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Help Keep the Gullah Culture Alive!

Our 2022 Gullah Festival is scheduled to take place May 27th, 28th and 29th! Memorial Day Weekend

The Gullah Festival was established to honor and recreate the atmosphere of a celebration called, Decoration Day, now Memorial Day. It was started by freedmen after the Civil War in South Carolina during the Reconstruction Era, May 1, 1865.  When the USCT - United States Colored Troops arrived in Charleston after the war and realized that their fallen comrades had not been given proper burials but had been placed in a mass grave, they dug up all 250 + bodies and reinterred them in individual graves decorated with wooden crosses, flowers, shells and flags. It took 2 weeks. They estimate over 10,000 participants in the first Decoration Day parade. That first celebration honored the dead with full military rites, speeches, horse races, and picnics. It soon became one of the largest celebrations in the nation and was moved to Beaufort National Cemetery and the surrounding area.

For over 30 years, the Original Gullah Festival has provided unique family-friendly cultural experiences for our local, national and international attendees of over 35,000 plus during the 3-day event. This celebration continues the tradition of honoring those who fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the Union. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 and recommendations from the CDC, we were not able to have the festival in 2020 or 2021. As a result, we need your financial support so we can bring you the type of programming you deserve in 2022. 

In addition to providing educational programming and awarding deserving students for art and academic achievements, the Gullah Festival has also contributed to the increase of heritage tourism in Beaufort county, making a positive financial impact to our local and state economy. We are asking you to join our family of supporters in making the 2022 Gullah Festival, an example for others to witness a community coming together to celebrate our shared unique rich history.

We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Please help us in our effort to continue celebrating our culture while educating the masses.  Your tax deductible donations will go toward the cost of operations to run the festival. 

Thank You in advance for your participation!!! We hope to see you in 2022!

Organizer

Thomas Hicks
Organizer
Atlanta, GA

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