vlog

Skip to content
NOWCAST vlog News at 6am Weekday Mornings
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

What’s open and closed on Juneteenth 2025

What’s open and closed on Juneteenth 2025
This is *** KNBC KCWE editorial with president and general manager Justin Antonetti. We are set to celebrate America's 2nd Independence Day. Juneteenth, also called Freedom Day, is celebrated every year on June 19th. On that day in 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and ordered the last of America's enslaved people be freed. While the Emancipation Proclamation had freed people more than two years prior, it wasn't until the end of the Civil War that Union troops had the strength to enforce the order in Confederate states. In 2021, President Biden signed *** bill making Juneteenth. Federal holiday. Many private companies, including Hearst Television, which owns KBC and KCWE, have also recognized the importance of Juneteenth by giving employees the day off. We believe Juneteenth is an opportunity for all Americans to commemorate *** moment when the United States took *** step to right *** terrible wrong while acknowledging our nation still struggles with issues of equality. Let's pause and reflect as well to honor the contributions of African Americans to our culture, economy, and country. KNBC and KCWE welcome responsible replies to this editorial.
CNN logo
Updated: 7:49 AM CDT Jun 19, 2025
Editorial Standards
Advertisement
What’s open and closed on Juneteenth 2025
CNN logo
Updated: 7:49 AM CDT Jun 19, 2025
Editorial Standards
Americans will celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, on Thursday with parades and parties. Juneteenth became the newest U.S. federal holiday in 2021, but it has held significance for many Black Americans for a long time.On June 19, 1865, Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, proclaiming that enslaved African Americans in that area were free. This was more than two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which couldn’t be enforced in areas under Confederate control.The Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 brought more attention to Juneteenth, and in 2023, Pew Research said at least 28 states and Washington D.C. — along with the federal government — recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday.Although the Trump administration has attacked diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, Juneteenth remains a federal holiday, according to the Office of Personnel Management. Many Americans will enjoy the day off from work, despite the private sector also edging away from DEI.This year, Juneteenth falls on Thursday, June 19. Here’s what’s open and closed on the holiday.RetailersMost major retailers and grocery stores will be open on Juneteenth. Walmart and Target will be open during normal hours. A wide range of grocers will also be open, including wholesale retailer Costco, Kroger and the roughly two dozen chains under Kroger’s banner.Walgreens stores will operate their regular hours on Juneteenth, though the majority of its pharmacies will be closed except for 24-hour locations and other select pharmacies. CVS pharmacies will be open, though some stores will be on limited hours.Make sure to check with your local businesses and restaurants for their hours.Postal servicesJuneteenth is a holiday for the U.S. Postal Service, so it will not deliver mail.However, all UPS and FedEx services will be open and available.Financial servicesMarkets will be closed, and Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange will not be trading on Thursday.Juneteenth is a banking holiday observed by the Federal Reserve. Major banks like Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and TD Bank will also be closed. Online banking services and ATMs will be available.Schools and governmentFederal offices will be closed on Juneteenth. Many schools will already be off for summer break.However, not all federal or state government employees get a paid day off. In 2023, at least 28 states recognized Juneteenth as a public holiday, for which state workers received a paid day off, according to a Pew Research analysis. Other states may hold a day of observance or other commemorations instead.In West Virginia, for example, Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s administration said state employees would not be given the day off for Juneteenth, as was the norm for the past few years, local news reported. Instead, the governor “will encourage all West Virginians to take a moment to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S.”

Americans will celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, on Thursday with parades and parties. Juneteenth became the newest U.S. federal holiday in 2021, but it has held significance for many Black Americans for a long time.

On June 19, 1865, Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, proclaiming that enslaved African Americans in that area were free. This was more than two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which couldn’t be enforced in areas under Confederate control.

Advertisement

The Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 brought more attention to Juneteenth, and in 2023, Pew Research at least 28 states and Washington D.C. — along with the federal government — recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday.

Although the Trump administration has attacked diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, Juneteenth remains a federal holiday, according to the Office of Personnel Management. Many Americans will enjoy the day off from work, despite the private sector also edging away from DEI.

This year, Juneteenth falls on Thursday, June 19. Here’s what’s open and closed on the holiday.

Retailers

Most major retailers and grocery stores will be open on Juneteenth. Walmart and will be open during normal hours. A wide range of grocers will also be open, including wholesale retailer Costco, Kroger and the roughly two dozen chains under Kroger’s banner.

Walgreens stores will operate their regular hours on Juneteenth, though the majority of its pharmacies will be closed except for 24-hour locations and other select pharmacies. CVS pharmacies will be open, though some stores will be on limited hours.

Make sure to check with your local businesses and restaurants for their hours.

Postal services

Juneteenth is a holiday for the U.S. Postal Service, so it will not deliver mail.

However, all UPS and FedEx services will be open and available.

Financial services

Markets will be closed, and Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange will not be trading on Thursday.

Juneteenth is a banking holiday observed by the Federal Reserve. Major banks like Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and TD Bank will also be closed. Online banking services and ATMs will be available.

Schools and government

Federal offices will be closed on Juneteenth. Many schools will already be off for summer break.

However, not all federal or state government employees get a paid day off. In 2023, at least 28 states recognized Juneteenth as a public holiday, for which state workers received a paid day off, according to a Pew Research . Other states may hold a day of observance or other commemorations instead.

In West Virginia, for example, Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s administration said state employees would not be given the day off for Juneteenth, as was the norm for the past few years, local news . Instead, the governor “will encourage all West Virginians to take a moment to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S.”