City of Boulder’s Juneteenth Celebration to include flag raising, remarks from local leaders

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BOULDER, Colo. – The City of Boulder invites the community to join in a celebration and recognition of Juneteenth. On Friday, June 16, the city will raise a Juneteenth Flag at the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building at 3 p.m. Remarks from local leaders, including representatives from Boulder City Council, NAACP, Boulder Valley schools and others, will follow the flag-raising.

Juneteenth, which falls on June 19 each year, celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. While the Emancipation Proclamation officially ended slavery in 1863, enforcement in all the states took several years. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, that all enslaved people in the country were freed.

“Juneteenth offers an important opportunity for our community to come together in reflection of our shared history,” said Equity Manager Aimee Kane. “The city is honored to participate in events that pay tribute to and celebrate the countless contributions of Black people to our country.”

“On this important day, we honor and uplift the perseverance of Black Americans. We do not shy away from recognizing the horrors of slavery, but on this day, we also choose to celebrate the joy of freedom,” said City Manager Nuria Rivera Vandermyde. “On Juneteenth, we pause to reflect on our progress towards true equality and acknowledge there is work still to do.”

The city’s flag-raising event is just one of many local celebrations taking place this month. Other events include:

Spoken Word Poetry with Out Boulder

Where:  Gallery @ Bus Stop Apartments (4895 Broadway, Boulder, CO)
When: Saturday, June 17, 6 to 9 p.m.

Youth Storytelling with Nyasha Williams

Where: First Congregational Church (1128 Pine St, Boulder, CO)
When: Sunday, June 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Young Writers Masterclass with Nyasha Williams

Where: Longmont Library (409 4th Ave, Longmont, CO)
When: Sunday, June 18, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Juneteenth Celebration with Alice Faye Duncan

Where: University of Colorado Boulder University Memorial Center Glenn Miller Ballroom (1669 Euclid Avenue, Boulder, CO)
When: Monday, June 19, 1 to 3 p.m.

Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History Through Song

Where: Broomfield Public Library
When: June 21, 7 p.m.

City of Boulder Juneteeth holiday operations

Parks and Recreation facilities will be open for normal operating hours.

Spruce Pool will open for the first time since 2020 starting Monday, June 19. It will be open all summer for lap and leisure swimming Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Open Space and Mountain Parks trails and trailheads will be open. Visit OSMPTrails.org to plan your visit to city open space. Remember to be prepared and prevent wildfires by recreating responsibly.
All Boulder Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, June 19.

Parking is free on city streets and in all city-owned lots and downtown garages on Monday, June 19.
Paid parking is in effect at/near Chautauqua Park on Monday, June 19 and the free Park-to-Park shuttle will be running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All Age Well Centers will be closed on Monday, June 19.

For more information about Juneteenth in the City of Boulder, visit the city’s website.