Sunday, April 14 is DC Emancipation Day, honoring the date President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, which freed over 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia.
in the annual DC Emancipation Day festivities downtown, including and Emancipation Day Parade, concert and fireworks.
The free event begins with the parade at 2 p.m. featuring 51 youth volunteers who symbolically represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia, in of DC Statehood.
After the parade, stay for the DC Emancipation Day Concert on Freedom Plaza – featuring DC’s own Ginuwine plus R&B from Kelly Price and gospel from Ricky Dillard & New Generation, EU featuring Sugar Bear plus Go-Go fusion band Black Alley with other local and national artists.
There will be interactive activations and bites available from the food trucks with the whole event winding up with fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
For a full lineup of performances, to RSVP and more, visit dcemancipationday.com.
SCHEDULE
2 p.m. | DC Emancipation Day Parade
Starting location: Pennsylvania Ave NW Between 10th and 14th Streets NW
Ending location: Freedom Plaza (1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW)
3 p.m. | DC Emancipation Day Concert | Freedom Plaza
8:30 p.m. | Fireworks Display | Freedom Plaza
The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment will provide a live feed of Sunday’s festivities. To view the event, visit mayor.dc.gov/live, tune in on Channel 16 (DCN) or watch on Mayor Bowser’s Facebook or X.
