From staff reports
The Original Gullah Festival returns to Beaufort this Friday, May 26 through Sunday, May 28, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
According to the festival’s website, storytelling, dancing, the sounds of jazz, blues, reggae and African drums are some of the things you’ll see and hear. And the Vendor Market will be filled with arts and crafts, while the Food Court will be filled with local cuisine and traditional Gullah favorites.
The Gullah Festival has been celebrating the Gullah Geechee heritage of the Sea Islands of the Lowcountry and honoring the preservation of the Gullah culture and the descendants who lived in the region for 37 years.
The festival was established in 1986 to honor and recreate the atmosphere of a celebration called Decoration Day, now named Memorial Day. As a result, every year during the festival weekend, there is a Decoration Day Play to commemorate the historic event.
The Festival provides a unique family friendly cultural experience for more than 35,000 local, national and international attendees during the three-day event.
Schedules and ticket information for events and entertainment, along with a complete list of sponsors and vendors, can be found at www.originalgullahfestival.org/.
Decoration Day Play
Join Aunt Pearlie Sue and The Gullah Kinfolk as they celebrate Decoration Day. Step back in time and experience Memorial Day like it used to be.
This is a very entertaining, informative and historical re-enactment of the City of Beaufort and describes some of the culture of the peoples on the sea islands.
The play is scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday, May 27, at the USCB Center for the Arts at 805 Carteret Street in Beaufort. Tickets are $45 online, $50 at the door. Children 12 and younger are $15. Purchase tickets at https://rb.gy/p3puu.
