Juneteenth

Juneteenth, observed on June 19, marks the date in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, it stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, liberation, and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

Lebanon Valley College is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community. In recognition of Juneteenth, we encourage everyone to take time to reflect on the significance of this day in our nation’s history. Let us also reaffirm our commitment to creating a campus environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered.

Juneteenth Events in Our Area

• June 15—Lebanon NAACP Juneteenth and Freedom Day Celebration
  Monument Park, Lebanon | Noon–5 p.m.
• June 19—JuneteenthHBG Jubilee
  City Island, Harrisburg | Noon–5 p.m.
• June 21—Lancaster Juneteenth Jubilee
  Binns Park & Ewell Plaza, Lancaster | 5–8 p.m.
• June 22—Juneteenth Community Free Day
  The National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
• June 22—Presentation of “A Juneteenth Classroom” Production
  Mike Waters Park, Chambersburg | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
  Enjoy an educational, musical, and dance drama production by play writers, producers, & directors Reggie Haywood & Felicia Brown-Haywood, with musical direction by Thaddeus and Karen Gatling.

• Philadelphia Events

Juneteenth Bishop Library Resources

• On Juneteenth | by Annette Gordon-Reed
• Juneteenth | by Ralph Ellison
• Forever Free: The Story of Emancipation & Reconstruction | by Eric Foner
• Four Hundred Souls | edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
• The Question of Freedom | by William G. Thomas III
• The Water Dancer | by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Slaves for Peanuts | by Jori Lewis
• How the Word is Passed | by Clint Smith
• The President and the Freedom Fighter | by Brian Kilmeade
• The 1619 Project | by Nikole Hannah-Jones
• An American Quilt | by Rachel May
• Twelve Years a Slave | by Solomon Northup (both book and DVD)
• Beloved | by Toni Morrison
• Africans in America: America’s Journey through Slavery | 2-disc DVD