Central Texans are celebrating Juneteenth this weekend with parades, speeches, food, live music and more. It was the first time Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday.
The day commemorates the end of chattel slavery in the U.S. Its origins trace back to June 19, 1865, the day that slaves in Texas learned they were free — more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
![Members of Montopolis Proud gather around for a photo with the new Burditt Prairie Cemetery historical marker during the unveiling ceremony in Montopolis.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d8b180/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2F78%2Fdc7e7d2243f989ded02472bf5c2e%2Fmontopolisjuneteenth-mm-june2021.jpg)
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![Tonell Thomas chants as marchers make their way from Hutto Middle School to Hutto City Hall for Juneteenth on Saturday.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a6247ac/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1362x908+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2F3a%2F6e66d5f5475cbead5a67fa63f972%2Fhuttojuneteenth-mm-june2021.jpg)
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KUT
![From the left to right: Sahriah Rogers and Kyndal and Halee Griffin march in Hutto.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7af2a31/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1360x907+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd6%2F93%2F65fdd0b447cab0dedb35450fc506%2Fimage-from-ios-17.jpg)
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