The City of Kingston is working with residents and community partners to offer programming that recognizes Emancipation Day which is Aug. 1, 2023. This year’s theme is ‘Thriving in Colour' as a celebration of the resiliency of the Black community despite the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination.

More About Emancipation Day

• Emancipation Day, Government of Canada
• Emancipation Day Reading List, created by the Kingston Frontenac Public Library
• Digital Kingston, Black History in Kingston
• Stones Kingston, Black History and Points of Interest

2023 Events

Enjoy Black Art and Artists

• Stories in the Square, featuring Ruthie’s Reading Room, presented by the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Thursday, July 27, 10:30 - 11 a.m., City Hall Amphitheatre 
• Movies in the Square, featuring Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), presented by the Downtown Kingston! BIA, Thursday, July 27 (dusk), Springer Market Square 
• Rockin’ the Square, featuring Kardinal Offishall and special guest Maestro Fresh Wes, presented by the City of Kingston, Friday, July 28, 8:00 p.m., Springer Market Square 

Celebrate

• Black Block Party, Ontario Street and Confederation Park, Saturday, July 29, 12 to 5 p.m.  Featuring: food, live music,  pick-up basketball tournament, rock wall climbing, bouncy castle, face painting, photo booth, live portraits, murals, mobile bar and a host of local Black business vendors and booths.
• Afro-Beats Dance Party ft. AA DJ, Saturday, July 29, 8 p.m., Daft Brewing

Other Related Programming

• Black Youth Basketball Drop-In, featuring tips and coaching on basketball excellence by Coach Nate Green, Artillery Park Aquatic Center, Thursday, July 27, 7-8 p.m.
• Vulindlela: Out the Gates Procession, July 15, 3:30-5:00 p.m., registration required. Agnes Etherington Art Centre: As a moment of celebration, Agnes staff and members of the broader community enact a procession that honours the African collection through music, poetry and dance as the Lang Collection of African Art makes the journey to a new, temporary location on campus as part of Agnes Reimagined. 

Emancipation Day (Aug. 1)

City Hall will be lit up on Emancipation Day in red, green and gold, the pan-African colours. 

The City of Kingston, through the Poet Laureate Program, in 2022, commissioned award-winning poet, writer, dancer, and multi-disciplinary artist Abena Beloved Green to write a poem in connection with Emancipation Day. The poem has been published on the City of Kingston website and a reading of the poem recorded by Abena Beloved Green is available on the City’s YouTube channel. 

Sponsors

• Keep up with Kingston  
• Human Rights and Equity Office, Queen’s University
• Yellow House Student Centre for Equity and Inclusion, Queen’s University
• St. Lawrence College  
• The BIA - Downtown Kingston
• Cher-Mere Day Spa & Beauty Products  
• Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (BEE) - Southeastern Ontario
• Dansani Dance Studio
• The City of Kingston