This year, Juneteenth falls on a Wednesday, so many government facilities and services will be closed or have modified opening hours.
As the newest federal, state, and city holiday, you may have some questions about what it commemorates and when it became a holiday.
Juneteenth, also known as America’s Second Independence Day, commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the last enslaved African Americans there that they were free.
In 2021, President Joe Biden made the day a federal holiday, Governor Jay Inslee declared it a state holiday, and Seattle and King County later confirmed the day as a holiday for government employees.
Here’s what you need to know about Juneteenth, what days businesses are open and closed in the Seattle area, and answers to other popular Google searches about the holiday.
Why is it called Juneteenth?
The name “Juneteenth” refers to the date of the holiday and is a combination of the words “June” and “19th.”
teeth Will the post office be open on June 19th? Will mail be delivered?
No mail will be delivered Wednesday because the U.S. Postal Service and other federal, county and city government facilities will be closed.
Are UPS and FedEx open on Juneteenth?
Private package delivery companies such as UPS and FedEx will operate as usual.
Will banks and the stock market be open on Juneteenth?
The Federal Reserve Board and the New York Stock Exchange will be closed on Wednesday, as will most banks, including Bank of America, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase and Citibank, as most financial institutions follow a federal holiday schedule.
Will trash be collected on Juneteenth?
In King County and Seattle, trash collection will continue as usual and transfer stations will be open.
What about parks and recreation?
Many Seattle parks and recreation facilities will be closed Wednesday, the department said, including:
- All recreational programs
- Community and Teen Centers
- Environmental Learning Center
- Indoor swimming pool
- Outdoor pool (closed on weekdays from Saturday, June 22nd until it opens daily)
- Green Lake Small Craft Center
- Mount Baker Boat & Sailing Centre
- Amy Yee Tennis Center
However, the following facilities will remain open as usual:
- park
- Seattle Japanese Garden and Volunteer Park Conservatory
- Pre-season Beaches (Madrona Beach and West Green Lake Beach)
- Boat ramp
- Spray Park
- Interbay, Jackson Park, Jefferson Park and West Seattle Golf Courses
What about state parks?
Washington State Parks will also be free on Juneteenth, so visitors won’t need to show a Discover Pass on their car to park on Monday.
What about transportation?
The Vashon Water Taxi will operate. The West Seattle Water Taxi will operate on a Sunday schedule departing at half past the hour from Downtown Seattle and at half past the hour from West Seattle from 8:30 AM to 7 PM. Connecting shuttles 773 and 775 will adjust their schedule to accommodate the West Seattle Water Taxi arrivals. King County Metro Transit will operate on its normal weekday schedule.
