Juneteenth Celebration June 19 At Wilde Lake High School In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Center of African American Culture will host its annual Juneteenth Celebration 2022 on June 19 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Jim Rouse Theater, Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road. The event includes a musical interlude, presentation of the flag, music, poem readings and more.

The Howard County Center of African American Culture also has curated The Simpsonville Freetown Legacy Trail to celebrate the history of Simpsonville and commemorate the involvement of Harriet Tubman in the Underground Railroad.

Ball designated June 19, known as Juneteenth National Freedom Day, as an official Howard County holiday last year. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States, marking the day when the news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached slaves in Galveston Texas, more than two years after it was signed.

"Juneteenth is a historic day for our country, as the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States ... In Howard County, we consistently recognize that diversity is our strength and are always working to be more equitable and inclusive, that includes making sure that our community has the opportunity to recognize and learn more about this defining day," Ball said when he announced the official holiday in 2021.