By Lookout Staff

June 18, 2025 -- On June 19, 1865 -- two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation -- U.S. General Gordon Granger stood in Galveston, Texas and read General Orders No. 3.

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

The order, which marked the official end of slavery in the United States, has been celebrated on June 19 since Texas commemorated the first Juneteenth in 1866, making it the longest-running African American holiday.

Today, the Federal holiday is celebrated across the nation with picnics, cookouts and festivals and commemorated in many cities by closing down government buildings.

In Santa Monica, City Hall and other public facilities will close on Thursday, June 19, and municipal services will be scaled back or suspended.

In addition to City Hall, the Santa Monica Public Library, the Transit Store, the Police Activities League (PAL) and the offices at Virginia Avenue Park will be closed.

The Santa Monica Swim Center, 2225 16th Street, will be open for recreational and lap swimming from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the tennis office at Reed Park will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Memorial Park Fitness Room will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Memorial Park Gym/Drop-in will be open noon to 5 p.m.

Parking meters will not be enforced on Juneteenth, except for meters that are enforced daily according to posted signage. Meters that are enforced daily must be paid.

All City of Santa Monica beach lots and pay-by-space lots are enforced 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, including Juneteenth.

Street cleaning will not take place on Thursday. However, preferential Parking (residential/visitor permits) will be enforced. There will be no trash, recycling, or yard/green waste pickup.

The special lighting event will take place Thursday evening when the 174,000 LED lights on the world's only solar-powered Ferris Wheel will feature animations and transitions.

The Ferris wheel lights can be seen from dusk until 11:35 PM each evening and can be viewed online at www.pacpark.com/live.