The Weekend at the 103rd Buxton Homecoming

Four days, Friday September 4 to Monday September 7. Choose a day, then open an area to read about it and find its times.

CONFERENCE

Before the weekend turns to music and ball games, Friday belongs to the record itself. The Buxton History and Genealogy Conference runs nine to five at the Community Church. Benita Law-Diao on the Black patriots history forgot, Kenn Stanton on what it cost to school the children of the formerly enslaved, and a panel on the teachers who made Buxton's schoolroom famous. Lunch is by YaYa's Kitchen and it is part of the history too. Then at five we gather at the Park Pavilion, make lanterns to music from Aurora's Reef, and walk to freedom together behind Ken Johnston. The weekend starts from there.

9:00 to 5:00 · Buxton History and Genealogy Conference, at the North Buxton Community Church
9:00 to 9:30 · Registration at the church, coffee in the Community Hall
9:30 · Welcome and Land Acknowledgment. Irene Moore Davis, Mistress of Ceremonies. Aunt Cleata's Shining Stars sing, accompanied by Debi Guy
9:40 · Benita Law-Diao, The Forgotten Wars: Black Patriots of the Napoleonic War and War of 1812
10:25 · Kenn Stanton, Teach My Children: Schooling the Children of the Formerly Enslaved in Canada West
11:10 · Break
11:20 · Buxton Education Panel, Teachers and Education in Buxton: A Rich Legacy. Moderated by Dr. Funke Aladejebi, with Ed Robbins, Shannon Prince and Duane Shadd
12:05 to 1:45 · Lunch in the Community Hall, African Diaspora Food Heritage by YaYa's Kitchen
1:45 · Ken Johnston, Our Walk to Freedom
2:30 · Announcements and adjournment
2:45 to 3:00 · Last chance to visit the vendors
5:00 · Walk to Freedom Experience, beginning at the North Buxton Community Park Pavilion. Lantern making with music by Aurora's Reef, followed by the Community Freedom Walk led by Ken Johnston
Admission · $60 in advance, $70 at the door. Includes morning coffee and lunch
Register · Register on Zeffy
Where · North Buxton Community Church, with the Community Hall next door

SHARE A MEAL

Every conference stops for lunch. This one teaches through it. Just after noon we cross to the Community Hall and share a meal built by YaYa's Kitchen, African Diaspora Food Heritage, because how a people ate is part of the record too, and it is the part that rarely gets written down. It is the loudest hour of the day. The morning gets argued over properly. Nobody is in a hurry to go back. Lunch is included with registration, the vendor tables stay open, and the company is half of what is served. Come hungry, and sit down next to someone you have not met.

12:05 to 1:45 · North Buxton Community Hall, next to the church
Included · Lunch comes with conference registration
Also open · The vendor tables stay open right through

THE AUTHORS

Outside the church there is a table with books on it, and the people who wrote them are standing behind it. In a community that believed a free life started with a schoolroom, that is not a small thing. Brenda Travis keeps her titles out all weekend, not only Friday, so there is no need to decide today. Buttons and swag share the table. Bring cash, ask for a signature, and take a piece of the record home with you.

All day Friday · Tables outside the North Buxton Community Church
All weekend · Brenda Travis's books stay out past Friday
2:45 to 3:00 · Last call for the vendor tables
Also here · Buttons and swag
On Monday · Two more author visits, Marie Carter and Morgan Campbell, in the Log Cabin and the Schoolhouse

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

None of Friday happens on its own. The names below helped pay for the room, the lunch, the lanterns, and a day given over to getting the record right. Two of them gave in memory of Mark D. Wallace, Esq., which is its own kind of record keeping. If you know a name on this list, thank them when you see them.

Huron Community History Centre · Conference sponsor
Huron University · Conference sponsor
University of Windsor · Department of History
Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery · Conference sponsor
Rolland Farms · Conference sponsor
Detroit River Story Lab · University of Michigan
Brenda and John Travis · In memory of Mark D. Wallace, Esq.
Yvonne Edmonds Smith and Jovonne Smith · In memory of Mark D. Wallace, Esq.

BALL FIELD

Some families measure Homecoming in home runs. This year it all settles on Saturday: ten teams, three games each, and the standings decide it. No final, no redemption round, so every inning counts and everybody will have something to say about that. The 33rd Family Feud tournament is sponsored by TekSavvy, and over at the court the 3-on-3 basketball opens with the younger divisions. Bring your glove or bring your voice.

