St. Catharines is set to mark Emancipation Day with three days of free and ticketed events this weekend, as the community also commemorates the 175th anniversary of Harriet Tubman's arrival in the city.
Matter of Black, a St. Catharines community organization, is hosting Emancipation Day STC 2026 from Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26, with a lineup that includes a comedy night, an anniversary walk honouring the Underground Railroad heroine, a waterfront picnic and a Pan-African flag raising at City Hall.
This year's celebration also launches a new partnership between Matter of Black and Spotlight Comedy, according to an announcement posted July 23 on Niagara At Large.
Weekend schedule
The festivities begin Friday at 8 p.m. with the Emancipation Day STC Comedy Night at Spotlight Comedy Club, located at 92 St. Paul Street. The show is headlined by Jay Martin, an award-winning Canadian comedian and radio host who has performed at the Halifax Comedy Festival and has been praised by the Toronto Star as one of Canada's rising comics. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
On Saturday, the St. Catharines Downtown Association, in partnership with Matter of Black and Tubman Tours Canada, will host a community celebration honouring the 175th anniversary of Tubman's arrival in St. Catharines and the city's Black history.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features a community vendor market, food vendors, bouncy castles, a self-guided Black history tour and live entertainment. Admission is free.
Sunday's signature event, the Big Picnic, returns to Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie, running from noon until late. The free community festival celebrates music, food, culture and connection along the waterfront, and has grown into one of Niagara's largest Emancipation Day gatherings.
To ease access to the park, a free shuttle will run between Bill Burgoyne Arena and Lakeside Park from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Free parking will be available at the arena, allowing attendees to park and ride to the festival.
The weekend concludes with a Pan-African Flag Raising Ceremony at St. Catharines City Hall, with the date still to be announced. Organizers describe the flag as a symbol of unity, resilience and freedom, and are inviting residents and community leaders to gather for the ceremony.
Community support
Emancipation Day STC 2026 is funded through support from Love STC and the City of St. Catharines, with community partners including Tubman Tours Canada, the St. Catharines Downtown Association and Spotlight Comedy Club.
Event sponsors include Niagara College, Accenture and Meridian Credit Union, according to Matter of Black.
Organizers say the weekend offers residents a chance to reflect on shared history, celebrate Black culture and strengthen community ties — from an evening of comedy to historical commemoration, live music, family activities and cultural celebration.
