21st Annual DC Emancipation Day
About The Event
Join the district celebrating the 21st Annual DC Emancipation Day at Franklin Park!
On April 19, bring your family and join a day filled with parades, reenactments, and cultural events honoring African American history
DC Emancipation Day commemorates the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862—the first major act of emancipation in the U.S., which freed over 3,000 enslaved people in Washington, D.C. On April 19, bring your family and join a day of parades, reenactments, and cultural events honoring African American history and the ongoing fight for freedom and equality.
Check out the quick event schedule below and plan your day!
- 1:00 p.m. | Franklin Park Festival Grounds Open
- 1:30 p.m. | 21st Anniversary Parade Begins
- 2:30 p.m. | Emancipation Day Concert
- 8:30 p.m. | Grand Finale
Details
- Cost: FREE
- Location Franklin Park, 1225 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
- Metro: McPherson Square Station (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) via 14th & I Street Exit
For more information and to register for the events, please visit DC Emancipation Day.
Related Events
Submit an Event
Got an event you want to shout from the rooftops? Give us the 411 by completing the form below. Just so you know, we’re all about Downtown DC We only post events that fall within our 140 block boundary. All events are subject to review and posting at our own discretion.