MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - City oF Murfreesboro offices will pause operations this coming Friday, June 19, 2026, as the community observes Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. City Hall and most municipal facilities will reopen Monday, June 22, operating on their regular 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule.
Murfreesboro Transit will not run on June 19, and the Solid Waste Department will also be closed for the day.
Some Parks and Recreation facilities will remain open, while others will close for the holiday. The Adams Tennis Complex will operate on its normal schedule, and both Old Fort Golf Course and the Bloomfield Links 6‑hole course will welcome golfers. Patterson Park Community Center and Sports*Com will be closed, though Boro Beach will open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The St. Clair Street Senior Center will also be closed on Juneteenth, this coming Friday.
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The news sparked a wave of celebration, mourning, and long‑awaited relief among more than 250,000 enslaved Black Texans. Families began marking the anniversary in 1866 with gatherings, music, food and remembrance, traditions that spread across the country over generations.
The holiday became federally recognized in 2021, and Murfreesboro adopted it as an official City holiday in 2025.
This year’s community celebration, presented by Cultural Arts Murfreesboro, will take place next Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center. The free, family‑friendly event will feature food vendors, artists, live music, dancing and a Kid’s Zone filled with games and activities. More information is available at murfreesboroparks.com.
