By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter 
Dancers in the cast of the pantomime, "Augus Mawnin," which pays tribute to Emancipation, performing during yesterday's special presentation as part of the Salute To Youth of the Municipality, hosted by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation at the Ward Theatre, North Parade, downtown Kingston. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
FOR MANY people yesterday, Emancipation Day, was another welcome public holiday; for others it was a special occasion to reminisce about the historic end to slavery in Jamaica.
A group of Rastafarians, beating drums, roved Kingston yesterday celebrating the Emancipation from slavery on August 1, 1838. They ended their tour at The Gleaner's plant at 7 North Street, Central Kingston, chanting and drumming into the evening.
Thousands of Jamaicans from all sectors of the society visited the newly-constructed $100-million Emancipation Park, New Kingston, yesterday to view the site which includes three fountains, a large bandstand, monuments to history and a 500-metre jogging and fitness trail. It was opened Wednesday night by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
People turned out in large numbers at Devon House to watch "Ring Ding", the family-oriented play. Adults and children who attended the show were entertained and informed about their heritage by way of debates, a "story walk", historical tour, exhibitions and a cultural concert.
Amina Blackwood Meeks, originator of the programme, said Emancipation "Ring Ding" was intended to enable children to live the history.
"We want our kids to understand what Emancipation is about. It is about you and who you are and your father and grandmother and what you can become," she explained.
The historic city of Port Royal buzzed with excitement all day, mainly generated by loud reggae music blaring from giant sound boxes. There were merry-go-rounds and train rides, for both adults and children. The popular fish restuarants were packed and vendors lined the street selling stuffed toys and cooked food.
At the Gunboat Beach, Palisadoes, east Kingston, there were hundreds of people, although facilities there other than the beach itself, have been closed for sometime. Families held picnics on the sand and children played games.
The upper section of King Street in Fletchers Land, Kingston, was transformed temporarily into a sport ground as a group of young men played a game of cricket, while a sound system blared music.
Residents of Southside, central Kingston, cordoned off the intersection of Highholborn and Tower streets to watch a community football carnival.
At the Ward Theatre, North Parade, downtown Kingston, the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation staged a special presentation of the Emancipation-based pantomime, "Augus Mawnin," as part of its Salute to the Youth of the Municipality presentation.
Western Jamaica
To mark Emancipation Day William Knibb Memorial Baptist Church yesterday opened a pictorial exhibition at the old Baptist manse in Falmouth, Trelawny. It will run for two months.
The church, named for the Rev. Mr. Knibb, a crusader for the abolition of slavery is celebrating its 175th anniversary. The exhibition was organised in conjunction with the Jamaica Library Service and outlines the history of slavery and its subsequent abolition in which the church played a significant role.
Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke opened the exhibition. Trelawny-born Professor Rex Nettleford, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, delivered an Emancipation lecture.
The Hon. Royland Barrett, Trelawny's Custos, was the chief researcher and organiser of the exhibition which showed a collection of 120 pictures in an historical overview of slavery and Emancipation.
The function attracted a large turnout from throughout western Jamaica.
