For 160 years, generations of Black settlers have been marking emancipation day with a family picnic, and that tradition is honoured each year at the Emancipation Festival in Owen Sound.
The festival, which may be the oldest one in North America, and possibly the world, began in 1862 as a way to celebrate those who escaped slavery, those who helped them, and the British Commonwealth Emancipation Act of Aug. 1, 1834.
Held annually on the first weekend in August, the event is a gathering of descendants of Black families who came to Owen Sound and area via the Underground Railroad.
Jeff Smith, chair of this year’s festival, said he has been going to the event every year since he was a child. His mother is part of the Courtney family, which has a long history in the Owen Sound (Simcoe-Grey-Bruce) area.
“It was a tradition for the families from Owen Sound and Collingwood and area to go to the festival,” said Smith, who grew up in Stayner and now lives in Kingston. “It’s all about family, but it’s also now inclusive.”
He said the event was, first and foremost, a picnic where families and friends shared food, fellowship and community.
The picnic was originally organized by the British Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of Pastor Thomas Henry Miller, Father Henson, and others to unify Black families in Grey and Simcoe counties.
In the early days, the entertainment for the event came from the families who gathered and played music together.
The main goal now is to celebrate freedom and to teach Black history, including the history of slavery, the Underground Railroad and the work done to achieve emancipation.
“It’s about education, but it’s a bonding process as well,” said Smith. “We have a lot of return visitors. … It’s all about having a great time and learning about history.”
Smith credits the Emancipation Festival board and supporters — such as Carolynn and Sylvia Wilson, who run the Sheffield Park Black History and Culture Museum — for hard work to bring the festival to fruition.
“It’s a new board, there’s been a lot of adversity, and they’ve handled it quite well,” said Smith. “All indicators are that it will be a great event.”
The 160th Emancipation Festival takes place July 29 to 31 with events spread across three days beginning with a speaker’s corner on July 29 at Grey Roots Museum and Archives at 6 p.m.
The speakers will include Diana Braithwaite, Kathy Grant, Bobby Dean Blackburn, and Chris Whitely. Tickets are $20 for this event. This is the only paid admission event for the weekend festival.
On Saturday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the festival and picnic events take place at Harrison Park in Owen Sound with a light breakfast and coffee at 9 a.m. and a blessing at 11 a.m. by Valerie Tillman.
The blessing and acknowledgement ceremony will be at the Black History Cairn, and will also include words from Bonita Johnson-deMatteis and gospel music by Gael Miller-Jackson.
The afternoon brings greetings from local politicians and Smith as the chair of the festival followed by musical entertainment by the Trevor MacKenzie Band, Blackburn with Bobby Dean Blackburn, Liberty Silver, and The Sattalites.
People are invited to bring their own food for a picnic or enjoy food from the vendors for sale on site. There will be educational displays, races, and other activities throughout the day.
For Gospel Sunday on July 31, there will be an outdoor stage at Grey Roots Museum and Archives from noon to 4 p.m., with entertainment by Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley and Liberty Silver with Eddie Bullen.
Abraham Lincoln made the Emancipation Declaration on Jan. 1, 1863 in the United States. In Canada, the Slavery Abolition Act was introduced in 1833, but came into effect on Aug. 1, 1834. In March 2021, the House of Commons officially declared Aug. 1 as national recognition of Emancipation Day in Canada
For more about the festival, visit emancipation.ca.
