The longest running Emancipation Day festival in North America is coming up.
The Owen Sound Emancipation Picnic and Festival, is set to go August 1st-3rd.
The city was the most northerly terminus of the Underground Railroad, a secret network of routes used by enslaved people escaping in the United States. The festival started in 1862. The US made the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Festival Board of Directors Secretary Juanita Christmas says, “We’re really excited to host the 163rd Emancipation Festival. We’re kicking off on civic long-weekend which is also Emancipation Day on Friday, August 1st at Speaker’s Corner with our partner Grey Root Museum and Archives.
We have an exciting evening of inspiring discussions. We have Sylvia and Carolynn Wilson from Sheffield Park Black History and Cultural museum, we have special presentations including recognizing our crier Bruce Kruger for his years of service. We will be celebrating other ancestors and we have Bobby Dean Blackburn playing as part of our reception.
On the 2nd of August the Emancipation Festival picnic is due to be held in Harrison Park. Christmas says that starts with a pancake breakfast at 9:30. “We encourage everyone to come down to beautiful Harrison Park early.
At 11 a.m. there will be an opening ceremony at the Black History Cairn. “We have some special guests, a group of walkers from Niagara Falls with their final stretch from Grey Roots led by Ken Johnston,” says Christmas.
There will be live music in the afternoon with Kaiya Cade Smith Blackburn, Chris White, Joel Morelli and Bobby Dean Blackburn and then a DJ and karaoke in the evening in the community centre.
The festival continues with Gospel Sunday on the 3rd. Christmas says, they’re partnering with the BME Church of Owen Sound, noting, “This is where the Emancipation Day festival started back in 1862, so we’re really excited to be bringing it back to the church this year.” That’s scheduled for 12-3 p.m. at the church.
“We have some great entertainment lined up. You can enjoy gospel favourites by Bobby Dean Blackburn, David Sereda and Choir and the Trinity Church Choir.