Interest in cultural tourism in South Carolina has grown considerably in recent years. Within the area of cultural tourism, interest was highest in 2021 in the Civil War, Charleston, and the Gullah Geechee culture. The Gullah live in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and Georgia, descended from enslaved Africans, and they've done a remarkable job preserving their culture. There are a variety of ways to explore Gullah Geechee culture in South Carolina, including visiting sites along the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor, taking a tour of Sandy Island, attending the Original Gullah Festival held each year in Beaufort, and more.
This year's festival will be taking place on the weekend of May 25th, 2024.
This fun event is family-oriented and is held during a spring weekend at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort, South Carolina.
At the Original Gullah Festival of South Carolina, you will have the opportunity to peruse wonderful goods from vendors, including jewelry ...
... hand-woven sweetgrass baskets (a Gullah Geechee cultural icon), and more.
You can also attend a workshop, a hands-on opportunity to learn traditions from the Gullah Geechee culture such as quilting, basket-weaving, and drumming.
The sounds of jazz, reggae, blues, and African drums will fill the air, and you'll be amazed by the performances of talented entertainers.
And what's a festival without food? Is there even such a thing? Not at the Original Gullah Festival!
Choose from local cuisine and traditional Gullah-favorite options at the festival's food court.
On the last day of the festival (Sunday), you don't want to miss the Hour of Power Worship Service, an incredible worship experience on the waterfront.
This just scratches the surface of what you'll experience at this incredible Beaufort festival, which is one of the best ways to get a taste of the rich Gullah Geechee culture in South Carolina that has been so impressively preserved through the years.
Entrance to the festival is free, but there are tickets available for purchase to participate in some of the events. Visit the Original Gullah Festival of South Carolina website for this year's festival dates, a complete list of this year's vendors and events, and other important details. So that you can take full advantage of all the festivities, be sure to book a Beaufort area rental in advance.
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