ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Because the June 19 Juneteenth holiday falls on a Sunday this year, banks, federal offices and the post office in St. Petersburg will be closed Monday in commemoration of the date in 1865 when word reached the last enslaved people in Texas that the Civil War had ended and they were free.
Juneteenth is not an official state holiday in Florida. While many government services in St. Petersburg change their hours around the holidays, it will be business as usual for much of the city on Juneteenth. To view the city’s official holiday calendar, click here.
There are several Juneteenth events planned in St. Petersburg:
Find out what’s happening in St. Petewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Juneteenth: A Celebration Of Black Excellence
VIRTUAL: R.I.C.H. Dialogues (based in St. Petersburg)
Find out what’s happening in St. Petewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
WHEN: Friday, June 17, 12-1 p.m.
DETAILS: In this live virtual experience, Reggie Butler will connect with 2x Grammy Nominee, singer/songwriter, and blind jazz guitarist Raul Midón who makes a solo act. In this transformational session, guests will experience Raul’s music, hear his story, and gain insight into how the intersection of his race, identity, culture, and heritage (R.I.C.H.) shapes the way he experiences and interacts with the world. The session will open and close with a live performance from Raul and attendees will have the opportunity to unmute and engage.
Juneteenth Freedom Day At The Palladium
LOCATION: The Palladium, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg
WHEN: Saturday, June 18, 8 p.m.
DETAILS: WMNF 88.5FM recognizes Juneteenth with an array of Black excellence, featuring local Tampa Bay spoken word poets, Soul Caravan starring Theo Valentin, Rita Wilson, Tron Montgomery, and Hiram Hazley with musical directors Kenny Walker & Vincent Sims, plus other special guests. Expect the best renditions of Earth, Wind and Fire, as well as a soul revue, all while connecting with neighbors and friends.
Shades Of Pride: An LGBTQ+ Juneteenth Celebration With TS Madison
LOCATION: The Factory, 2622 Fairfield Avenue S., St. Petersburg
WHEN: Sunday, June 19, 2-9 p.m.
DETAILS: “The Legends Panel: The Intersection of Pride and Juneteenth”, local entertainment, and vendors from within the community will be at this event. St. Pete Pride will welcome national talent, Ts Madison, also known as Maddie, to host the “Shades of Pride ” event. Madison is a reality television personality, entrepreneur, actress, and LGBTQIA+ activist. Through her reality show, The Ts Madison Experience, she became the first Black Trans woman to star in and executive producer of her own reality series.
Juneteenth Celebration At The Farm
LOCATION: St. Pete Youth Farm, 1664 12th St. S., St. Petersburg
WHEN: Monday, June 20, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
DETAILS: To give everyone the opportunity who may have the day off to come out and tend the soil, enjoy some African drumming, and share in the festivities at a unique gathering space where we grow food. Seedlings, food, and more will be available. The Fresh & Local Greenhouse Project partnered with USF St. Petersburg Campus and will be having the official ribbon cutting of the greenhouse before the festivities begin.
Last year, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth an official holiday, becoming the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was approved in 1983. Juneteenth is the oldest-known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.
Patch employees have the day off Monday. Some other businesses around town may also be closed; so if you’re planning to stop by one of them, it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure the business is open.
Some big brands are giving their employees a day off or paying them extra.
Companies that are already looking seriously at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts may see adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday as “something tangible” that “recognizes the importance of that day,” Julie Stich, a vice president of content at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, told NPR.
Nike said in an email statement to NPR that Juneteenth is a paid holiday for corporate, retail, manufacturing and distribution employees across the Nike, Converse and Jordan brands. Zillow is doing the same as part of its “ongoing commitment to racial equality,” the company said in a statement.
Both Zillow and Nike are encouraging employees to reflect on the importance of the day while taking part in volunteering, activism and educational opportunities.
Among them, Target and Starbucks are open, but employees get time-and-a-half pay on Juneteenth, according to a list put together by Entrepreneur.
Tech companies Twitter and Square are giving employees the day off. Google and Amazon aren’t, but they’re encouraging employees to cancel meetings. Amazon is also offering “online learning opportunities” throughout the day.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Source Link