The notability of Harriet Tubman, the former slave who rescued more than 300 slaves through the Underground Railroad, reaches across the globe. So, for Auburn to have been her final resting place is something the city is proud of.

For the 33rd consecutive year, there will be a Harriet Tubman Celebration to honor her, said the Rev. Paul G. Carter manager of the property at the historic Harriet Tubman Home on South Street in Auburn.

Beginning at her resting place in Fort Hill Cemetery, at the end of Fort Street, Carter said a 10 a.m. service led by Bishop George E. Battle Jr. of the North Eastern Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Zion Church, will include singing, prayer, testimonials and remarks of reflection on Tubman. The pilgrimage will continue to the Home, in which the environment will be festive with key note speaker the Rev. Kenneth Q. James from Rochester.

“He will bring a celebration message,” Carter said. “There will be songs and welcomes from people from around the city.”

A catered lunch will follow as well as a Harriet Tubman pageant of young people from churches throughout western New York - anywhere between Albany and Jamestown.

The queen of the pageant will be the young person who has raised the most money for the cause overall, while there will be sub-queens and kings in four other categories, Carter said.

“The idea of the day is to keep Harriet Tubman in the forefront of the Auburn Community because she spent upwards of 50 years here,” he said. “This keeps her heritage alive.”

Visitors to the annual celebration have come from not only throughout the United States, but Carter said also all seven continents, save Antarctica.

If you go

What: Harriet Tubman Celebration

When/Where: Saturday 10 a.m. at Tubman gravesite, Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn; 11 a.m. Tubman Home; 2 p.m. lunch followed by pageant

For details: Call 252-2081