Emancipation Day 2025 in the United States

Residents of Ohio commemorate the abolishment of slavery on Emancipation Day, which falls on September 22. Some other states have similar celebrations, but they fall on different dates.

Is Emancipation Day a Public Holiday?

Emancipation Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

What Do People Do?

Emancipation Day has been observed annually since 1863 in Gallia County in southeastern Ohio, so this celebration is most widely known and usually attracts more than 2000 visitors from Ohio and the rest of the United States. Today's celebration includes concerts, historical re-enactments, food, and a wide range of other activities.

Public Life

Emancipation Day is not a public holiday in Ohio, but it is a state-wide observation. Offices, banks, businesses and schools are normally open, although this may vary in some cases.

Background

On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued a preliminary proclamation, which required all states to abandon slavery within 100 days. It declared all slaves “thenceforth and forever more free”. The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863.

The abolishment of slavery in the United States is celebrated on different dates in other parts of the country. For example, Texas commemorates the liberation of the last remaining slaves on Juneteenth, while residents of Washington DC celebrate Emancipation Day on April 16 each year, remembering the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862.

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.