Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival
December 2, 2023
Gullah Geechee? Even for fans of American history, these aren’t familiar words.
Come celebrate 450 years of African culture in St. Johns County with live music, traditional food and fun for all!
The Tenth Annual Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival celebrates the culture and history of the Gullah Geechee people. The Gullah Geechee are descendants of those brought to America from West and Central Africa to work on rice, cotton, and indigo plantations in the isolated Sea Islands of coastal Georgia and the Carolinas.
Without the influences found on the mainland, the Gullah Geechee were able to preserve their culture through spiritual practices, crafts, music and foodways we see today. They even created a new creole dialect known as “Gullah,” a language that isn’t spoken anywhere else in the world.
In 2006, Congress designated the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor, spanning eight million acres from Wilmington, North Carolina to St. Augustine, Florida, to honor the culture and history of these brave people.
The Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival takes place from noon-5 p.m. at Armstrong Park, 4950 Harvey Avenue in Elkton, Florida. Admission is free. Shuttle buses every 15 minutes from the St. Johns County Fairgrounds parking.
Schedule of Events
9 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Rails to Trails Bicycle Tour. Join the 40 mile ride on the Palatka to St. Augustine rail trail.
12:30-3 p.m. Double Dutch with Jump4Jax. Watch these amazing performers and learn the basics of this high energy activity.
1-2 p.m. Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters. Enjoy this critically-acclaimed collective of African Americans preserving cultural aspects of their ancestral heritage via lively performances and education.
2-3 p.m. Doug Carn with Elaina Monique. This performance by a great American jazz musician, composer and producer joined by a wonderful vocalist and lyricist should not be missed.
3:30-5 p.m. Headliner Big Sam’s Funky Nation. This funk and rock band from New Orleans is lead by Big Sam Williams, who has played with Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic, James Brown, Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint among others at venues ranging from SXSW to Austin City Limits. Enjoy traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, hard rock and dance music.
Throughout the day, there will be all kinds of authentic “Southern” fare and the delicious dishes of Heart & Soul Food Truck, a local favorite.
Proceeds from food and drink sales will benefit the SEA Community and Resource Center which provides food, clothing and more to help fight hunger and homelessness for more than 5,000 residents.