The Annapolis Juneteenth Planning Committee and the City of Annapolis are hosting the second annual Juneteenth celebration with a VIP Reception and Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 17 and a parade and festival on Saturday, June 18. Traditionally, June 19 is known as Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

CITY CLOSURES: City of Annapolis offices will be closed on Monday, June 20 in recognition of Juneteenth. The Pip Moyer Recreation Center will operate on a regular schedule while the Stanton Center will be closed. Refuse and recycling schedules will not be affected. Annapolis Transit will operate on a regular schedule.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION: The two-day Juneteenth celebration will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 17 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (173 Jennifer Road in Annapolis). The cost is $100. There will be a cocktail hour from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by the gala and awards ceremony from 6 to 10 p.m. African attire is requested but not required. See below for links to purchase tickets.

The celebration continues Saturday, June 18th, with a parade and festival. The parade will begin at the Annapolis City Dock at noon. City Dock is not only home to the Alex Haley Memorial, but is also a designated “UNESCO Middle Passage Site of Remembrance,” indicating the role of the Annapolis port as a destination for the trade of human cargo. The parade will continue up Main Street and end at Maryland Hall/Bates Athletic Complex. During the parade there will be rolling road closures. Be alert to Annapolis Police direction.

The parade will conclude at Bates Athletic Complex where there will be a festival with live music and entertainment, vendors, food, and a Freedom Way display from 2 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display. Admission to the festival is free.

• For gala ticket information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/Annapolis-Juneteenth-Gala.

• To register to participate in the parade or festival, visit: Annapolis Juneteenth Parade .

PARKING: Festival parking at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is set at $10 with free shuttles to and from Bates Athletic Complex from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Downtown parking locations include Gott’s and Knighton garages with a free shuttle to Main Street. For parking information, visit www.AccessAnnapolis.com.