Here are 3 more ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Anchorage

Juneteenth will officially be recognized Wednesday, but the events commemorating the holiday in Anchorage — including celebrations of Black excellence and culture, and opportunities for education, community gathering and reflection — started over the weekend and continue into this weekend.

Juneteenth commemorates the day that the last slaves in the Confederacy were informed of their freedom following the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865. Long celebrated by Black Americans, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Last year, the Anchorage Assembly made Juneteenth an official city holiday, and the Alaska Legislature this year passed a bill to designate Juneteenth as a state holiday. The legislation now heads to the desk of Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Here are three more opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth in Anchorage.

Juneteenth Closing Ceremony: 6 p.m. Wednesday, UAA Fine Arts Building, 3700 Alumni Drive

Sponsored by the Anchorage NAACP, this event will celebrate the Alaska Legislature voting to designate Juneteenth as a state holiday in Alaska. The Trendy Eats 907 food truck will be on site from 4-6 p.m.

JBER Juneteenth Sneaker Ball: 6 p.m. Saturday, June 22, Warrior Zone Community Center, 655 Richardson Drive

This celebration featuring music, dancing and sneaker fashion invites you to wear your fanciest outfit with your freshest pair of sneakers. Tickets are $35.

Wakanda Ball: 7 p.m. Saturday, June 22, UAA Student Union, 2921 Spirit Way

The Alaska Black Business Directory, Umoja Coworking & Incubator and Juneteenth Anchorage are collaborating on this event with partial proceeds benefiting the African American Mobile Classroom. It will feature food catered by Anchorage’s Black-owned establishments, Black business and organization vendors, and speakers and entertainment. Tickets are $75 with table options for larger groups available.