Florida Emancipation Day at Cotton Club Museum 2026

About this event

Florida Emancipation Day is part of the City of Gainesville's Journey to Juneteenth series, presented in partnership with historic neighborhoods and the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center. The celebration begins with a community walk led by Cotton Club chair Vivian Filer, starting at Depot Park and ending at the museum. After the walk, visitors enjoy live music, dance performances, educational exhibits, and a screening of the mini-documentary 'Before Juneteenth: Emancipation in Florida,' with local vendors, food, the plaiting of a maypole, and a memorial service honoring fallen African American Civil War soldiers.