Juneteenth 2022 In Montclair: Town Offices, Schools Will Be Closed

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Municipal offices in Montclair and the local public school district will be closed on Friday, June 17 in observance of Juneteenth. There are also several local events being planned to commemorate the holiday.

Juneteenth, which is short for June 19th, is a 155-year-old holiday that celebrates the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in the United States. Read More: What Is Juneteenth? 5 Things To Know About The Holiday

Juneteenth is now also a state holiday. In September 2020, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that designates the third Friday in June as a state and public holiday.

TOWN/SCHOOL OFFICES, TRASH/RECYCLING

Municipal offices will be closed Friday, June 17, for the Juneteenth Day holiday, according to a township advisory. Trash and recycling will be collected, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Montclair Public School District will be recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday. All schools and offices will be closed Friday, June 17, administrators said.

“We are an inclusive district, and we celebrate and respect our diversity and different cultures and welcome opportunities for recognition,” Superintendent Jonathan Ponds said.

MONTCLAIR EVENTS

The Montclair Public School District noted that there are several activities and events being planned in conjunction with the holiday.

They include:

• Montclair’s Teachers Undoing Racism, Fleet Feet and AAPI Montclair are cosponsoring a variety of weeklong activities for the public.
• Montclair High School-Restorative Justice will be holding a an Open House with tours, refreshments and more on Tuesday, June 14, 3:30-5:30 pm.
• On Thursday, June 16, Nishuane and Hillside SATPs will be holding a Juneteenth celebration at Nishuane, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The event includes fun activities for kids, performances, food and more.
• Montclair Education Association's 8:46 Project will be holding a free summer book giveaway for K-12 students of all ages on Friday, June 17, in the Nishuane parking lot from 1 to 4 pm. The 8:46 Project event will provide free books that give voice to marginalized experiences that will engage readers of different ages, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. There will be raffles, snacks, drinks and much more. Questions? Email: 846project@meanj.org.
• Watchung Booksellers (54 Fairfield Street, Watchung Plaza, Montclair) will host Alliah Agostini, Juneteenth Storytime on the Green on Friday at 4 pm. With colorful illustrations and a timeline, this introductory history of Juneteenth for kids details the evolution of the holiday commemorating the date the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom. The Juneteenth Story provides an accessible introduction for kids to learn about this important American holiday. Bring a blanket and enjoy this afterschool storytime and activity on the Watchung Plaza Green. Signed books will be available.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.