SAFETY LAST! Celebrate Gullah culture at festival

The Original Gullah Festival 2023 will be held May 26-28 at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and various other venues in Beaufort.

The event kicks off May 26 with a 10 a.m. “walk-through” titled Lest We Forget at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 901 Craven St. Workshops, including sweetgrass basket making, drum making and quilting, will begin at 11 a.m. in the workshop areas.

Main Stage events begin at 11:45 a.m. and include a student drumline and bands, with the Royal Drummers and Dancers from Sierra Leone at 6 p.m.

The All White Party starts at 9 p.m., with a DJ providing music. Tickets are available at the gate.

Festivities on May 27 include a 10 a.m. drum call, followed through the day with storytellers, dancers, singers, ring shouters and gospel performers.

At 3 p.m., Aunt Pearlie Sue and the Gullah Kinfolk present “Decoration Day,” a musical performance, at USCB Center for the Arts,

801 Carteret St. For tickets, visit gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org.

Activities for May 28 start with the 9 a.m. Hour of Power Worship service at Lady’s Island Baptist Church, 1010 Bay St. Main Stage performances begin at 2 p.m. with more drums, a male chorus, a Gullah rapper, other singers and dancers, and ends with the Parris Island Marine Corps Band at 6:30 p.m.

For the complete schedule, tickets and more information, visit originalgullahfestival.org.