A signature heritage event is returning to North Buxton for its 103rd year.
North Buxton Homecoming kicks off on Friday and runs until Monday, featuring a barrage of fun activities such as a Family Feud baseball tournament, a three-on-three basketball tournament, live music, a vendor’s market, a gymnastics demonstration, a car show, and the annual parade.
“It’s just amazing that we’ve made it this far and it’s continuing,” said Michelle Robbins, curator of the Buxton National Historic Site and Museum. “People are coming and reconnecting with each other, so it’s amazing to see.”
This weekend’s event will also include educational activities, such as a Black history genealogy conference and a historical re-enactment.
New for this year’s event is a Walk to Freedom Experience at the North Buxton Community Park Pavilion, featuring lantern-making and a community walk.
“It’s going to be an awesome experience for everybody. We’ll have some live music, some food, and just community,” said Robbins. “It’s just a great way to celebrate ‘The Power of Community,’ which is this year’s theme.”
The homecoming event began in 1924 as a one-day reunion for former slaves who came to Canada as part of the Underground Railroad. It has since grown into a four-day celebration that blends African-Canadian heritage, family reunions, children’s activities, and small-town hospitality.
The event was also awarded by the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario during its centennial year in 2023.
Admission to the park and museum is $5. A full schedule for this year’s North Buxton Homecoming can be found by clicking here.