The end of slavery in the British Empire will be commemorated this weekend at the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History.
The annual Emancipation Day event is set for Saturday, August 2, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
"We are celebrating Freedom here in Canada," said museum attendant Erika Galbraith. "We have lots of different performers the day of, so we have lots of exciting things going on, and it's free."
The highlight of the day is the performances, including Marque Smith, a ragtime and jazz pianist, and Garnetta DaGroovemasters, a funk, soul and R&B performer.
"We have a dance group coming (Artists in Motion), they're going to do Afro contemporary dances. The one I'm very excited for is Yaya's Kitchen, which is actually a Nigerian food demonstration," said Galbraith.
There will also be talks from Dr. Claudine Bonner on The Black Press and music industry leader Farley Flex.
A couple of food trucks will be on site selling lunch, and the museum will also open during the event for guests to visit and explore.
"We have a large gallery, there's a lot of artifacts in there you get to learn about," said Galbraith. "We have three outdoor buildings, and two of them are originally from the land the site is on. So you'll get to see a couple of things from the time period that we highlight and talk about. Josiah Henson's original home is on site, so you get to see that as well."
Galbraith added that people come from around the world to visit the site, but this weekend is a great time for locals to come.
"Those people who are local and have always wanted to see the museum, it's the perfect opportunity. Lots of fun things going on, and if you want to browse the site while you're there, you're welcome to do that as well," said Galbraith.
For more information on the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History, visit https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/properties/josiah-henson-museum.
