Denver's free Juneteenth celebration returns to the historic Five Points neighborhood starting tomorrow — bigger and bolder with a three-day extravaganza.

Why it matters: Organizers expanded this year's festival after scaling back some of last year's programming when corporate sponsorship waned amid broader DEI rollbacks.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. Event supporters say it should be viewed as an American celebration, not just a Black holiday.

What's happening: Local festivities include tomorrow's ticketed Southern Soul Plaza Party, a parade beginning at Manual High School tomorrow and a Sunday crawl to showcase local bars and cultural spaces.

• Grammy-nominated R&B artist SiR will headline Saturday's music festival. Local radio station The Drop 104.7 is the event's sponsor.
• If you go: Events take place at 27th Street and Welton Street.

Flashback: Although the official festival marks its 15th anniversary this year, the celebration has been around "for generations," organizer Norman Harris III told Westword.

Zoom out: The holiday is surviving the corporate DEI backlash by growing quieter and more routine.

• Juneteenth remains a federal holiday, and President Trump cannot cancel it unilaterally.

Catch up quick: President Biden made Juneteenth into a federal holiday in 2021 after Congress passed the measure with broad bipartisan support.

Yes, but: Trump has moved to make it less prominent symbolically.

• He declined to issue a Juneteenth proclamation in 2025, posting on Truth Social that America has "too many non-working holidays."

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Colorado is among 33 states and D.C. that give most state government workers a paid day off for Juneteenth this year, per the Pew Research Center.

Why it matters: States differ considerably on how to mark the day.

Flashback: Colorado recognized June 19 as a paid holiday in 2022.

By the numbers: 30 states plus D.C. consider Juneteenth a legal holiday, meaning it's a paid day off written into law, per the Congressional Research Service.

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The hardest bagel to get your hands on right now may be at Milly's Bagels, a tiny new shop on Pearl Street in West Wash Park.

The big picture: Milly's, which specializes in sourdough bagels, held its grand opening over the weekend and has drawn lines out the door ever since.

• So far, the shop has sold out daily, staff say. By 10:42am yesterday, just five bagels remained — all plain. By 10:54am, they were gone.

Between the lines: Location may be at play. Wash Park has no shortage of coffee shops, but until now it lacked a dedicated bagel shop.

Zoom in: Founder Milly Lorden, a St. Louis native, ran the business from her home for roughly a year before opening the storefront, BusinessDen reports.

• As a nod to her roots, customers can order bagels "St. Louis style," — sliced into strips to share and dip into cream cheese.
• "It's kind of controversial," Lorden told the Denver Post.

💭 My thought bubble: With only plain bagels left, I didn't quite get the full Milly's experience.

• My egg and cheese sandwich was tasty for sure— I finished every bite — but after 30 minutes in line, I found myself wondering whether the hype and payoff were perfectly aligned.

If you go: Arrive early, and be prepared to wait.

• 🤔 Then tell us: Did it live up to the buzz?

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⚖️ A Denver police officer got probation after pleading guilty to drunk driving following his arrest last December. He remains with the agency pending an internal review. (Denver Post 🔑)

💰 Republican gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx must return thousands of dollars in campaign contributions alleged to exceed legal limits, as he faces more than 150 complaints of excessive donations. (CBS Colorado)

🛑 A proposed gate in Bow Mar is sparking a standoff with Denver. Citing safety concerns, the town wants to restrict access, but Mayor Johnston says the city may build a barrier of its own in response. (9News)

The wild story of a cross-country trip involving 10 Boulder horses highlighted the bicentennial celebration in Colorado nearly 50 years ago.

Flashback: The saga began in late 1975, when seven people left on horseback to reenact the admission to statehood 100 years earlier.

• The goal was to reach D.C. and present a "statehood petition" for President Gerald Ford to sign. Then the group would return for Colorado Day on Aug. 1, 1976.

Yes, but: Five riders quit along the way, leaving Chuck and Kathy Payne to complete the four-month expedition by themselves.

They eventually made it, but Ford was too busy to see them.

😬 Then came the real trouble. The two had leased 10 horses from a Boulder ranch for the trip, but were accused of selling and ditching most of them when the other travelers dropped out.

Shortly after, Chuck Payne was charged with felony theft. He briefly fought extradition to Colorado while living in Las Vegas, then made one last trip before surrendering to local authorities.

The bottom line: Let's hope Colorado 150, America 250 celebrants stay out of such trouble.

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