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D.C. Emancipation Day Holiday April 16

Photo by emancipation.dc.gov
Sketch of the celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in DC. Provided by the Moorland Spingarn Research Center
Sketch of the celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in DC. Provided by the Moorland Spingarn Research Center

Emancipation Day is April 16th, and a holiday for the District of Columbia. Commemorating President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act in 1862, each year, a series of activities are held including the traditional Emancipation Day parade celebrating the freedom of enslaved persons in the District of Columbia.

The Emancipation Day celebration was held yearly from 1866 to 1901, and was resumed as a tradition and historic celebration in 2002.

For a complete list of Emancipation Day events, click here.

And check with DDOT on holiday traffic and parking restrictions here.