Grand Rapids Will Allow Fireworks For The Juneteenth Holiday

Juneteenth was made a federal holiday last year and now the City of Grand Rapids will allow residents and visitors to light fireworks.

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What is Juneteenth?

Juneteeth is a federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. A quarter of a million slaves in the state were set free by executive decree. This day became known as "Juneteenth."

Juneteenth's official name is Juneteenth National Independence Day but also has other names such as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Black Independence Day.

Juneteenth Federal Holiday

President Joe Biden signed the bill on June 17, 2021, that made Juneteenth the 11th American federal holiday. The bill states that federal government employees will now get to take the day off every year on June 19 or the closest Monday or Friday the actual date falls on. This is the first federal holiday to be added since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

Fireworks Legal in Grand Rapids For Juneteenth Celebrations

WOOD-TV reported the City of Grand Rapids has added Juneteenth (June 19) to their list of days where residents and visitors can legally set off fireworks.

Complete List of Holidays and Dates to Legally Light Fireworks in Grand Rapids

New Year's Eve - 11 a.m. December 21 to 1 a.m. New Year's Day January 1

Memorial Weekend - 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day

Juneteenth - 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on June 19

Independence Day -  11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. June 29 to July 4

Labor Day Weekend - 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day