By: Matthew Delaney
The District celebrates Emancipation Day every year on April 16, which commemorates the 1862 act that abolished slavery in D.C. and freed 3,000 slaves.
The holiday falls on a Saturday this year, but you should still expect modifications to some city services in recognition of it.
What’s closed
This year’s Emancipation Day pushes back Tax Day. Since the District is recognizing the holiday on Friday, that means the deadline for taxpayers across the country to file their returns is shifted to Monday, April 18.
There will only be one public library open in each ward on Friday, and all libraries will be online only throughout the weekend.
D.C.’s Department of Motor Vehicles will be closed all day on Friday.
Residents whose normal trash collection day is Friday will be moved to Saturday instead.
Meal distribution sites offered through the Department of Parks and Recreation will be closed Friday, as well as those through D.C. Public Schools, which have been closed all week for spring break.
Pennsylvania Avenue NW (North and South) between 13th and 14th streets NW will be closed for the city’s Emancipation Day festivities.
What’s open
The District’s Emancipation Day parade kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday. After that, there’s a concert starting at 3 p.m. and a fireworks show at 8:30 p.m., all of which will take place at Freedom Plaza in downtown D.C.
Read more at WTOP.
