163rd Owen Sound Emancipation Festival on August 1-3: Here's What You Need to Know
Owen Sound’s 163rd annual Emancipation Festival returns August 1–3, celebrating freedom, heritage, and community with music, storytelling, and reflection at Harrison Park, Grey Roots & BME Church.
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, have gathered 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 to keep the picnic and other traditions alive for future generations.
The Owen Sound Emancipation Festival is dedicated to inform and educate, and to recognize and celebrate those who made the Underground Railroad journey possible -- from Slavery to Freedom.
Descendants of Blacks who came via the Underground Railroad to settle in freedom gather at the Emancipation Celebration Picnic every August long weekend, to reminisce and enjoy a time of fellowship.
It is an opportunity to give homage to those who paved the way for our emancipation; to celebrate with family, friends, and community; and to celebrate our integration into the local, regional, and national neighbourhood.
This year, we will celebrate the 163rd annual Emancipation Picnic and Festival – this is the longest and most continuous festival in North America!
Speaker’s Corner
6:00pm, Friday August 1 at Grey Roots Museum
An evening of engaging dialogue with educators, historians and descendants of freedom seekers with Bobby Dean Blackburn (music during reception); speakers Carolynn and Sylvia Wilson, Co-owners, Sheffield Park Black History Museum; and Honouring our Ancestors presentation and dance performance
Admission fee is $25 (advance purchases online. Doors open at 6. Event starts at 7. Space is limited, so don't delay!
Emancipation Festival and Picnic
9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday, August 2 at Harrison Park
Come out and enjoy amazing live entertainment, information booths, food vendors, silent auction, races, and other activities at this signature summer event which welcomes and strengthens family and community connections
9 a.m. – Registration
9:30 a.m. – Ancestors’ breakfast (Harrison Park Community Centre)
11 a.m. – Welcome Freedom Walkers; Greetings and Land Acknowledgement, M`Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre Drummers; Blessing by Pastor Tania Meikle; Welcome by dignitaries and other special guests; Black History Cairn storytelling by Bonita Johnson-deMatteis
Noon – 6 p.m.
Live entertainment - Joel Morelli, Kaiya Cade Smith Blackburn and Bobby Dean Blackburn (Pavillion stage)
Enjoy the performances, mingle, eat, visit the information booths, food vendors, check out the silent auction and other activities, races and prize draws throughout the day!
5 - 9 p.m.
DJ and Karaoke - Harrison Park Community Centre (all ages welcome)
This event is free. Donations are welcome and appreciated. Help us reach our fundraising target!
Emancipation Festival Gospel Sunday
Noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, at the British Methodist Episcopal Church, 245 11th Street West, Owen Sound
Come out and enjoy some amazing live entertainment in the recently renovated British Methodist Church.
Blessing by Pastor - Rev. Cosmos Dzuda
Entertainment by: Bobby Dean Blackburn, David Sereda & Choir and Trinity Church Choir
Suggested donation of $10+ per person is welcome and appreciated to help us reach our fundraising target!