Friday is Juneteenth, which honors the end to slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is a federal, Missouri, county and municipal holiday and is one of Missouri’s 13 state holidays.
Banks and financial institutions are closed Friday and there will be no regular mail delivery. That resumes on Saturday. In Columbia, officials say residential curbside trash and recycling will still be collected on Friday. However, Columbia’s bus system Go COMO will not operate on Friday and parking enforcement is suspended on Friday in Columbia. The ARC on West Ash is operating at reduced hours Friday from 9 am to 3 pm.
Numerous events are planned in Columbia to celebrate Juneteenth. A community lunch starts Friday at 10 am at Douglass park and a Juneteenth celebration will take place from 4-8 pm Friday at Douglass park. Pastor Jonathan Tucker of New Birth Community Church in Mississippi will be the guest speaker. The event will include numerous vendors, live performances and an art show.
The Powerhouse third annual Juneteenth at Columbia’s Cosmo park is Friday from noon to 4 pm. Saturday morning’s Juneteenth parade begins at 10 in downtown Columbia. Resident Keener Tippin organized Thursday’s community cleanup at Douglass park. Tippin says a clean, welcoming Douglass park primes the neighborhood for Fourth of July events, ensuring that Columbia’s parks are ready for the season’s biggest gatherings.
What it means: Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is a federal, Missouri, county and municipal holiday and is one of Missouri’s 13 state holidays.