Celebrate Juneteenth in Fort Worth

Fort Worth, Texas is the hometown of Opal Lee, a civil rights leader widely known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” whose lifelong advocacy helped lead to Juneteenth becoming a U.S. federal holiday. A retired educator and community activist, Lee has spent decades championing awareness of Juneteenth and its significance in American history.

Each year, Opal Lee leads the symbolic “Walk for Freedom,” a 2.5-mile walk representing the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach enslaved people in Texas after it was issued in 1863. The walk has become a powerful public tradition honoring freedom, remembrance and progress toward equality.

In 2020, Lee helped drive national momentum for Juneteenth by delivering more than 1.5 million signatures in support of establishing it as a federal holiday. Her advocacy was instrumental in Juneteenth being officially recognized as a U.S. federal holiday in 2021.

Her legacy continues in Fort Worth, where plans for the National Juneteenth Museum were announced in 2022, further cementing the city’s role as a cornerstone in preserving Juneteenth history and education.

As Opal Lee has said, “We have simply got to make people aware that none of us are free until we’re all free, and we aren’t free yet.”

Explore all the ways you can celebrate in Fort Worth

Opal's Walk for Freedom

Juneteenth Opal Walk

Save the date for Juneteenth 2027, Dr. Opal Lee will complete her annual 2.5-mile walk to recognize the 2.5 years it took for the news and enforcement of freedom to reach the enslaved people in Texas.

Now a national holiday, Juneteenth celebrates the freedom gained when slavery was abolished all across the country. Unity Unlimited and Ms. Opal continue her walks to educate the nation on the importance of understanding that freedom is for everyone.

Ms. Opal Lee has led the charge to establish Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance for decades. Opal Lee’s vision of Juneteenth has grown from a single day community picnic to a multi-day celebration that includes a parade, breakfast of prayer, pageant, Health and Job Fair, 5K and much more. Visit NationalJuneteenthMuseum.com for more information on the development of the highly anticipated project.

Honoring Miss Opal Lee

The Barbie Inspiring Women collection honors extraordinary women from all fields who inspire future generations. Our next addition to the collection is Dr. Opal Lee, a teacher, counselor, and award-winning activist. This legendary leader led the charge to make Juneteenth a national holiday, succeeding in 2021 and earning her the nickname “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” Our doll tribute to this visionary wears a signature look for her annual Opal’s Walk for Freedom, including white joggers, sneakers, and a custom T-shirt.