Welcome to the Juneteenth Parade Planning Hub for
2026 Ward 7 Juneteenth Parade
Parade Assembly: 9:00AM
Start Time: 11:00AM
2026 Juneteenth Parade & Opal's Walk for Freedom
Friday, June 19
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Join us in celebrating Juneteenth with a vibrant and inclusive parade in Ward 7, in the District of Columbia.
Juneteenth, observed on June 19, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. This historic day is a time for reflection, celebration, and community building. Our parade aims to honor this significant milestone while showcasing the rich culture and history of our community.
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Pre-Parade Event
Opal Lee's
Walk for Freedom
Opal Lee began this walk as a campaign to make Juneteenth a federal holiday which was achieved in 2021.
Opal’s Walk is an annual 2.5-mile walk celebrating “Freedom For All” as the nation celebrates its 250 birthday and Ms. Lee celebrates her 100th birthday. The 2.5-mile distance represents the 2.5 years (1863–1865) between the Emancipation Proclamation and June 19, 1865, when freedom was announced in Galveston, Texas.
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Pre-Parade Event
Opal's Walk Routes
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To celebrate the 5th year of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, this year’s walk will occur simultaneously at 10:00am EST in ten cities across the United States. Washington, DC is slated as the flagship city and the Ward 7 Juneteenth Planning Committee has agreed to lead this effort.
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Opal’s Walk will assemble at 7:00am and start at 10:00am.
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The streets will close at 7:00 AM and reopen at the end of the parade at approximately 1:00 PM. We will work with the appropriate agencies to reopen the impacted streets after the walk has passed.
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Opal’s Walk will start at East Washington Heights Baptist Church located at 2220 Branch Ave SE #3340, Washington, DC 20020. The walk ends inside of Fort Dupont Park along Fort Dupont Drive.
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Participants will begin by heading northwest on Branch Avenue SE, then turn right (east) on Randle Circle SE into Fort Dupont Park, ending inside of the park. Walkers will exit the park via Randle Circle to Massachusetts Ave. SE but are encouraged to sit in the picnic area and/or watch the Juneteenth Parade and enjoy post parade activities.
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Opal’s Walk Registration - $35 (includes t-shirt). No vehicles, floats, or structures (entities with vehicles are encouraged to register for the Parade.
Assembly Time: 8:00AM Walk Starts: 10:00AM Distance: 2.5 Miles
