Matter of Black

08/17/2026

A few from the Big Picnic 🤎

Lakeside Park was a good one this year.

So many familiar faces, new faces, little ones running around, music going all afternoon, good food, vendors, friends, family and a whole lot of people just enjoying being together.

Seven years of Emancipation Day STC and we’re still so grateful we get to do this.

Thank you to everyone who came out and made the day what it was. 🤎

📸 Bernardo Tatsch l Filmmaker

08/12/2026

Community makes it happen 🤎

Seven years of Emancipation Day STC, and we’re still so grateful for the people and organizations who continue to show up for this celebration.

Thank you to our funders, City of St. Catharines and Love STC, and our sponsors, Niagara College, Meridian Credit Union and Accenture, for helping us bring this year to life.

And a big thank you to our partners, St. Catharines Downtown Association, Tubman Tours Canada and Spotlight Comedy Club. We couldn’t do it without the people who jump in, collaborate, and help make things happen.

And of course, thank you to every performer, vendor, volunteer, artist, community member and everyone who came out and celebrated with us. You are what makes Emancipation Day STC what it is 🤎

This year’s event was full of history, culture, music, food, joy and community, and we’re so proud of what we continue to build together in St. Catharines.

Thank you for being part of it 🤎

08/01/2026

07/28/2026

What a weekend 🤎

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Emancipation Day STC events. We are so grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, partnered with us, and helped make this year’s programming so special.

As we close out our 2026 programming, we invite you to join us one final time.

📍 St. Catharines City Hall
🗓️ Friday, July 31
🕛 12:00 p.m.

We’ll begin with a few brief remarks from the Emancipation Day STC organizing team, followed by the raising of the Pan-African Flag as we gather ahead of Emancipation Day on August 1.

We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful community tradition 🤎

07/24/2026

Did you know?

Imagine a summer day in Port Dalhousie a century ago.

The carousel turning.
Music in the air.
Families gathered by the lake.
Thousands of people celebrating Emancipation Day together.

More than 100 years later, those traditions continue to connect us to the generations who came before us.

This Sunday, the celebration returns to Lakeside Park.

🗓️ Sunday, July 26
📍 Lakeside Park, 1 Lakeport Rd
⏰ 12PM - Late

07/24/2026