MARSHALL — There will be a few different ways for people to celebrate Juneteenth this week. Event organizers in Marshall said this year, activities will be held at different times throughout the day, with the addition of a new food truck event downtown.

The schedule of events includes Juneteenth stories and activities for kids with the Family Summer Reading Program, and an evening of music and games at Justice Park.

Juneteenth, or “Freedom Day,” commemorates the day slavery ended in Galveston, Texas, in 1865. While the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, it wasn’t able to be put in effect in all areas of the U.S. until after the end of the Civil War.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.

On Wednesday, there will be a few different events in Marshall celebrating Juneteenth. At 10:15 a.m., the Marshall-Lyon County Library’s Family Summer Reading Program will include Juneteenth stories and activities. The Story Walk at the library will also feature the story of Opal Lee, the “grandmother of Juneteenth.”

During the month of June, visitors to the library can also see the traveling exhibit “TESTIFY: Americana from Slavery to Today.” This exhibit includes art and artifacts from the eras of slavery and Jim Crow, that were collected by Diane and Alan Page.

A new Juneteenth event in Marshall this year will be a gathering of food trucks on North Third Street downtown. Food and live music will be available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Juneteenth events will continue later on Wednesday evening at Justice Park. The program will start with a welcome and speakers at 5 p.m. The Titambe West African Drum & Dance Ensemble will perform at 5:30 p.m. Finally, from 6:30-8 p.m., people can enjoy games of SINGO and music from Push Play Entertainment.

In case of inclement weather, the Justice Park events will move to the MERIT Center on County Road 33 in Marshall, said Jasmine DeSmet, one of the event organizers with the city of Marshall.