Emancipation Day (Regional) Calendar When: April 17, 2017 all-day 2017-04-17T00:00:00-05:00 2017-04-18T00:00:00-05:00 Where: USA Holiday Washington DC Only. Weekday closest to April 16th. Washington DC Only. Marks the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia in 1862. A regional holiday in Washington DC. Information provided by www.officeholidays.com