Owen Sound Emancipation Festival Marks 164 Years With North Star Theme
The 164th Owen Sound Emancipation Festival returns to Harrison Park with a freedom walk, live music, Inspirational Sunday, and a North Star theme.
by Bonita Johnson DeMatteis
Originally published in The Owen Sounder magazine
Since 1862, descendants of former slaves who settled in this area have come back to celebrate Emancipation Day at the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival.
Held annually at Harrison Park, this event acknowledges Owen Sound as the Northern Terminus of the Underground Railroad, the route African American slaves used to escape from slavery to freedom. This year, the 164th annual, will highlight the theme of the North Star.
The Speaker’s Corner, will be held at 7:00pm, July 31st at Grey Roots Museum.
Saturday, August 1st, will start off with a freedom walk from Grey Roots to Harrison Park that will take walkers right to the Park’s Black History Cairn to open up the festivities. Throughout the day, the musical lineup will include Fyrefly Entertainment; Leevon Mahoney; DJ HungryLife with Rob Elder, Pete Devlin and Joel Morelli; and Switchback with Oliver Clark, Jacob Phalan, Dick Berenster, and Frank deMatteis.
On August 2nd, Inspirational Sunday will be held at the Legacy Hall at the British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church, 256 11th Street West in Owen Sound, with music by david sereda and Bobby Dean Blackburn.
Also, in keeping with the Northern Star theme this year, a submission has been made to the City of Owen Sound proposing the renaming of Ryerson Park on 5th Avenue to Northern Star Thomas Green Park.
The proposal was submitted by Sibyl Lendore McQuilken, a lifelong Owen Sound resident, along with Pam Houston; both are descendants of the Thomas Green family. The name reflects generations of the family’s connection to the neighbourhood, including land ownership on 5th Avenue, leadership within the BME Church, and long-standing ties to Ryerson School.
The family was also known for quietly helping others in the community through faith, hospitality, and care. This legacy would reflect their enduring presence and continued contributions to this community.
The Emancipation Festival, a not-for-profit organization, is grateful for the support from government, community organizations, businesses, and individuals who contribute time and money to make these events possible.
For more event details and ways to get involved, visit www.emancipation.ca/events or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.
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