Wednesday marks Juneteenth, a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. that’s been celebrated for almost 150 years. Montgomery County is honoring the holiday with a variety of events and closures of public buildings and services.
On Wednesday, county government offices, public libraries and state offices and courts are closed. County pools are open while recreation and aquatic centers are closed. Public parking is free. The county’s Alcohol Beverages Services store will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ride On, Ride On Flex and Ride On extRA will operate on a holiday schedule while Metro trains will operate on a Saturday holiday schedule and Metro buses will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule.
For a full list of holiday closures and schedules, check here.
Here are local activities and celebrations scheduled for the holiday:
Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition
The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition (BACC) will hold its annual celebration at the Moses Cemetery, a site the BACC has been advocating to better protect. This event will honor William Henry Harrison Brown, a veteran who is buried in the cemetery.
Next to 5214 River Road, Bethesda, 3 – 6 p.m. Wednesday
Montgomery Parks’ headquarters will be closed and some regular programming will not be offered on Juneteenth as the department presents or co-sponsors events to mark the holiday.
- Visit the Josiah Henson Museum to learn about the eponymous abolitionist at a family day in North Bethesda. 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $5; seniors/children, $4.
- Woodlawn Museum and the Underground Railroad Experience Tour present a variety of self-guided tours about Black communities in Montgomery County. 16501 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $5; seniors/children, $4.
Annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival
One of the premier Juneteenth events in the county, the annual festival honoring the Scotland community in Potomac that began last weekend includes a fireworks show for the first time.
Wednesday’s events kick off with a 5K race and 1-mile family walk starting at 8 a.m. at Bells Mill Elementary School, 8225 Bells Mill Road in Potomac.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., local volunteers and historians will provide talks on the history of the Scotland community. The lectures will be held at the Bette Thompson Community Center, 7700 Scotland Drive in Potomac.
Fireworks: Shirley Povich Field at Cabin John Regional Park, 10600 Westlake Drive, Rockville, 9:45 -10 p.m. Wednesday