The 5th annual Capital City Juneteenth Celebration has been canceled due to weather concerns organizers said Friday.
The celebration was scheduled for Saturday, June 14, at Dix Park in Raleigh. WRAL is a media sponsor.
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"A surge of tropical moisture today increases our chance for downpours this afternoon. tomorrow and Sunday," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said Friday. "Storms will mainly be in the mid afternoon through evening but a few early morning showers are possible."
Get more information about weekend weather
There are still Juneteenth celebrations planned this weekend.
On Friday, the Juneteenth Celebration at The Pines will include musical performances, line dancing, sing-a-longs and much more at Carolina Pines Park.
On Saturday, the African American Festival at Knightdale Station Park is a family-friendly celebration of African American culture will include live music, arts and crafts, vendors, community resources and food.
See a list of Juneteenth events coming up
History of Juneteenth
Juneteenth commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States. The first Juneteenth was June 19, 1865, when in the aftermath of the Civil War, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control and ensure the freedom of all enslaved men, women and children.
Considered the longest-running African American holiday, Juneteenth was finally recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021 – a full 156 years after it was first celebrated. Most federal offices are closed, along with most banks, and mail won't be delivered.