The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) is celebrating 190 years of emancipation with the Halton Freedom Festival, a weekend of events starting with a flag raising celebration on Thursday, Aug. 1, at Burlington City Hall from 11 a.m. to noon.
Aug. 1 marks 190 years since the British abolition of slavery in 1834, and Burlington has been recognized as the first city in the world to accept August as Emancipation Month. The flag raising will be followed by the presentation of three proclamations, which are awarded by the city in respect to Emancipation Month, Emancipation Day (Aug. 1) and the International Day for People of African Descent.
There will also be a gala event on Aug. 1 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre starting at 7:30 p.m. with performances from steel drum musician Luckystickz and singer-songwriter Errol Blackwood.
The live music events will continue into the weekend with five performances on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. at Spencer Smith Park., with artists like Shelley Hamilton, LMT Connection, Mike ‘DJ GIBS’ Gibson and more playing at the park.
HBHAS is partnering with the Burlington Food Bank this year and invites residents to donate items such as cereal, canned food, peanut butter and soups to the organization or to sign up to volunteer with the food bank.
