WASHINGTON — Typically celebrated on April 16, D.C.’s Emancipation Day celebrations kicked off Saturday on Freedom Plaza, a few days before schedule due to Easter Sunday next weekend.

The D.C. holiday marks the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed approximately 3,000 slaves in the District and compensated slave owners for freeing their slaves.[custom_gallery]

WTOP’s Jennifer Ortiz contributed to this report.