7th Annual Emancipation Art Exhibition

July 24 - September 15, 2024

Exhibit Launch: August 4, 2024 • 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Helson Gallery
9 Church Street,
Halton Hills, ON, L7G 2A3

2023 Halton Freedom Celebration Festival



Click Here to download the pdf of the 2023 festival poster.

Our 2023 Halton Freedom Celebration Festival celebrating our 189th year of Emancipation throughout the British Commonwealth, brings together musical acts, children's activities, cultural art, food, crafts, and heritage, historical, genealogical, and multi-cultural groups, promoting inclusivity and community integration. The multi-cultural ambience is infused with Canadian R&B, Reggae, Soul, Funk, African, Ska, Soca and Pop Artists with some of our country’s finest musicians.



Click here to learn for more information about the 2023 participating musicians.

FREE ADMISSION

Click Here to download the pdf of the 2023 festival schedule.

This exhilarating event will take place on Saturday, August 5th at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario, Canada (the first city in the world to acclaim August as Emancipation Month). Festivities are from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Please bring lawn chairs, sunshade, appetite, and dance wear for optimal enjoyment. See you there!!!!

6th Annual Emancipation Art Exhibition

June 21 - August 27, 2023



Helson Gallery
9 Church Street,
Halton Hills, ON,
L7G 2A3

Multicultural Celebration of 2023

Open call for vendors.

August 5, 2023

Contact us.

The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) produces and promotes inclusivity events focusing on supporting the implementation of cultural history into the educational curriculum and public mind-set, and celebrating Canadian Black History contributors, cultures and community integration. We celebrate Halton's cultural history through dance, art, music, spoken word, historical literature, theatre and information/educational forums and workshops. At our Halton Freedom Celebration Festival, held annually on the August Civic weekend Saturday, you’ll experience exceptional multi-cultural ambience infused with Cultural Crafts, Art in the Park, Cultural designer fashions and accessories, exquisite food, and youth and children’s activities and workshops which complements the best in R&B, Reggae, Soul, Funk, African, Cuban, Jazz Fusion, Ska, Soca and Pop.

Our Emancipation Art Exhibit, "Celebrating Freedom" is held annually at various Halton locations throughout the month of August. Here you will meet a number of exquisite Canadian Black Artists and experience their artistry of love, bondage, beauty, family, and expression in illustrating their Emancipation. The HBHAS welcomes you to enjoy this enlightening free exhibition in kicking off our annual Halton Freedom Festival. 

The HBHAS Speakers’ Forum is held throughout the year, encompassing theatre, spoken word, Canadian Black history presentations; spoken word, cultural education in diverse professions: heritage, genealogical and black history forums and workshops, inclusivity and diversity workshops and presentations, and mentorship programs. The Speakers are by subject matter experts, historians, genealogists, cultural and inclusivity educators, and multi-talented actors and actresses. Guests are constantly stating that they’ve learned more here in one session that throughout their careers or history. Appreciating that a lot of North America’s rich black history was hidden or manipulated, these programs are extremely enriching and educational. We welcome individuals interested in discussing enhancement to their programs or presentations to reach out to hire speakers, performers, and musicians at
hbhas2015@gmail.com.

It is the vision of the Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) to celebrate Halton's diverse cultures through Cultural Education, Cultural Enhancement and Cultural Entertainment. The Halton Black History Awareness Society is intent in supporting Halton's potential in being a Cultural Capital within Canada.

All venues are open to the public and promote inclusivity. The HBHAS constantly collaborates with a number of community partners in presentations and workshops within schools and community centers throughout the year towards the implementation of cultural history into our educational cultures.  Thank you for your interest.

Click Here for Past Events