On April 16, 1862, while the Civil War still raged, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the Compensated Emancipation Act, which released 3,100 enslaved persons held in involuntary servitude in the District of Columbia. This law struck a mighty blow against slavery that led to the Emancipation Proclamation nine months later.

Until the early 1900s, yearly DC Emancipation Day celebrations were the most important observance in the African-American community in Washington, DC – exceeding the Fourth of July, Christmas and New Year holidays.

Here's a listing of some of the things going on through the weekend:

What: Reading of the names of the formerly enslaved and wreath laying ceremony
When: Saturday, April 15, at 9 a.m.
Where: Lincoln Park (E. Capital St. NE; between 11th and 13th Streets).

What: Emancipation Day Celebration Concert
When: Sunday, April 16, at 2:30 p.m.
Where: All Souls Church (1500 Harvard Street, NW; 16th and Harvard Streets NW)

What: Parade
When: Monday, April 17 at 11 a.m.
Where: Pennsylvania Ave. NW from 4th to 14th Streets

What: Program
When: Monday, April 17, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Freedom Plaza (Pennsylvania Ave. NW between 13th and 14th Streets)

What: Bell Ringing by the Washington Ringing Society
When: Monday, April 17, at 3 p.m.
Where: Old Post Office Pavilion (1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW)

What: Entertainment
When: Monday, April 17, at 3:15 p.m.
Where: Freedom Plaza

What: Concert
When: Monday, April 17, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Freedom Plaza

What: Fireworks
When: Monday, April 17, at 8:15 p.m.
Where: Freedom Plaza

The picture above is Emancipation Day on April 19, 1866 as represented on a wood engraving sketch by F. Dielman. It came from this webpage, "History of DC Emancipation" at dc.gov.