The City of Rio Rancho is hosting a Freedom Day event Saturday, marking the 160th anniversary of the de facto end of slavery in much of the United States.
The Juneteenth celebration at Haynes Park, Haynes Park, 2006 Grande Blvd. SE, will include live music and other performances, craft vendors, and food trucks.
City Spokesperson Jaley Turpen said Rio Rancho has hosted a Juneteenth celebration annually since 2022. The occasion was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
The Juneteenth holiday is so named because on June 19, 1865, news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached enslaved people in Texas.
Turpen said it’s difficult to approximate attendance at prior celebrations as the event is free and not ticketed. She said it’s important because it “provides an opportunity for education, reflection and community members to come together.”
The Rio Rancho Juneteenth celebration is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.