20th of May Commemoration

9:00 a.m. Church bells in the Tallahassee area will ring for 2 minutes to announce the dawning of the special day of freedom.

10:00 a.m. John G. Riley Center/Museum Civil War Commemorative Service at the Old City Cemetery

Commemorative Grave Decorating Service, and Union Soldier Reenactment, with twenty-one-gun salute, in tribute to fallen soldiers, a historical tradition of the ancestors. Commissioner Bill Proctor will lead children from Kingdom Life Preparatory Academy and the public in decorating the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers.

11:30 a.m. Dramatic reading of the Emancipation Proclamation

Speeches and music are presented on the front steps of the Knott House Museum. This year’s program features a special guest performance by John Anderson portraying Frederick Douglass and the Mina String Quartet from the Tallahassee

Symphony Orchestra. After the program, free lunch and activities are available in Lewis Park across from the Knott House Museum.

7:00—11:00p.m., Emancipation and Abolitionist Ball at the National Guard Armory (admission charge)

This formal event highlights the era with a special menu, entertainment, and attire representative of the period. Highlights include historical presentations by the 2nd USCT and guests, and the presentation of the Althemese Barnes Historic Preservation Award to Mr. Eluster Richardson. For more information and for tickets visit https://www.the2ndusctlha.org/

EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.