GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center is inviting the community to celebrate Florida’s Emancipation Day during a daylong event Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Gainesville.
The celebration, titled “Celebrating Emancipation Day in Florida,” will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, located at 837 SE Seventh Ave. The event will begin at 9 a.m. with a festival kickoff and celebratory walk from Depot Park to the museum grounds. Organizers said the procession will be led by Mangnye Vivian Filer and Harvey Ward.
Activities beginning at 10 a.m. at the CCMCC grounds will include a “Then & Now” panel discussion moderated by Ward, along with a talent showcase featuring singers and poets competing for prizes. The event will also include food vendors, art displays and children’s activities throughout the day.
Organizers said the celebration is part of the City of Gainesville’s “Journey to Juneteenth” programming and is being held in partnership with historic neighborhoods throughout Gainesville.
Additional activities highlighted by organizers include a memorial service honoring African American Civil War soldiers and a presentation on the Chitlin’ Circuit, an unofficial network of venues that hosted and supported Black musicians and performers during segregation.
The event is free and open to the public, and attendees can RSVP online.
Those interested in participating in the talent showcase can register online, while vendor registration is available by emailing info@cottonclubmuseum.com.
More information is available at the Cotton Club Museum website or by calling 352-226-8321.