Newsom officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2022, giving state workers the option to take the day off in lieu of a personal day. That means state employees are scheduled to work on Juneteenth unless they choose to use their accrued leave to observe the holiday.

With Juneteenth around the corner, several places on the central coast are holding events for the holiday. Sign up for our Newsletters Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery, when the last enslaved people learned of their freedom from Union General Gordon Granger.

Juneteenth honors June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the emancipation of enslaved African Americans — over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation that freed all enslaved people in the Confederacy.

The Stockton Juneteenth Celebration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way. The event includes poetry, historical presentations, food vendors, and live entertainment.

Here's a look back at the history of Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, and how it's celebrated.

Juneteenth has long been recognized and celebrated, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. But it didn't become a federal holiday until recent.

Most banks follow the U.S. Federal Reserve System ’s holiday schedule, which observes Juneteenth and means banks will be closed on June 19. Most ATMs may still be used for transactions. Trader Joe’s will be open during regular hours on Juneteenth.