Celebrate Emancipation Day at Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site on August 2

Saturday, August 2, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join us at Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site for Emancipation Day – an annual celebration of hope and freedom commemorating the end of slavery in the British Empire.

Everyone is welcome for this fun and educational day featuring traditional African music, story-telling and lectures. Admission is free – thanks to the support of RBC Foundation.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site is located in Dresden, approximately three hours west of Toronto. The site is owned and operated by the Ontario Heritage Trust.

Schedule of activities:

Lift Every Voice in Praise − 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Windsor native R Jones has had the pleasure of singing with the legendary Ms. Patti Labelle. Hear his soulful voice in performance as he celebrates freedom through song.

The Roots of Rhythm − 10:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Take part in creating rhythm with Nigerian-born Babarinde Williams as he unites audiences regardless of race, gender, culture, age and ability in an interactive West African-style drumming circle.

Sister Act − 11:15 a.m. and 1:20 p.m.
Sisters Ceara and Mariah Travis combine their love of music, family and praising God into a youthful and uplifting gospel performance.

Celebration of the Spiritual − 11:25 a.m.
Tynisha Dungey uses the strength of her faith to inspire her audience by singing a medley of modern gospel and period slave hymns.

Combining two traditions − 11:45 a.m. and 1:50 p.m.
Mauritian Sega is a dance performed as a way to express sorrow and joys of the Mauritian people in a world where traditions were forbidden. It will be performed by Tania Charles and her dance company.

WW1: No. 2 Construction Battalion 12:30 p.m., 2:25 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Join us as we commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the First World War and learn about Canada’s all Black Battalion contributions to the Allied victory.

Celebration of Music 1 p.m.
Powerful and melodic are two words that can describe the voice of Denise Pelley, winner of several jazz musical awards. She will be performing a variety of music, music with a message.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site commemorates the life of Josiah Henson, a former slave, who escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad. Henson rose to international fame after Harriet Beecher Stowe acknowledged his memoirs as a source for her novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Settling in southwestern Ontario, Henson worked to improve life for the Black community and helped to establish the Dawn Settlement. He would go on to become an internationally recognized abolitionist, preacher and conductor on the Underground Railroad.

For more information about Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site and Emancipation Day, contact Steven Cook at 519-683-2804 or steven.cook@heritagetrust.on.ca.

Location:

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site
29251 Uncle Tom’s Road
Dresden
, Ontario

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