Honor the legacy of Juneteenth this year by exploring our exclusive guide to celebrations on Hilton Head Island. We connected with Binya HHI founder and sixth-generation resident Omolola “Lola” Campbell to learn how Gullah customs shape this meaningful holiday. From intimate family traditions and rhythmic drum circles to the signature festival held at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, find out how you can pay tribute to history and immerse yourself in the Lowcountry’s vibrant cultural heritage during this weekend of reflection and community.
Juneteenth Travels: Visit Hilton Head with Tips from Native Islander, Lola Campbell
Name: Person Omolola “Lola” Campbell
Title: Owner
Organization: Binya HHI
Short Bio: Omolola “Lola” Campbell is a 6th generation native of Hilton Head Island, raised in the Spanish Wells community and coming from one of the island’s oldest Gullah families. Her great-grandfather, Reverend Solomon Campbell, is believed to be the first Gullah teacher born and raised on the island, and her grandfather, Solomon Campbell, Jr., was an early craftsman who built bateaus and homes for local residents. Deeply rooted in Gullah culture, Lola blends her professional background with her passion for storytelling, entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation. She is the author of Writings on the Wall: Poetic Words from My Soul and the founder of Gone Gullah and Binya, a cultural retail and consulting brand dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and sharing Gullah heritage.
Hometown: Hilton Head Island, SC
Current City: Hilton Head Island, SC
Website: www.binyahhi.com
Social Links: @binyahhi
A brand that reminds you of home? No particular brand reminds me of home, but gullah foodways do. If we’re talking about shrimp stew, okra soup, fried fish and grits or hoppin john, I’m getting homesick right away!
Favorite Juneteenth memories, traditions, or recipes? My favorite memories really relate to family gatherings to celebrate the holiday, especially a family fish fry.
Go-to tip for experiencing the Juneteenth festival at Historic Mitchellville Freedom Park? Get there early so that you don’t spend too much time waiting on the shuttle, and make sure you experience it all – the food, entertainment, vendors!
What Gullah traditions do you incorporate into Juneteenth as well as other family celebrations? I love to attend the Drum Circle, which is a Gullah tradition, taken from our African ancestors of course.
WHEN & EVENT DETAILS:
Thursday, June 11 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Juneteenth Campfire, Conversation & Sleepover with Joe McGill An America 250 Event | Admission: $25 Adults | Children under 12 free
Book here: https://exploremitchelville.org/events/juneteenth-campfire-26/
Gather around the fire for an evening of meaningful storytelling, shared history, and community connection. Joe McGill of The Slave Dwelling Project leads this special program inviting participants to reflect on life in the Lowcountry during the Revolutionary War era — including what daily life looked like for enslaved individuals on Hilton Head Island in 1776. As part of the national America 250 commemoration, the evening offers a thoughtful look at the past while creating space for honest dialogue and reflection in the present.
Guests will share a family-style dinner prepared with traditional Gullah recipes, gather around the campfire for guided conversation and storytelling, and have the option to extend the evening with a primitive-style sleepover on the grounds. Limited tents are available for $25, and guests are also welcome to bring their own camping equipment. Park restrooms will remain open overnight.
This is a rare opportunity to slow down, sit with history, and connect — both with the story of this place and with the people gathered to hear it. Registration is required. Bring your own chair and comfort items. Open to all ages.
Friday, June 12 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Children’s Drum Camp Admission: Free | Registration required
Register here: https://exploremitchelville.org/events/childrens-drum-camp-26/
Children are invited to take part in this hands-on drumming experience where they will learn basic techniques, explore rhythm and movement, and prepare for a special parade through the park that leads directly into the evening’s Drum Circle. Children who pre-register by June 5, 2026 will receive a take-home keepsake. Open to children of all ages; a parent or guardian must be present. Advance registration is required to ensure materials and supplies.
Friday, June 12 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Juneteenth Celebration Drum Circle Admission Free | Open to all | No registration required
The energy of the Drum Camp carries into this vibrant, community-wide Drum Circle, an interactive evening of rhythm, movement, and celebration open to all ages. The program opens with a traditional libation ceremony, a practice of pouring water as a gesture of remembrance and gratitude, before the drums take over and the community comes alive. Experienced facilitators lead the circle, and everyone is invited to participate through drumming, dancing, or simply taking in the moment. Food and artisan vendors will be on site. Bring your own chair and comfort items. No outside food or drink permitted.
Saturday, June 13 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 12th Annual Juneteenth Celebration Festival featuring Stokley | Admission: $10 | Children 10 and under free
Tickets here: https://exploremitchelville.org/events/juneteenth-celebration/
The signature event of the weekend brings the full community together for a day of live music, cultural celebration, Gullah foodways, and connection on the historic grounds of Mitchelville. From the first performance to the final set, the festival is designed to honor history, uplift community, and celebrate freedom in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
Guests can expect live music and performances throughout the day, local artists and vendors showcasing handmade goods, food trucks and traditional Gullah cuisine, community storytelling and cultural activations, dance contests, karaoke, interactive programming for all ages, and youth performances.
Headlining the festival is Stokley — GRAMMY-nominated vocalist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and lead singer and drummer of the legendary R&B group Mint Condition. Stokley has collaborated with some of the most celebrated names in music, including Prince, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson. His 2017 debut solo album, Introducing Stokley, produced two top-five Billboard singles, “Organic” and “Level.” His performance promises to be a fitting close to a day rooted in joy, resilience, and community.
Bring your chairs, umbrellas, and picnic blankets. Come early and stay all day. No outside food or drink permitted.
Friday, June 19 | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Juneteenth 5K with Palmetto Running Registration: $35 Adults | $20 ages 13–18 | Children 12 and under free
Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/HiltonHeadIsland/MitchelvilleJuneteenth5K
Close out the Juneteenth commemoration with a spirited 5K race celebrating freedom, unity, and progress. Walk, run, or jog — every step is a symbol of resilience and community. Registration includes a commemorative t-shirt and a unique keepsake finisher’s medal. Packet pick-up takes place at the park from 8:00–8:45 AM, followed by a pre-race group stretch session at 8:45 AM. The race begins at 9:00 AM. Awards will be given to the overall male and female finishers and first-place finishers in each age group. Post-race stretch sessions are available — sign up with StretchLab on site. Children 12 and under race free, but do not receive a t-shirt.
Where:
Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park
40 Harriet Tubman Way
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
For More Information:
Visit exploremitchelville.org or call 843-255-7301.
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