Juneteenth is Sunday. Plan for closures around Fort Collins on Monday

Rebecca Powell and Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·3 min read

2022 marks the first year Juneteenth will be recognized as both a federal and state holiday in Colorado, so this is your reminder that many offices will be closed on Monday.

The holiday is Sunday, June 19, but it will be observed as a paid holiday on Monday, June 20, for federal, state and many city governments.

Juneteenth celebrates the freeing of slaves and commemorates the day in 1865 when news of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people in the Confederate States, finally reached Galveston, Texas, 2½ years after it was signed.

MORE: Here's what to know about Juneteenth and its history

Colorado made Juneteenth a paid holiday earlier this year after a bill passed the Colorado Legislature, and President Joe Biden gave it the same designation just before the holiday in 2021 after it passed both chambers of Congress.

Below is a list of government closures, but be aware that there may be additional business closures due to the holiday.

Juneteenth closures in Fort Collins and Loveland

  • All federal offices, including post offices

  • All state of Colorado offices including DMV offices

  • Larimer County government offices

  • City of Fort Collins offices

  • City of Loveland offices, and there is no city trash pickup

  • Loveland public library

  • The 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office

  • Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

  • Transfort offices (buses will still operate)

  • Note: Foothills Activity Center will be closed on Saturday, June 18, for Juneteenth community events.

CELEBRATE: Fort Collins to see first full weekend of Juneteenth events in 2022

The FoCo Juneteenth Celebration, which is put on by the year-old FoCo Juneteenth committee, will include several events scheduled from June 17 to the federal Juneteenth holiday on June 19.

The Fort Collins celebration kicks off 6 p.m. June 17 at Foothills mall, with live music from Jamal Skinner and Matt Grundstad and Denver-based artists Soul School. A teen night will also take place from 6-9 p.m. June 17 at the Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County in Fort Collins.

The celebration continues June 18, starting with an 8:15 a.m. family bike ride at Foothills mall followed by yoga with Black yogis and a grade school reading presentation at 10:15 a.m., dancing to Afro Beats at 11:15 and an official welcome by the FoCo Juneteenth committee at noon.

The day will continue with live music, theater and art presentations, free workshops, book readings, booths for BIPOC-owned businesses and performances by the Fale African Drum and Dance Collective, Saja Butler, Julia Kirkwood, Elmer Funk Band and Kid Astronaut

The June 19 events begin at 8 a.m. with a Father's Day 5K at Foothills mall followed by a day of offerings at Rolland Moore Park, including a three-on-three morning basketball tournament, Father's Day tribute and live music.

For a full schedule of events or registration information for the weekend's family bike ride or Father's Day 5K, visit focojuneteenth.com.

Rebecca Powell is a content strategist at the Coloradoan, working to connect our community with the answers they seek. Contact her at RebeccaPowell@coloradoan.com. The Coloradoan can't do the important work of keeping our community informed without you. Support us by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Juneteenth closures for Fort Collins, Loveland in 2022