Juneteenth: What’s Open, What’s Closed In Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA — Juneteenth, a state and federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., will result in some schedule changes around Arlington.

Juneteenth refers to the date in 1865 when slaves in Galveston, Texas heard about the Emancipation Proclamation. That was the last place in the U.S. to learn slaves had been freed, marking the end of slavery. Today, the holiday commemorates the freedom of African Americans with various celebrations, according to Juneteenth.com.

Last year, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth an official holiday, becoming the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was approved in 1983. Juneteenth is oldest-known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.

The Arlington Black Employees Council is holding a 2022 Juneteenth Peace Rally that will include speakers and performers. The rally will be held Friday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bozman Government Center Plaza and will also be livestreamed to YouTube.

Arlington Public Library is also commemorating Juneteenth with local author talk events on June 22 and 23.

Some services in Arlington are closed or modified for the federal holiday on Monday, June 20. Below are the changes to know.

Arlington County government offices: Closed on Monday, June 20.

Arlington Public Schools: Students are on summer break, but all schools and offices are closed on June 20.

Courts: The Arlington Circuit Court, General District Court, Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court will be closed June 20.

Parking: Permit parking is always in effect unless specifically noted on the sign. Meters are not enforced on holidays.

ART Bus: Regular weekday service.

Department of Motor Vehicles: All DMV customer service centers in Northern Virginia, including 4150 S Four Mile Run Dr., will be closed June 20.

COVID-19 clinics: Vaccine clinics will be closed. The Curative testing kiosks will be closed.

Libraries: On June 19-20, all Arlington County Library branches will be closed.

Parks & Recreation Facilities & Programs: All Community Centers are closed. Parks will be open.

Animal Welfare League of Arlington: On Monday, June 20, Animal Welfare League of Arlington will be closed. The Arlington County Animal Control team can be reached for emergencies at 703-931-9241.

Metro: Metro will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight on June 19, and be open 5 a.m. to midnight on a Saturday holiday schedule on June 20. Metro has closed five Orange Line stations between Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton through Labor Day. Additional closures are planned during the summer on the Blue Line between Stadium-Armory and Benning Road. Check back for upcoming weekend Metrorail information here.

Post offices: Closed on June 20.

Trash Pickup & Recycling: Trash/Recycling/Yard Waste Curbside Routes: Regular collection. Special Collections (Brush, Metal, E-waste): Regular collection. Mulch delivery: None. Customer Contact Center: Closed. Household Hazards/Electronics Drop-off facility: Closed. Earth Products Drop-Off Yard: Closed.

Sheriff's Office: Administrative Offices closed. Public fingerprinting and in-person personal visits at the ACDF are suspended due to the pandemic until further notice.

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