North America's longest running Emancipation Day festival continues 160 years of summer picnics with three days of music and food, reunion and reflection, at Harrison Park and Grey Roots Museum over the Civic Holiday weekend.

Its roots were from the hard-won abolishment of slavery in the British Commonwealth, celebrated every August by the local families who had escaped actual slavery in the American south.

They took the Underground Railroad as far north as it went – here, to the base of the Saugeen peninsula – founding a community that persists and resonates, creating an influence that has informed national conversations from its local roots.

And they also began an annual tradition that has become a gift not only to the generations of descendants that followed, but to our modern inclusive community at large.

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The 161st Emancipation Festival celebration will take place from Friday, Aug. 4, to Sunday, Aug. 6, in Owen Sound, the most northern terminus of the Underground Railroad and the longest continuous running emancipation picnic in North America.

It will also be the third Emancipation Day celebration since Bill M-36 was unanimously passed in the House of Commons to officially recognize this significant day across Canada.

Angela Blackburn is a grandmother and a descendant of the Black community in Owen Sound who has been involved since she was a child.

“I’ve been going to the festival before it was a festival, when it was just a picnic," she said. "Our whole family would go up to Owen Sound, take over the entire motel, and party all night.

"It’s my family history. I enjoy seeing the young folks and making sure they’re having a good time, and I’m looking forward to making the pancake breakfast."

Friday, August 4 – Grey Roots Museum & Archives – $25 admission (purchase online)
      6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

• Welcome remarks by Bruce Johnson, Vice Chair, Emancipation Festival;
• Opening remarks by Ovid Jackson, former Member of Parliament and Mayor of Owen Sound;
• Speaking engagements by:
  • Joan John, Councillor, Township of Southgate and community changemaker;
  • Dr. Deepikaa Gupta, Local Immigration Partnership Manager, Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership;
  • Tony Miller, Artist and Storyteller and Rob Green, Artist and Storyteller;
• Entertainment by Bobby Dean Blackburn

Saturday, August 5 – Emancipation Festival & Picnic, Harrison Park
      9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Crier of the Emancipation Bruce Kruger`s ringing in ceremony;
• Welcome remarks by Mayor Ian Boddy;
• Black History Cairn talk by Bonita Johnson deMatteis;
• Entertainment by:
  • Josh Ritchie (rock & roll)
  • Ruth Mathiang (traditional & Afrobeat)
  • Chippewa Travellers (Aniishinaabeg family drummers)
  • Jay Douglas (reggae & blues);
• Displays, food, other activities, with special guests UGRR9 cyclists from Maryland.

Saturday's event is free and donations are welcome.

Sunday, August 6 – Gospel Sunday, Grey Roots Museum & Archives
      12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

• Entertainment by:
  • Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley (blues and gospel);
  • Bobby Dean Blackburn (rhythm & blues, jazz and gospel);

This event is also free; donations are welcome.

“I am humbled to be a part of a caring community who is so passionate about preserving a 160+-year legacy to honour Black ancestors,” said Alison Turnbull, Chair of the Emancipation Festival.

“As a not-for-profit organization, we are grateful for the support of funders, sponsors, partners, donors and volunteers, particularly the Government of Canada, the Black Business Initiative, Bruce Power Generation, Escape to Grey Bruce, the Milk Maid, Bayshore Broadcasting’s Mix 106.5 and 560 CFOS, Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership, Grey Roots Museum & Archives, Grey County and the City of Owen Sound.”

The Emancipation Festival, originally called the Emancipation Day Picnic, commemorates the British Commonwealth Emancipation Act of August 1, 1834.

Since 1862, descendants of those who escaped slavery and found freedom and peace in Canada, gather in Owen Sound’s beautiful Harrison Park and other places such as the Grey Roots Museum and Archives over the Civic holiday weekend.

This is a time for fellowship and reflection with family and community, to share memories, and keep the picnic and other traditions alive for future generations.

More information about the Emancipation Festival not-for-profit organization is on their website and Facebook page.

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source: media release, Owen Sound Emancipation Festival

– Hub file photographs
    by David Galway