The District will be celebrating DC Emancipation Day with four days of festivities this year starting Friday morning with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s kick off.
Emancipation Day marks the day President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, which freed over 3,100 enslaved persons in D.C.
Festivities:
Friday, April 14
At 12 p.m.Bowser and the Office of the Secretary will host the sixth annual Full Democracy Champions Luncheon with this year’s theme being “Defending DC Values” at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Ballroom A (801 Mount Vernon Place NW)
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Saturday, April 5
Bowser, the Mayor’s Office on Community Affairs, and the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment will host the DC Emancipation Day parade at 2 p.m. starting at Pennsylvania Ave NW and ending at Freedom Plaza where a concert will begin at 3 p.m. Festivities will conclude with fireworks at Freedom Plaza at 8:30 p.m.
Scheduled performers this year include Dru Hill, Black Alley, Rakim, JJ Hairston, Alex Vaughn, Sin Miedo, Kyaira Ware, DJ Diyanna Monet, and the Nationals Capital Chapter Jack & Jill Inc.
You can also watch a live feed of Saturday’s festivities here.
Sunday, April 16
At 9 a.m., the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment and the Department of Parks and Recreation will host Family Fun Day at Black Lives Matter Plaza. Registration for the event can be found here.
According to Bowser’s office, “Sunday’s event will include food trucks, as well as fitness activities, games for kids, and other fun activities for the whole family.”
Monday, April 17
At 10 am, the Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs will cap off the festivities with an Emancipation Day celebration at the Smithsonian National Museum of the African American History and Culture. Registration for the event can be found here.
Road closures:
The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking on Saturday, April 15 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.:
Pennsylvania Avenue from 11th Street to 14th Street, NW
E Street from 13th Street to 14th Street, NW
13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
The following streets will close to vehicle traffic on Saturday, April 15 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.:
Pennsylvania Avenue from 12th Street to 14th Street, NW
E Street from 13th Street to 14th Street, NW
13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
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The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking and closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th Street to 12th Street, NW
10th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
11th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
12th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW