Florida
How to honor and celebrate Juneteenth in South Florida
The Juneteenth holiday has been celebrated amongst Black communities for over one-and-a-half centuries.
The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that the end of slavery was announced in Galveston, Texas, despite President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
The day is recognized as the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
However, the U.S. government only more recently recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by Congress.
This year, South Florida communities and the rest of the country will celebrate the holiday on Thursday, June 19th.
And as the holiday nears, there is much to know about the significance of the day and ways in which you can celebrate it across South Florida.
What will be closed on the Holiday and what services have different scheduling?
- The U.S. Postal Service will be closed on June 19, and there will be no mail deliveries.
- UPS and FedEx pickup and delivery services will be available, and their store locations will be open on June 19, according to the companies’ websites.
- The Federal Reserve System and the New York Stock Exchange will be closed on Thursday, June 19.
- All federal agencies will be closed on Thursday, including the DMV and Social Security Administration.
- Most federal, state and city employees get the day off. Many private employers give workers the day off to observe the holiday.
- Most private businesses, including national retailers, will be open on Juneteenth.
Where can I find celebrations in South Florida?
Looking for ways to celebrate in South Florida? Well, we’ve got you covered. The following are some notable celebrations that you can look forward to:
The Miami Juneteenth Festival: On June 18th at the Griffing Center, experience performances by national and local artists, vendors showcasing Black-owned businesses, as well as interactive exhibits and activities to honor Juneteenth. The event will run from noon to 11 p.m., and for more information on this year’s festival, visit their website.
Juneteenth at Miami Children’s Museum: On June 19th at the Miami Children’s Museum, families can experience a day at the museum, celebrating Juneteenth with hands-on art activities that look into and educate on the themes of freedom, heritage and community. Visitors can also create and design “freedom crowns,” and be a part of a collaborative quilt project inspired by African American quilting traditions. The experience is included with regular museum admission. For more information on this celebration, visit their website and learn more.
The Juneteenth Experience at the Colony Theatre: From June 18th through the 19th, each night at 7:30 p.m., the Colony Theatre will be putting on a concert-theater experience that features “a blend of soulful melodies, gospel rhythms, and classical arrangements with spoken word and dance to creating a space where liberation and freedom are not just commemorated but deeply felt,” according to the show’s website. Additionally, the event will begin with selected short films exploring themes of Black liberation, followed by a performance. For more information on this event and to purchase tickets, visit their website.
Free Family Fun Day: Celebrating Juneteenth: On June 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., HistoryMiami Museum is hosting their monthly Saturday programming series, where this upcoming weekend will feature a discussion of Black history through interactive experiences, guided tours and creative expression to honor Juneteenth. The event is free to all for admission. For more information and the link to claim a ticket, visit the website.
Touch Money the Label: Juneteenth Celebration: On June 19th at 8:00 p.m., a night of music and cultural expression will take place at Electric 23 in Wynwood. The event will feature live performances and DJ sets rooted in Afrobeat, Soca, hip-hop and Caribbean sounds. For more information and the link to claim a ticket, visit the website.
Uhuru: A Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom and Liberation: On June 19th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Barry University will honor Juneteenth with an interactive evening of cultural expression, historical reflection and community connection. Additionally, a keynote will be presented by historian Dr. Tameka Hobbs. The celebration is presented by South Florida People of Color in collaboration with Barry University. The event is free and for more information visit the website to learn more.
City of Miami Beach OnStage! Presents: Juneteenth – A Day of Freedom: On June 19th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. a procession, live drumline and contemporary dance performance will kick off an evening commemorating the significance of the Juneteenth holiday. The event is presented by the City of Miami Beach and the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District starting at Euclid Oval and ending at 1100 Lincoln Road. Following the outdoor performances, people can go to the Colony Theatre at 7:30 p.m. for the fifth annual Juneteenth Experience, a multidisciplinary concert theater performance centered on the theme of non-erasure and the contributions of Black South Florida communities. The events are free and open to all, so for more information, visit the website.
For the first time since the end of 2024, Florida’s unemployment rate went down last month.
A report released Friday by the Department of Commerce shows the state’s jobless rate for June at 4.7%, a reduction from 4.8% the prior two months. The rate is still 0.5 percentage points higher than the national average.
Driven by increases in restaurant, hotel, health care, transportation, and warehousing jobs last month, the state saw an 11,100 increase, 0.1%, in overall new positions from May to June.
The June numbers show 525,000 Floridians qualified as out-of-work, up 107,000 from a year earlier, from a workforce of 11.14 million, up 56,000 in the same time.
The state’s unemployment rate had been on a gradual upward trend since ticking down from 3.5% in November 2024 to 3.4% in December 2024.
Nationally, the jobless rate stands at 4.2%, up from 4.1% a year earlier.
Even with the one-month decline, the state’s unemployment rate stands 0.9 percentage points higher than a year ago.
Construction jobs have decreased by 3,200 over the past year, including a 900 drop from May to June. Positions in the retail trade were up 100 from May to June but still are down 5,900 from a year earlier.
The field of finance and insurance reported adding 1,600 positions in the past month, but is still down 8,700 over the year.
Real estate jobs dropped by 1,000 and are down 4,200 over the last 12 months.
Governments in Florida shed 900 jobs in the past month and 10,500 over the year, with the federal government accounting for 7,700 of the decrease over the past year.
The biggest gain over the past year involved health care and social assistance, adding 5,500 in the past month and 32,400 on the year.
The area of transportation, warehousing, and utilities grew by 4,100 in June, which put the field at a positive 900 over the past year.
Manufacturing is up 400 on the year after reporting the addition of 600 positions in June.
Educational services, which are up 6,600 jobs on the year, posted a drop of 500 jobs in the June report.
Hotel and food service jobs grew by 4,000 in the June report but remain down 2,700 from a year earlier.
South Florida continues to have the lowest unemployment rate, with the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan statistical area at 3.9%, up from a revised 3.7% in May and 3.3% in June 2025.
The Orlando and Panama City regions were next at 4.6%.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area was at 4.7%. Jacksonville, Naples and Melbourne were at 4.8%. Pensacola and Sarasota both stood at 4.9%.
Tallahassee has a 5 % unemployment rate, followed by Daytona Beach at 5.3%, Gainesville at 5.5%, Vero Beach at 5.6% and Lakeland at 5.7%.
The Wildwood region, including The Villages has the highest unemployment rate at 7.8%, followed by Homosassa Springs at 6.7% and Sebring at 6.6%.
Copyright 2026 WUWF
The Florida Lotto jackpot has been climbing steadily for weeks. On Saturday, July 18, 2026, the prize had grown to $2.75 million.
Recently, a trip to the grocery store really paid off: A $2 Florida Lotto ticket made someone a multimillionaire.
Because as they say in the lottery business, “it could happen to you.”
One ticket matched all six numbers in the $6.75 million Florida Lotto drawing on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, a few days before July Fourth.
After four rollovers, including the most recent one on Wednesday, July 15, the Florida Lotto has grown to $2.75 million for Saturday, July 18. That follows the National Lottery Day holiday, which was Friday, July 17. Check back after 11:15 p.m. ET for Saturday’s winning numbers. We’ll see if there’s a winner or another rollover.
In case you’re wondering, Wednesday’s winning Florida Lotto numbers were 13-17-31-37-38-45. Double Play numbers were 3-8-18-22-35-38.
Who won $6.75 million Florida Lotto drawing Wednesday, July 1, 2026?
Was it you?
The Wednesday, July 1, 2026, winning Florida Lotto numbers were 4-5-25-33-42-52. Double Play numbers were 7-17-22-44-46-47. According to the Florida Lottery’s site, there was another perfect match in Fort Lauderdale just before the July Fourth holiday.
The quick pick ticket was purchased from Publix, 1415 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is worth $6,750,000. On Saturday, July 11, the ticket was reported as claimed with the Fort Lauderdale winner opting for the one-time lump sum of $3.6 million, the state’s lottery posted on its site.
Below is what to know about lottery odds, how long to claim the cash option if you bought a ticket in Florida, and what happens to unclaimed prize money, according to the Florida Lottery.
Winning Florida Lotto numbers for Saturday, July 18, 2026?
Florida Lotto drawings are at 11:15 p.m. ET every Wednesday and Saturday, including holidays. Check back for Saturday, July 18, winning Florida Lotto numbers. We’ll see if there’s a winner or another rollover.
How do you play the Florida Lotto?
According to Florida Lottery game rules, Florida Lotto players pick 6 numbers between 1 and 53 or select a Quick Pick ticket. There are prizes for matching three to six numbers. Players who match two of 6 winning Florida Lotto numbers get a free ticket.
The Florida Lottery site states game add-ons include Double Play for $1, a bonus drawing where players could win up to $250,000 using the same numbers (Double Play drawings are held immediately after Florida Lotto drawings). Another Florida Lotto game add-on is EZmatch for $1 per play. If players match any EZmatch number to their Florida Lotto numbers, they instantly win that prize.
Tickets start at $2. Good luck!
When was the last Florida Lotto won? How long has the jackpot rolled over?
Florida Lotto drawing for the 2026 July Fourth holiday started fresh at $1 million after a ticket from a Fort Lauderdale Publix store won the Wednesday, July 1, 2026, drawing.
The new streak for Florida Lotto reset to $1 million for the Saturday, July 4, 2026, drawing. Below is a recap of lottery drawings for the latest streak.
When is the next Florida Lotto drawing? What are the odds, chances of winning Florida Lotto lottery?
Florida Lotto drawings are held at 11:15 p.m. ET on Wednesdays and Saturdays, including holidays. According to floridalottery.com, players have a 1 in 22,957,480 chance to match all six numbers whether the jackpot is $1 million or $36 million. Prizes range from $2 to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.
The next Florida Lotto drawing will be on Wednesday, July 22.
How long do you have to cash in a Florida Lottery ticket?
Prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it.
Does the Florida Lottery reveal lottery winners? Can you stay anonymous if you win lottery in Florida?
According to Florida Lottery’s website, winners cannot remain anonymous: “Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner’s name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information.”
However, the site states, the “names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”
Does Walmart sell lottery tickets? Where to buy lottery tickets in Florida
In Florida, most gas stations and some grocery stores sell lottery tickets. It’s harder to find a gas station that doesn’t sell Powerball, Mega Millions, Florida Lottery and scratch-off tickets than it is to find one that does.
Publix also sells lottery tickets and is known for selling many winning tickets. A lesser-known location is Walmart. Whether the Walmart location closest to you sells lottery tickets depends on your state and the store. Many Walmart locations in Florida have self-service lottery ticket vending machines or sell lottery tickets at the customer service desk.
You can use the “Where to Play” search tool on the Florida Lottery website to find a grocery store or gas station near you that sells lottery tickets.
(This story will be updated to include new information.)
Lianna Norman and Jennifer Sangalang are trending reporters for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, lotteries, rocket launches, Florida wildlife, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
Florida
Area to watch for tropical development in Gulf to bring downpours to drought-stricken Florida | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather
Area to watch for tropical development in Gulf to bring downpours to drought-stricken Florida
While this area to watch for tropical development may not actually become tropical, it will definitely bring rain to Florida, which desperately needs it. The system is likely to bring the most significant rain to the Florida panhandle down south to Tampa, but the entire state can expect some moisture through midweek next week.
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