9:00 to 5:30 · 33rd Annual Family Feud Baseball Tournament, sponsored by TekSavvy, at the North Buxton Community Park
Baseball · Main Ball Diamond. Ten teams, three games each, pool standings decide it. A new player code of conduct is in effect this year
Schedules · Game schedules are sent to teams and posted in the Refreshment Tent
Afterwards · Stick around after the last games for awards and presentations
Basketball · 3-on-3 Tournament at the Basketball Court, hosted by Maurice "Mo" Bolden, Saidat and DJ KZ, sponsored by Moir Crane Services Ltd. Times TBD
Divisions · Male and female, U10 to Adult. U10 to U15 play Saturday, U16 to Adult play Monday
Entry · $50 per team, maximum 4 players. First place prizes for the winners
Register · Basketball registration form

MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace is where a table and a morning turn into something worth the drive. Saturday it is the Farmers and Maker's Market under the pavilion, nine to one: produce picked this week, baked goods, and things made by hand. Monday the vendors set up proper, eleven to four, with art and plants and clothing and whatever else somebody loves to make. There are only ten tables to rent on either day, so reserve early. Bring cash, and leave room in the trunk.

9:00 to 1:00 · Buxton Homecoming Farmers and Maker's Market, under the Park Pavilion
What · Locally grown produce, packaged baked goods, and home made items
A spot · $10 to reserve, plus $25 more if you need a table. Only 10 tables, so reserve early
Register · Market registration form
Bring · Cash, and room in the trunk

REFRESHMENT TENT

Every homecoming needs a place where everybody ends up and catches their breath. This is ours, the Waste Connections Refreshment Tent. Saturday night it is Party in the Park, Part 22, with Josh Johnson & The Joyful Noise playing live and DJ KZ spinning until one. Sunday evening the Barn Gathering brings the stories of this place back to life, and local talent takes the stage after. The tent is less a stop on the map than a place to catch up with the people you haven't seen since last September. The whole family can pull up a chair. We saved you a seat.

11:30am to 12:00am · Waste Connections Refreshment Tent open
8:00pm to 1:00am · Party in the Park, Part 22, in the Refreshment Tent
9:00 to 11:00pm · Live musical entertainment from Josh Johnson & The Joyful Noise
All night · DJ KZ spinning the tunes
Admission · $10 general admission. Ages 13 and under free
Please note · Bag check in effect

AROUND THE GROUNDS

A few things worth knowing before you roam: food, admission, parking, and a cool place to sit. The best way to see Homecoming is slowly, and on foot.

11:00am to 1:00am · Food vendors on park grounds
11:30am to 12:00am · Waste Connections Refreshment Tent open
12:00 and 2:00 · Kids Zone hosted by Saidat, on park grounds. A free space for youth, with activities through the afternoon
12:00 to 4:00 · Free glitter tattoos on park grounds, sponsored by Evolugen by Brookfield Renewable
Food row · TNT Kitchenette, Gators Grub, Sean David Food, Tasty Treats, Lagoon Spoon, Nature Smile, Charing Cross Rd. Soda, Sizzlers, Brit Boys, Riverside Ice Cream, Zule Eats, Dream Squeeze Lemonade and Sunshine Grocers
First aid · Staffed on Saturday

THE CHURCH

The Church has been the anchor of this community since the first families cleared this land and gave thanks they'd made it here. Sunday's service keeps that unbroken. Morning worship is at eleven with Rev. Anthony Miller, and at three the Afternoon Musical Service runs from Aunt Cleata's Shining Stars to the Silvertones and a lot of great music in between. Chicken dinners are on in the hall from noon. Come as you are. Everyone's welcome.

11:00 · Sunday Morning Worship Service. Speaker: Rev. Anthony Miller
12:00 to 4:00 · Chicken dinners prepared by Fatema Parker from Wingz N Tings, for sale at the church hall
3:00 · Sunday Afternoon Musical Service, from Aunt Cleata's Shining Stars to the Silvertones
Where · North Buxton Community Church

REFRESHMENT TENT

5:00 to 9:30 · Waste Connections Refreshment Tent open
4:00 to 9:00 · Food vendors on park grounds
6:30 · The Buxton Barn Gathering Historical Re-enactment and Talent Show, at the North Buxton Community Park
Admission · Entrance by donation, suggested $5. Ages 13 and under free
What · Buxton stories of the past come to life, and local musical talent sets the stage

AROUND THE GROUNDS

A few things worth knowing before you roam: food, admission, parking, and a cool place to sit. The best way to see Homecoming is slowly, and on foot.

1:00 to 4:00 · Beyblade Tournament on park grounds. Free, for players of all ages and skill levels
4:00 to 9:00 · Food vendors on park grounds
5:00 to 9:30 · Waste Connections Refreshment Tent open
First aid · Not staffed on the Sunday

THE PARADE

On Monday at 12:30 we do the oldest thing a free community can do: walk our own road in the open. It starts at 6742 Eighth Line and rolls all the way to the park. Line the route. Wave like you mean it. And if you're lucky, someone will throw candy at you.

