ALACHUA COUNTY – Government offices and many financial institutions will be closed Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday became a federal observance in 2021.
In Alachua County, most county offices will be closed Friday, with the exception of essential services. Residential curbside collection of garbage, recycling and yard waste will continue on its regular schedule.
The Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station and the Hazardous Waste Collection Center will remain open during the holiday.
Alachua County Animal Resources will be closed Friday and will reopen Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Animal Resources officers will continue responding to emergencies involving public safety or animals in immediate danger. Residents should call 911 to report such emergencies on holidays, Sundays and between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. daily.
Federal, state and local government offices are generally expected to be closed in observance of the holiday. Most banks will also be closed, and there will be no regular U.S. Postal Service mail delivery. Many private businesses, retailers and restaurants are expected to remain open, although some may operate with modified hours.
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