The City of Palm Springs will celebrate the Juneteenth holiday one day early with a special family-friendly celebration on Saturday, June 18.

The event, featuring free camel rides, food and music, will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview Road. In addition, local community leaders will be on hand with educational materials to inform residents about the significance of Juneteeth.

Juneteen is federal holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, the aftermath of the Civil War, slaves were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.