorates the day in 1865 - after the Confederate states surrendered to end the Civil War - when a Union general arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform a group of enslaved African Americans of their freedom under President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.
Texas officially declared Juneteenth a holiday in 1980. At least 28 states and the District of Columbia now legally recognize it as a state holiday and give state workers a paid day off.
Although in part a celebration, the day is also observed solemnly to honor those who suffered as a result of slavery in the 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in the colonies that would eventually become the United States.
Now in its fourth year as a federal holiday, all U.S. government employees and private businesses participating have the day off from work.
However, not all state governments recognize the holiday, meaning state employees in those states are expected to work. To enshrine Juneteenth in any state, its legislature would have to pass bills to make it a permanent holiday.
According to the Pew Research Center, in 2023, Connecticut, Minnesota, Nevada, and Tennessee made Juneteenth a permanent public holiday for the first time.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey authorized Juneteenth this year to be a state holiday by decree after state lawmakers tried to pass legislation to make it a permanent state holiday.
Race remains a sensitive issue in the United States, four years after tensions flared over the killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans at the hands of police. Floyd's killing sparked a global protest movement that led to calls for sweeping criminal justice reform and attention to other racial inequities.
In Florida and other states, some conservatives are trying to change the way Black history is taught in public schools, another sign of the deep tensions that still surround race in the United States, which imposed a draconian system of racial segregation on Black Americans following emancipation.
Since Juneteenth 2023, the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court ruled that universities can no longer consider race as a factor in deciding on student admissions.
The decision ended affirmative action programs that many U.S. schools have used to increase their numbers of Black, Hispanic, and other students from underrepresented communities.
Donald Trump has remained silent on Juneteenth, though it's well-documented that Trump's nationwide rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Could Trump end Juneteenth as a federal holiday? The answer is no! The president cannot unilaterally remove Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The only way to "cancel" a federal holiday is for Congress to pass a bill to that effect, which would then need to be signed by the president.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but not recognized by the State of Florida:
In Florida, Juneteenth (June 19th) is a federal holiday but not an official state holiday (like President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is anti-DEI). This means that while federal offices will be closed and mail will not be delivered, state and local government offices, as well as most businesses, will remain open. Florida does recognize May 20th as Emancipation Day, commemorating the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Tallahassee.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Federal Holiday: Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, meaning federal employees have the day off.
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State Holiday: Juneteenth is not a state holiday in Florida, so state offices and most state employees will work.
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Local Observances: While not a state holiday, Juneteenth is recognized as a special observance in Florida statutes. Many local communities, like Gainesville and Orlando, will host events and celebrations.
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Business Operations: Most businesses, including retail stores and restaurants, will operate on normal schedules. However, some companies may choose to give employees the day off or holiday pay.
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Financial Institutions: Banks and the New York Stock Exchange will be closed.
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Delivery Services: The U.S. Postal Service will be closed, but UPS and FedEx will be open and offer delivery services, according to their websites.
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Florida Emancipation Day: Florida also recognizes May 20th as Emancipation Day, which commemorates the official announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Florida.
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Other states with no official provision for Juneteenth besides Florida include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Previous Related Coverage:
Juneteenth: Celebrating 19 Central Florida role models led by Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry
Story Posted: 2020-06-19 at 18:25:24
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