Juneteenth is a national holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States, celebrated every year on June 19.

The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of liberation reached 250,000 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, the Smithsonian Museum says. That was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Observances are often joyful and frequently celebrate the legacies of those who fought for freedom. They come through prayer, family gatherings and food. For many cities, it’s an opportunity to create larger events including parades and festivals.

One historically Black church congregation, Scotland AME Zion Church on Seven Locks Road in Potomac, is hosting a days-long celebration across multiple locations, and capping the celebrations with Montgomery County’s first Juneteenth fireworks show, according to a press release.