Juneteenth Sunrise Service
Schedule
Sun Jun 21 2026 at 07:00 am to 08:00 am
UTC-04:00Location
Williamsburg Lodge | Williamsburg, VA
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To commemorate the triumphant spirit of the African American journey, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will host its fourth annual Juneteenth Sunrise Service on Sunday, June 21st, at 7 a.m. in the Virginia Room at the Williamsburg Lodge Hotel.The Juneteenth Sunrise Service is inspired by “Watch Night” - also referred to as “Freedom’s Eve” - a tradition in Black churches across the United States born out of the enslaved community’s “waiting for the hour” on the night of December 31, 1862. With the coming dawn, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863.
The first documented Sunrise Service was conducted for Easter in 1732 by the Moravian community in Herrnhut, Germany. It appears that Moravians who came to the American colonies spread the tradition, which was taken up by several denominations, including Black and white churches. Southern Black churches sometimes combined the Easter Sunrise Service with an all-night vigil, such as the Easter Rock, which still survives in Louisiana. Sunrise Services in Black churches also celebrated other significant events, like the fall of Wilmington, North Carolina, to Union forces in February 1865.
Located in the Williamsburg Lodge Virginia Room.
In honor of our Juneteenth, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is offering free admission to the Historic Area on June 19 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. To receive complimentary admission, please add your free tickets to your cart: www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/visit/through-the-seasons/juneteenth
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Where is it happening?
Williamsburg Lodge, 310 S England St,Williamsburg, Virginia, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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