Friday, June 19, 2026
Juneteenth Commemorative Service
Black Owned Business & Organizations Expo
Best Kept Soul
On Friday, June 19, the official National Holiday of Juneteenth, the Friends of the African Union Church Cemetery (FAUCC) will host a Juneteenth Commemorative Service at the African Union Church Cemetery, where five United States Colored Troops rest. They will be honored during a solemn ceremony, which will be a rain or shine event. Brigadier General James Benson from Delaware’s National Guard will participate during this ceremony. After this ceremony during the afternoon, there will be a Black Owned Business and Organizations Expo that will feature exhibits and products from local owners and entrepreneurs.
Later that day, there will be a performance by Best Kept Soul, which had been honored in 2024 as the ‘Best of DE’s’ favorite band.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Juneteenth and Shove Off Day
On Saturday, June 20, there will be two programs at Fort Delaware State Park that will recognize both Juneteenth and Shove Off Day, which commemorates the day that United States Colored Troops “shoved off” from City Point, Virginia and sailed south to the Gulf of Mexico to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation that had been issued on January 1, 1863. One of the programs at Fort Delaware will be a re-enactment of the reading of General Order No. 3. That announcement let the people of Texas know on June 19, 1865 that all slaves had been declared free in rebellious states. The second program at Fort Delaware will be a presentation on how Juneteenth evolved and became a national holiday.
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Father’s Day
Juneteenth worship service
Community Cookout
On Sunday, June 21 (Father’s Day), starting at Noon, the Mount Salem U.A.M.E. Church has invited the community to a special Juneteenth worship service at 305 4th Street in Delaware City. The service will be followed by a free community cookout that will include performances celebrating Black History and Culture.