The First United Baptist Church and CircleUp Middle Peninsula invite the public from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday for a Juneteenth celebration at the church, which is located at 6188 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester.

The celebration is being held to commemorate the independence of enslaved people, a CircleUp release stated.

Those attending are encouraged to bring a chair and be sure to wear a face mask, as the group will be social distancing.

If you do not want to leave your car, you can share in the experience on site with an FM simulcast. The event is being held rain or shine and all are welcome.

For those not familiar with Juneteenth: On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued an executive war order declaring that all enslaved people in the Confederate States of America in rebellion and not in Union hands were to be freed. This is what we know as the Emancipation Proclamation.

More than two months after the war ended, on June 18, 1865, Union Gen. Gordon...