The City of Port Orange will host the Seventh Annual Freemanville Day Ceremony to honor the community’s African-American heritage.

Hosted in partnership with the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, the ceremony begins at 4 p.m. on Feb. 9 and will be held at the church, 941 N. Orange Ave. The public is invited to attend.

This annual event recognizes the beginnings of Port Orange, which is connected to 500 freed slaves who came to the area in 1867 to work for the Florida Land and Lumber Company.

Included on the ceremony’s program will be a performance by the Mt. Moriah Youth Dance Group, recollections from Harold Cardwell of the Port Orange Historical Trust, and stories from Alberta McLeod on living and raising children in Freemanville.

For information on the ceremony, contact Kent E. Donahue, Special Assistant to the City Manager, at 386-506-5501 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .