Looking for something to do during Memorial Day Weekend? How about a getaway to Beaufort for the Original Gullah Festival. This a great way to experience the history of Memorial Day through arts, food, culture and family fun. Check out an itinerary of the events below:
Weekend Guide to Gullah Festival 2025
Gullah Festival 2025
“Preserve Land… Preserve People… Preserve Freedom”
Festival Hosts- Mother Cleopatra Stokes, Geneva Smalls, Sharon Joyce Millen, Scott Gibbs Friday is ……Gullah Education and Vendor Market Day!!!!
Gullah Village/Kiddie Village/Sankofa Circle Hours
Friday, May 23, 2025~ 10:00am-7:00pm~ Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina
Friday, May 23, 2025 – Workshops (for tickets: www.originalgullahfestival.org) 11:00am-12:30pm- Gullah She`ke`re` Musical Instrument Making (Gullah Village-Area A) 11:00am-12:30pm- Gullah Geechee Quilt Making-(Gullah Village-Area B) 11:00am-12:30pm-West African Doll Making- FREE to ages 5-17 (Kiddie Village) 1:00pm-2:30pm- Sweetgrass Basket Weaving (Gullah Village-Area A) 1:00pm-2:30pm- Crocheting….A Gullah Twist– FREE to ages 5-17 (Gullah Village-Area B)
Friday, May 23, 2025
10:00am-3:00pm- Lest We Forget-Times To Remember (Walk Through) Admission: Free Will Offering
Tabernacle Baptist Church ~ 901 Craven Street, Beaufort, South Carolina 29902
Friday, May 23, 2025 (Main Stage Event)
10:00am-10:15am- “Drum Call” – Spiritual Vibrations
10:20am-2:30pm- Area Beaufort County School Performances
Coosa Elementary School
Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Choir
Whale Branch Middle School Choir
Whale Branch Early College High School Choir
Whale Branch Early College High School Band
Battery Creek High School Band
Brenda Singleton, Puppeteer- Puppet Show
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park ~ Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina
Friday, May 23, 2025- 9:00pm-12:00am – All White Attire Party-$55(per person online: www.originalgullahfestival.org) /$60(per person @Gate)
DJ –Sissy The Entertainer *Comedian- Bam Robinson * Gullah-Caribbean Meal * Fresh Vibe Band
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Pavilion ~ Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina **Presenters, Performers and Times are approximations and are subject to change**
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Gullah Festival 2025
“Preserve Land… Preserve People… Preserve Freedom”
Festival Hosts- Mother Cleopatra Stokes, Geneva Smalls, Sharon Joyce Millen, Scott Gibbs Guest Festival Host ~ Victoria Smalls
Gullah Village/Kiddie Village/Sankofa Circle Hours
Saturday, May 24, 2025~ 10:00am-7:00pm Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina
Saturday, May 24, 2025
10:00am-3:00pm- Lest We Forget-Times To Remember (Walk Through) Admission: Free Will Offering ~Tabernacle Baptist Church ~ 901 Craven Street, Beaufort, South Carolina 29902
Saturday, May 24, 2025 – Workshops (for tickets: www.originalgullahfestival.org ) 11:00am-12:30pm-Gullah She`ke`re` Musical Instrument Making (Gullah Village-Area A) 11:00am-12:30pm-Gullah Geechee Quilt Making-(Gullah Village-Area B) 11:00am-12:30pm-West African Doll Making- FREE to ages 5-17 (Kiddie Village) 1:00pm-2:30pm-Sweetgrass Basket Weaving (Gullah Village-Area A) 1:00pm-2:30pm-Crocheting…A Gullah Twist-FREE to ages 5-17 (Gullah Village-Area B)
Additional Event
Aunt Pearlie Sue (Anita Singleton Prather) and Gullah Kinfolk ~ Presents “Decoration Day” Musical ~ Saturday, May 24, 2025 @3:00pm
Performing Arts Center ~805 Carteret Street, Beaufort, South Carolina, 29902 For Tickets: www.originalgullahfestival.org
Saturday, May 24, 2025 (Main Stage Events)
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park ~ Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina
10:00am Drum Call – Spiritual Vibrations
10:20am Aunt Pearlie Sue and Gullah Kinfolk
11:00am Official Welcoming Ceremony – Hosts -Sharon Millen And Rayburne Turner 12:10pm Wona Womalon African Dancers & Drummers
12:45pm Louise Cohen- Gullah Storyteller
1:10pm Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters
1:50pm Dani’s Dance Dynamics
2:35pm Dr. Marlena Smalls & The Hallelujah Singers
3:15pm Queen T- Gyenyam African Drummers & Dancers
4:00pm Beth Inabinett and The For The Funk Of It Band
4:35pm Natasha Robinson “Geechee Gal”- Gullah Storyteller
5:05pm Deninufay African Drummers and Dancers
5:50pm Wade Johnson Band
6:25pm Laurence O. De Weever “Cactus-Raconteur”- Storyteller
Concert
8:00pm-9:30pm The Terence Young Project
**Presenters, Performers and Times are approximations and are subject to change** 2
Gullah Festival 2025
“Preserve Land… Preserve People… Preserve Freedom”
Festival Hosts- Mother Cleopatra Stokes, Geneva Smalls, Sharon Joyce Millen, Scott Gibbs
Sunday, May 25, 2025
9:00am Hour of Power Worship Service– Pastor Donald Goodwine- St. Paul Baptist Church Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park ~ Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina
Gullah Village/Kiddie Village/Sankofa Circle Hours
Sunday, May 25, 2025~ 10:00am-7:00pm- Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina
11:00am Rededication to the Commentative Marker Honoring our Ancestors Foot Of 11th Street, Port Royal, South Carolina
.Sunday, May 25, 2025 (Main Stage Events)
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park ~ Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina
2:00pm Drum Call – Spiritual Vibrations
2:25pm Elijah White and Company
3:00pm Renesha Hendrix- Interpretive/Inspirational Dance
3:40pm Angela Bonaparte Ministries
4:20pm The Gullah Experience During The Revolutionary War Reenactment Group 5:05pm BushBurn Entertainment, Inc. ~Latrese Bush
6:00pm Unity Circle (w/” God Bless America”)
Concert
7:00pm-8:30pm The Promise Land Band
**Presenters, Performers and Times are approximations and are subject to change**
5/6/2025
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