On Juneteenth, Americans remember the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, the news of emancipation finally reached Galveston, Texas, where an estimated 250,000 enslaved Black Americans in Texas were declared free. This was the last bastion of slavery in the U.S, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the official end of the Civil War. Juneteenth celebrations have a long history across the country and in Utah with parades, festivals, and commemorations.
Utahns celebrated Juneteenth long before it became a state and federal holiday, first commemorating what was then called “Emancipation Day” in 1892, the 30th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The celebration included “a parade in the afternoon, a programme of speeches and music at the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) hall, and a ball in the evening.” The 24th Infantry, a regiment of Black soldiers stationed at Fort Douglas, led the parade.
In 1898, Utah’s Emancipation Day celebrations included banquets and other social events, including a parade in which Emancipation Day Queen Elnora Dudley rode in the head carriage. Fifteen-year-old Dudley “was dressed in a white silk gown and a crown of pearls adorned her head.” Known for her piano skills, she’d been voted queen by the community. Emancipation Day celebrations continued for decades, ranging from large celebrations and parades to small gatherings at local parks or Salt Lake City’s Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the 1900s, Juneteenth became the day on which Utahns celebrate the freedom of enslaved Black Americans. On Saturday June 20, 1982, members of Utah’s Black community celebrated Juneteenth with a picnic at the Nettie Gregory Center, a Salt Lake City community center built by and for the local Black community in 1964.
Since 1989, the Project Success Coalition and its partners have hosted a large Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival in Ogden. Betty Sawyer, director of the Project Success Coalition, has elevated Juneteenth celebrations in both Ogden and Salt Lake County for more than 35 years.
This three-day Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival celebrates “the rich history, heritage, and achievements of the Black community through inspiring performances, educational exhibits, and empowering discussions.” Festivities include vendors, food, and live entertainment, including a gospel choir. One of the newest and popular activities is the “Willie Moore and Billy Mason Golden Clipper Barber Battle,” where Utah barbers show off their skills and compete live for trophies and cash prizes. In 2021, a braiding competition was added to the lineup.
Representative Sandra Hollins, the first Black woman in the Utah Legislature, had been promoting recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday at the Utah Legislature since 2016, with support from Betty Sawyer and the Salt Lake City and Ogden branches of the National Association for Colored People (NAACP). Rep. Hollins had led the legislature in passing a bill to mark Juneteenth as a day of observance and in 2022, Gov. Spencer J. Cox signed Juneteenth National Freedom Day into law as an official state holiday in Utah.
From its early observance as Emancipation Day to its present-day vibrant festivals, Juneteenth holds a significant place in Utah’s history and continues to evolve as a cherished tradition of commemoration.
Please note: Content from outside organizations may not reflect the views of the Utah Historical Society.
Further reading:
https://www.visitutah.com/articles/buffalo-soldier-historic-trail
https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0370.html
Sources:
- “Emancipation Celebration,” Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 09, 1982, 5.
- Quist, Rachel, “Elnora Dudley, Emancipation Day Queen 1883-1956,” Better Days, https://utahwomenshistory.org/the-women/elnora-dudley/
- “Serrelle’s Charity Club,” Ogden Standard-Examiner, June 17, 1982, 8.
- Leonard, Collin, “Betty Sawyer on planning the ‘big family reunion’ that is Juneteenth,” Deseret News, June 18, 2023, https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/6/18/23760187/betty-sawyer-naacp-juneteenth-2023/
- Malan, Mekenna, (March 31, 2021), “Project Success Coalition Keeps Hope Alive Through Education, Advocacy and Celebration,” Slug Mag. https://www.slugmag.com/community/activism-outreach-education/project-success-coalition-keeps-hope-alive-through-education-advocacy-and-celebration/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJOb5tleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYChfpscctfnLixUxdiWzwDxrJdmzJ0eVAoHrpswoGxSVAfGSiY-ybNUlQ_aem_V4ZdIgvOuMfmvGKlwRnqQw