 Annually on June 19th, we observe Juneteenth.
The Emancipation Proclamation, declared by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the American Civil War, only freed slaves held in Confederate states. Emancipation did not become a national policy until the Thirteenth Amendment was put in place.
June 19, 1865, known as Juneteenth, is when about 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree.
Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, and became an approved city holiday in 2022.
Juneteenth Events
Saturday, June 15
- 10AM: Annual Juneteenth Parade, hosted by the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce. Route will begin at Heritage Square in downtown Waco and proceed down Washington and Elm avenues to the historic Paul Quinn Campus.
- 10AM-4PM: Juneteenth Community Celebration, hosted by the McLennan County NAACP. Event will take place at Bridge Street Plaza following the parade and will feature music, food and vendors.
- 2PM-9PM: Juneteenth Family Fun Day R&B in the Park, presented by Magic 94.5. Enjoy family activities, food, vendors and live music at Brazos Park East.
Offices Closed
City of Waco offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19 for Juneteenth. Residents with a Wednesday trash collection day will have their gray waste carts and green yard waste carts collected later on Thursday, June 20.
 The Waco Fire Department is bringing back their Cool the Heat program for the summer season. Donate a new in-box fan at your nearest fire station. Our program partners, Mission Waco, will distribute the fans to local individuals and families who need them most, especially during extreme heat emergencies.
For more information, contact Fire Administration at (254) 750-1740.
  As the City of Waco plans for future water needs and the impact the water use has on Lake Waco, Waco City Council has led the way in protecting the residents.
Starting JULY 1st, Waco residents' watering days by address will be limited to 3 days per week (business and residential):
• Odd numbered addresses water Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday
• Even numbered addresses water Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
• No outdoor watering on Fridays
• No outdoor watering between 10 am and 7 pm
Together we can embrace water conservation and ensure we have enough water for our region, because in Texas the next drought could be right around the corner!
 The Municipal Court Youth Offender Prevention Program (YOPP) has been a success since its 2023 debut. Thus far, Judge Garcia has reached over 400 juveniles and young adults through his presentations at area schools and local community centers.
The program was designed to help young people learn about the criminal justice system through courtroom simulations and interactive activities. Some of the topics commonly discussed at a YOPP presentation include relevant laws, search and seizure guidelines, reasonable suspicion and probable cause issues involved in traffic stops and arrests, posting bail and surety bonds, categories and levels of offenses from class C misdemeanors to death penalty cases with corresponding punishments, jail, and prison life, probation, domestic violence, emergency protective orders, and effective communication with lawyers, prosecutors, and judges. Emphasis is placed on young adult and youth-oriented offenses utilizing real-life examples from closed cases that Judge Garcia has handled as a Judge, Jail Magistrate, Prosecutor, and Criminal Defense Lawyer. The program has become so popular statewide that other Courts are referring some defendants to it.
The next YOPP sessions will be held from 6-7 p.m. at the South Waco Community Center on the following dates. For additional questions, please reach out to the Municipal Court at (254) 750-5900.
- June 26, 2024
- July 10, 2024
 Waco-McLennan County Library offers great programs and story times for young children. They also offer programs for teens, young adults and adults.
Check out the online calendar for event dates, times, and locations by clicking below. Make sure to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge!
 Look for donation bins at all Waco Library locations!
With higher temperatures on the horizon, the dogs waiting for their forever homes at the Waco Animal Shelter could use some items to make their summer more bearable.
If you're visiting a Waco-McLennan County Library, bring pet items and add them to our donation bins! We'll see that the shelter gets them and puts them to the best use for our furry friends!
Current needs:
- Kiddie pools to cool off in
- Shelf-stable wet food to freeze into pupsicles
- Frisbees to play with and hold frozen enrichment foods
- Benebone-type chew toys to help with boredom when it's too hot to play outside
- Dry or canned food, tough toys, and treats are always welcome
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