Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, will be honored on Friday across the country.
Although Juneteenth did not become a federally recognized holiday until 2021, it has long been celebrated in the South as the end of slavery. The state of Texas recognized the holiday in 1980, commemorating the day in 1865 when Union troops announced to Black residents of Galveston they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
Some businesses and local government offices in North Texas will be closed in observance. Here’s what to know.
The U.S. Postal Service will be closed, pausing mail delivery before resuming on Saturday. Post office locations will also be closed.
All banks will be closed, as the Federal Reserve ceases operations on all federal holidays. Stock markets will also close.
Closed federal offices in Dallas will include the DMV, Social Security Administration and federal courts.
Dallas Public Library and Park and Recreation centers will be closed for the holiday. Local government offices, including Dallas County offices, will also close.
Garbage pickup will occur as normal in the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Irving, Plano, McKinney, Denton and Frisco, according to city websites.
UPS and FedEX shipping services will also continue as normal.
Major grocery stores including Walmart, Kroger, H-E-B, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Tom Thumb and Central Market will remain open on Juneteenth. Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club will also be open.