Guelph Black Heritage Society celebrates Juneteenth, Black Music Month

GUELPH – Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas were informed of the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery – more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. 

The Guelph Black Heritage Society (GBHS) is hosting its first annual Juneteenth Festival and celebration of Black Music Month from June 19 to 21 at Heritage Hall (83 Essex St.).

Juneteenth is both a day of remembrance and a celebration of Black history, heritage and culture.

As Henry Louis Gates Jr., noted historian and professor, reflects: “Juneteenth falls closest to the summer solstice … when the sun, at its zenith, defies the darkness in every state, including those once shadowed by slavery.”

June also marks Black Music Month, a time to honour the creativity and cultural impact of Black musicians across genres – from gospel and blues to reggae, soul and hip-hop. 

GBHS celebrates these traditions as part of its mission to uplift Black artistry and create spaces for community, learning and connection.

Freedom Ceremony

The festival opens with an evening of reflection, celebration and innovation on June 19 from 7 to 9pm. 

Guests will enjoy refreshments, an introduction to the Black Heritage Reclaimed education program and the premiere of The Quilt Awakens, a new augmented reality video game that brings Black Canadian history to life through interactive storytelling.

Admission is free. To register visit tinyurl.com/5cc985x2. 

Music Speaks! Gospel Music Workshop

In partnership with Joy in the City Guelph, participants will take part in a hands-on gospel music workshop exploring vocal techniques, harmonies and performance on June 20 from 10am to 12:30pm.

Admission is free. To register visit tinyurl.com/yc2a66dv. 

Juneteenth Block Party

A vibrant community celebration will take place on June 20 from 1 to 4pm. 

It will feature a performance by the Joy in the City Community Choir, African and Caribbean food vendors, youth talent showcase, artisan craft market, drumming circle, DJ, face painting and crafts. 

Attendees are invited to help create a community mural that celebrates Black history, culture and collective creativity. 

The event also includes the “Voices of Black History in Wellington County” oral history project, which welcomes community members to share their lived experiences of growing up and living in Guelph and Wellington County.

Admission is free, with  a suggested donation of $10. To register visit tinyurl.com/ytay5744. 

Freedom Vibes: Dance and Karaoke Jam

Join the GBHS for a fun, high-energy evening on June 20 from 7 to 10pm, featuring a DJ and an open karaoke hour. 

“It’s a relaxed, welcoming space for the community to come together, sing, dance and celebrate,” officials say. 

Admission is free, with  a suggested donation of $10. To register visit tinyurl.com/2s3s6c53

Black Heritage Reclaimed Bus Tour

This event, presented in collaboration with Centre Wellington Black Committee, offers an immersive journey through the rich Black history of Wellington County, guiding participants through stories of resilience and community across Guelph, Fergus and surrounding areas. 

Guests will experience guided storytelling, drive-by views of significant Black heritage landmarks and visits to Richard Pierpoint Park and the Wellington County Museum and Archives. 

Lunch will be provided by Caribbean Queens Real Jerk, and the experience is designed to be family-friendly and welcoming.

The tour departs from Heritage Hall at 12:30pm on June 21 and costs $25 per person.

Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and those for whom cost is a barrier may contact info@guelphblackheritage.ca.

Everyone is invited to learn, reflect and celebrate Black heritage in our region.

To register visit blackheritagereclaimedbustour.eventbrite.ca. 

Accommodations

For out‑of‑town guests seeking accommodations, Staybridge Suites Guelph is the recommended hotel partner for this event. 

Supporting Heritage Hall’s Future

Proceeds will benefit the Heritage Hall Heart and Soul Campaign, a major fundraising initiative to strengthen GBHS’s financial sustainability and expand programming. 

“The Heritage Hall is a place where art, culture and inclusiveness converge… a place that every resident of Guelph can point to with pride,” officials say. 

GBHS is a registered charity and tax receipts are issued for donations over $25 (Registration #80158 3907 RR0001).

Founded in 2011, GBHS is dedicated to restoring and maintaining Heritage Hall, originally the British Methodist Episcopal Church built in 1880 by formerly enslaved Black individuals and their descendants who arrived via the Underground Railroad.