12:30 · The parade rolls. The route starts at 6742 Eighth Line and ends at the North Buxton Community Park
Staging · Between Steve's and Terrence's properties
Parade parking · Via Robins Farms
Grounds parking · Free parking at Prince Farm, marked on the grounds map

CAR SHOW

Some come home for the people. Some come home for the horsepower. Thirty years on, Pride in 'R' Rides still lines the grounds with mirror-finish and open hoods. This year it moves back to the far diamond, which means room enough to walk the rows without turning sideways. Registration opens at ten. Show off all day.

From 7:30 · 31st Annual Pride in 'R' Rides Car Show. Participants begin arriving
From 10:00 · Registration opens
In · Through the main gate
Out · Between the ball diamond and the cemetery. Larger vehicles exit by the main entrance
Where · The back ball diamond, moved from the front this year

MARKETPLACE

11:00 to 4:00 · Buxton Homecoming Vendors Market, under the Park Pavilion
What · Art, baked goods, clothing, plants, accessories, anything you love to make or grow, plus products and services from local businesses
A spot · $25 to reserve, plus $25 more if you need a table. Only 10 tables to rent, so reserve early
How many · Close to thirty vendors on the Monday, most bringing their own table
Register · Vendors Market registration form
Bring · Cash, and room in the trunk

KIDS CORNER

Somewhere between the parade and the ball game, the youngest homecomers get a corner all their own: bouncing, putting, painting, and enough glitter that you will keep finding it in the car until Christmas. It is all free, and it is all paid for by Evolugen by Brookfield Renewable. Send them in. Turn them loose. Pick them up tired.

12:00 to 4:00 · Free glitter tattoos, near the playground equipment
1:00 to 4:30 · Free children's inflatables and 9-hole mini-golf, behind the refreshment tent
1:30 to 4:30 · Free face painting, near the playground equipment and behind the refreshment tent
1:30 to 4:30 · Free henna tattoos, near the refreshment tent
Sponsored by · Evolugen by Brookfield Renewable

THE CHURCH

The Church has been the anchor of this community since the first families cleared this land and gave thanks they'd made it here. On Monday the doors are open and the kitchen is going. Chicken dinners from Wingz N Tings are on from noon until five, and they do sell out. Bring an appetite and a little patience.

12:00 to 5:00 · Chicken dinners prepared by Fatema Parker from Wingz N Tings, for sale at the church hall
Where · North Buxton Community Church and the Hall next door

AROUND THE GROUNDS

A few things worth knowing before you roam: food, admission, parking, and a cool place to sit. The Museum, Log Cabin and Schoolhouse open after the parade, and the afternoon fills up with authors, a hockey historian and music that runs till five. The best way to see Homecoming is slowly, and on foot.

Admission · $5 with souvenir button, for the park and the museum
From 9:00 · Buttons on sale at the main gate. They are souvenirs as well as admission, so the gate stays open while people are still buying
9:00 to 6:00 · Food vendors on park grounds
11:30 to 5:30 · Waste Connections Refreshment Tent open
12:30 to 5:30 · Cooling Tent, provided by Postma Heating and Cooling
After the parade · Exhibits open in the Museum, Log Cabin and Schoolhouse
After parade to 3:00 · Gymnastics demonstration by Great Lakes Gymnastics, behind the refreshment tent. Coaches on hand for anyone who wants to try
After parade to 5:30 · Music in the Park, DJ KZ spinning throughout the day
After parade to 3:00 · Aurora's Reef playing live in the refreshment tent
3:00 to 5:00 · APB playing live in the refreshment tent
2:00 · Storytelling in the old schoolroom, with Dr. Dean Barnes in the Buxton Schoolhouse. Award-winning podcaster and collector, on Black NHL players and racialized athletes
2:00 · Author visit and book signing with Marie Carter, in the Log Cabin
2:00 to 5:00 · BNG Swag Sales at the Booth. Clearance on previous years' shirts
3:15 · Author visit and book signing with Morgan Campbell, in the Buxton Schoolhouse
Parking · Free parking at Prince Farm, marked on the grounds map
On site · Mobile Care Health Unit, information only, near first aid
First aid · Staffed on Monday

The official grounds map for the 103rd. Drag to move it, pinch or double tap to zoom, and it works the same on a phone as it does here.

Map of the North Buxton Community Park for the 103rd Homecoming, showing the main and back ball diamonds, the refreshment tent, the marketplace and pavilion, the basketball court, the museum, log cabin and schoolhouse, the church, the car show area, washrooms and parking.