U.S. Embassy To Close For Juneteenth Holiday

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Published on Thursday, June 18, 2026

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The U.S. Embassy in Pavas Canton, San José, including its Consular Section, will be closed Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, a U.S. federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

The embassy will reopen Monday, June 22, and resume normal public hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, marks the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday commemorates events that took place on June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, nearly three years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862.

According to ShareAmerica, the official online platform of the U.S. Department of State, Texas, which was part of the Confederacy during the Civil War, had largely ignored Lincoln’s proclamation. As a result, Army Gen. Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops traveled to the port city of Galveston to announce that enslaved people were free.

On June 19, 1865, Granger stood on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa and publicly read General Order No. 3, which began: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

The announcement sparked celebrations among formerly enslaved people in Galveston, who rejoiced in the streets.

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However, Granger’s order did not immediately transform life for all newly freed people in Texas. Many who left plantations on their own faced violent reprisals, including murder, for exercising their newfound freedom.

Despite those hardships, formerly enslaved communities turned June 19 into an annual celebration of freedom and resilience in the face of injustice.

Today, Juneteenth celebrations across the United States often include music festivals, parades and marches. Observances also emphasize education about African American history and culture, civic engagement and economic empowerment.

Juneteenth is one of 11 annual federal holidays in the United States. Federal employees receive a paid day off, and most federal offices are closed in observance of the holiday.

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Have you heard of expatriates celebrating Juneteenth in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com