The 2026 Juneteenth Freedom Parade was held on Saturday morning as hundreds lined the route from Sam Houston High School to Comanche Park on San Antonio’s east side. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones and State Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins were among the local electeds who participated in the parade, along with St. Philip’s College, the San Antonio branch of the NAACP, church groups, marching bands and more. The parade, organized by the Juneteenth Freedom Coalition, marked 30 years of organized Juneteenth festivals in San Antonio. Juneteenth officially became a Texas state holiday in 1980. The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law on June 17, 2021, by President Joe Biden, making it a federal holiday.
“These people are my family and we are here to enjoy this momentous day,” Rodney Sherman said. “Thank God for all the smiling faces and the feel of family.”
On June 19, 1865, federal troops informed enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, of their emancipation. The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, which declared all enslaved people in Confederate states actively rebelling against the Union “shall be then, thenceforth and forever, free.” It took the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, signed on Dec. 6, 1865, to officially abolish slavery and involuntary servitude across the entire United States.
“It didn’t matter how the weather was gonna be today, we’re gonna be here because you have to show appreciation and gratitude for something everyone worked so hard for,” Darryl Vance said. “My great-grandmother lived to be 108. She was born right after slavery ended. She’d be ecstatic to be here right now.”
Despite inclement weather, revelers lined the 3.2-mile route along W.W. White Rd. and Rigsby Ave. Individuals, families and people of all ages gathered on sidewalks and in parking lots of local businesses along the procession to show their support. The festive occasion was filled with music, waving, horn-honking and good vibes.
“It’s just a great feeling,” Tnisha Nation said. “Everything happens for a reason. I’m just happy it was recognized. This is the fifth year for the holiday, nothing but great things, good vibes – it’s a great feeling.”
Parade goers along the march path echoed sentiments of jubilation and triumph, enjoying the convivial atmosphere and expressing hope for sustained progress in the future.
“It’s just great, it’s wonderful. It shows that we can all come together no matter what troubles or obstacles – whether it be rain or personal – you just come out and have a good time,” Tiffanie Bracy said.
There was an activist contingent in the parade that came to show their support for the community and the occasion. Some carried signs expressing their opposition to ICE immigration enforcement policies. Their message was to encourage citizens to learn from the past and fight oppression in all its forms.
“It’s definitely a celebration of the fact that we have Juneteenth, but it’s also an opportunity for us to protest the injustice of the current administration,” Carol Burtch said.
On June 19, 2025, President Donald Trump issued this statement on his Truth Social platform, claiming, “Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
In Dec. of 2025, the Trump administration removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the list of fee-free entrance days for national parks. The changes went into effect this calendar year. Among the dates added to the list were Flag Day, which also happens to be President Trump’s birthday.
The State of Texas, a former Confederate state, which celebrates Juneteenth, also observes Confederate Heroes Day, which falls on Jan. 19 and often overlaps with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
Juneteenth officially marks the date when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom. The Emancipation Proclamation freed over 3.5 million people in the United States from the bonds of slavery. The two-year gap from the issuance of the executive order to the actual notification and enforcement thereof serves as an emblematic reminder to some that the struggle for those affected is not over.
“We’ve come a long way, but we got so much further to go,” Sherman said. “I’m still gonna celebrate. It’s a celebration. All the other shenanigans – it’s up to God. Some things need to change, but that’s out of my hands. All I can do is pray.”
“You always have that lot that’s working against it because they don’t seem to appreciate human life, but we’re not gonna give up, we’re not gonna stop, we’re gonna make sure it gets stronger every year,” Vance said.
160 years after ratifying the 13th Amendment, 46 years after becoming a state holiday, and five years after going federal, the Juneteenth Freedom Parade thrived on Saturday morning in San Antonio, Texas.
“I came out here today to celebrate my ancestors and all they did for me,” Patricia Johnson said. “I came out to celebrate black history, Juneteenth, the legacy and the history of what all was done for us so we could be here today – and be set free.”
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