Check Out the 2022 Emancipation Day Celebration Plans for Saturday

From the Mayor’s Office:

“On Saturday, April 16, at 2:00 p.m., Mayor Muriel Bowser will kick off the celebration of the 160^th Anniversary of DC Emancipation Day. DC Emancipation Day honors the day President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, which freed over 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia.

The celebration kicks off at 2:00 p.m. with Mayor Bowser leading the DC Emancipation Day parade. The parade route is along Pennsylvania Ave NW (between 10^th and 14^th Streets NW) and will feature the DC Statehood Food Truck Palooza on the north side of Freedom Plaza. Food trucks on site will include gourmet hot dogs, soul food, pizza, ribs, Mexican food, and others.

Following the parade, at 3:00 p.m., the family-friendly All Star Emancipation Day Concert at Freedom Plaza will feature performances by Ceelo Green, Junkyard Band, Crystal Waters, Slick Rick, DJ Kool, Dior Ashley Brown and the Filthy Animals, Ramsey Renee, Alfredo Mojica & Friends, Crochet Kingpin, Jessey Lee, The Eastern High School Marching Band, The Nation’s Capital Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc., and Miss District of Columbia 2021 Andolyn Medina singing our National Anthem.

Former Washington Commanders player and sports personality Fred Smoot, Radio and Television personality Steph Lova, along with “Good Things DC” co-hosts Kinosha Soden, Brit Jones, and Leiah Rocheleau will host the event. The concert is free and open to the public.

Festivities will conclude with fireworks at Freedom Plaza at 8:30 p.m. 

To learn more about the day’s events, visit dcemancipationday.com.

2:00PM           PARADE 

Starting Location: Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and 10^th Street NW

(Parade route Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between 10^th and 14^th Streets, NW)

Ending Location: Freedom Plaza – 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

                        DC STATEHOOD FOOD TRUCK PALOOZA

                        (North side of Freedom Plaza between 13^th and 14^th Streets NW)

3:00PM           EMANCIPATION DAY CONCERT

Freedom Plaza, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

8:00PM           EMANCIPATION DAY FIREWORKS

Freedom Plaza, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

*Closest Metro Stations for all events: Metro Center and Federal Triangle Stations*

*Closest Bikeshare Station for all events: Ronald Reagan Building*”

From MPD:

“On Saturday, April 16, 2022, the 2022 Emancipation Day Celebration will take place in the District of Columbia. In conjunction with this event, there will be parking restrictions and street closures that motorists should take into consideration:

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking and closed for public safety to vehicle traffic on Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 6:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.:

E Street from 13th Street to 14th Street, NW
Pennsylvania Avenue from 12th Street to 14th Street, NW
13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking and closed for public safety to vehicle traffic on Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.:

10th Street between E Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking and closed for public safety to vehicle traffic on Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.:

Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th Street to 14th Street, NW
10th Street, between E Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
11th Street, between E Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
12th Street, between E Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
13th Street, from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
E Street, between 13th Street and 14th Street, NW”