As temperatures get back up into the upper 90 degrees on Thursday, many Denverites will be enjoying the mid-June day off for Juneteenth.

Denver weather: Warmup Wednesday before record heat coming for Friday, Saturday

The holiday, a portmanteau of June 19 — the day it is celebrated— commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people were freed in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth was designated as a paid federal holiday by President Joe Biden in 2021. Denver celebrated its annual Juneteenth festival last weekend in Five Points, honoring the culture and history of Black people in the neighborhood.

Denver's Juneteenth Parade and Music Festival draws thousands in Five Points

The federal holiday will also close government offices throughout metro Denver, including the Mayor’s Office, City Council, the Clerk and Recorder, the Auditor and most other city agencies, according to a news release from the Denver Mayor’s Office.

Like on all recognized city holidays, parking meters will be free on Thursday, according to the release.

Remaining open will be emergency and 24-hour services such as Denver Health, Denver International Airport, the Denver Police Department and Denver Fire. Additionally, events at arts and venues — including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex and the McNichols Civic Center Building — will not be affected by the holiday. 

The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, including the Denver Animal Shelter and the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, will be closed to the public. Night Drop kennels will be open and can be accessed to the left of the front doors if a pet is found while the shelter is closed.

The Denver County Court, as well as all state operated courts — including Denver District Court, Juvenile Court and Probate Court — will be closed for the holiday. Additionally, Denver Motor Vehicle Registration will be closed as well.

Denver Human Services will be closed for the holiday, but child and adult protection emergency response teams wand telephone hotlines will be active. Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships will also be closed; those who would like to file a discrimination complaint or request accommodations should do so through the city’s website.

Additionally all Denver Public Library Locations will be closed, according to the release.

Denver Workforce Centers will be closed as well though people can email workforce@denvergov.org or go to the city’s website for online resources.

The next federal holiday will be Independence Day on Friday, July 4.