Tallahassee Emancipation Day 2024
The City of Tallahassee and Leon County recognize Emancipation Day and several events are planned to celebrate the occasion.
As city offices are closed in observance, some changes are being made to several city programs. Waste pickup will move back one day and the Animal Services Center will be closed on Monday. The City has updated its announcement with details on which city-run programs will be affected.
Information on the importance and history of Florida’s Emancipation Day can be found at:
Tally Guide’s Florida’s Emancipation Day
Tallahassee Historical Society’s Florida’s Emancipation Day and Why It Matters
Museum of Florida History’s The History of the 20th of May
Schedule on May 20:
10:00 AM: John G. Riley Center and Museum will have a Civil War Commemorative Service at Old City Cemetery (400 W. Park Ave). The fallen Black Union Soldiers will have their graves decorated and honored.
11:00 AM: Church bells will ring for two minutes in celebration.
11:30 AM: A reenactment of the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation will be held on the steps of the Knott House Museum (301 E Park Avenue). Reginald Ellis, Ph.D., Provost Professor at Florida A&M University, and the Mina String Quartet from the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra will be featured.
Noon (after the reading): Free lunch and family-friendly activities in Lewis Park (across the street from the Knott House).
2:00 -4:00 PM: The Grove (902 N Monroe Street) and the Union Bank (219 Apalachee Parkway) Museums will be open for public tours
5:00 PM: A historical marker for Father James Page will be unveiled on the grounds of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church (224 N Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.) by The Tallahassee Historical Society.
Other:
May 25: Leon County Libray will host “Unlocking History: Exploring Florida’s Emancipation Day”. This talk is given by Dr. Aron Myers from the John G. Riley House beginning at 1:00 PM. The Library has also pulled several books about Emancipation Day and Black Florida history for all ages.
May 28: History at High Noon at the R.A. Gray Building begins at noon. Marcus Curtis, Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist with Tallahassee-Leon County GIS and developer of the "History in your Hands" website will give the talk.
Information Gathered From:
Museum of Florida History - 20th of May Calendar of Events
Department of State - PRESS RELEASE: Secretary of State Cord Byrd Invites the Public to Celebrate 20th of May—Emancipation in Florida