-David Crowder, WRGA News-
City of Rome offices will be closed on Friday in observance of the Juneteenth Federal Holiday.
The Rome Transit Department and the Walker Mountain Landfill will also be closed on Friday.
There are a number of events planned in celebration of Juneteenth, and earlier this week, Rome City Commission Elaina Beeman read a proclamation recognizing the holiday.
“On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived on the shores of Galveston, Texas, to declare the end of the Civil War, and to enforce President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation,” Beeman read. “As the oldest American holiday, Juneteenth commemorates the freeing or formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants. It has historically been a time of prayer, reflection, and family reunions.”
On Friday afternoon with the inaugural Juneteenth Fest from 2 until 7 p.m. at Lovejoy Baptist Church on Branham Avenue.
It will feature DJs and live entertainment, food trucks, a car and bike show, and more fun and games for the entire family.
On Saturday, a Juneteenth celebration is being held by the youth ministry at Metropolitan Methodist Church.
The block around the church on Broad Street will be closed from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. for a day of fun, food, and fellowship. Enjoy delicious food stations, exciting Kids Zone activities, and a concession sale open to the public.
Also on Saturday, the annual Juneteenth Parade will be held at 11 a.m.
Participants who need to decorate their floats are asked to arrive at 9:30 in order to be ready for the lineup at 10:45 a.m.
The lineup is behind the old Sears building on East First Avenue.
