EVENTS
Click for Past Events
May 7 through June 25, 2025
Series ~ Wednesdays ~ 4-6pm
Gerrit Smith Family of Peterboro & The Crusade for Human Rights
Norman K. Dann PhD, researcher and biographer of members of the Gerrit Smith family of Peterboro, will present a series of eight two-hour sessions 4 – 6pm on Wednesdays May 7th through June 25th, at the Smithfield Community Center 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, PO 55, Peterboro NY 13134
Admission by Donation
315.380.1890
Peterboro Juneteenth Celebrations 2025
Thur 6/19 ~ 6:19pm Peterboro Juneteenth Weekend 2025 begins with 19 bell rings, followed by a free program of the history of Juneteenth and the new documentary film North to Freedom.
Fri 6/20 ~ 7:00pm Documentary film: Enslavement After Emancipation. About the Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II. Free event at the Smithfield Community Center
Sat 6/21 ~ 9:00 to 1:30 Presentations on Abolition, Racism, and the Underground Railroad
Sat 6/21 ~ 3-8:00 pm Peterboro Freedom Folk Festival with music by The Cadleys, Rod MacDonald, and Sean Ceilly
Sun 6/22 ~ 10:45am The Churches of Peterboro
Presented by Smithfield town historian, Donna Burdick
Peterboro United Methodist Church
5240 Pleasant Valley Rd
Peterboro, NY 13134
July 5, 2025
Independence Day Celebration
July 5th will include Owen Corpin, descendant of a formerly enslaved family that came to Peterboro, relate Frederick Douglass’ strong words about enslavement. Norm Dann will share more about research on the Douglass-Smith relationship. Jack Hanrahan, author of a history and travel book on Frederick Douglass in Maryland will share his plans for a Douglass’ New York State travel book.
August 2, 2025
Peterboro Emancipation Day Centennial
The Annual Peterboro Emancipation Day will be held Saturday, August 2 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First Peterboro Emancipation Day held in 1925.
The Fourth Annual round-trip walk from Canastota to Clockville in remembrance of the founding the New York State Abolitionist Abolitionist Society
December 31, 2025
The Annual Emancipation Watch Night
Details TBA