Penn Center’s Heritage Days Celebration to feature three days of Gullah/Geechee culture, history and traditions
October 31, 2026
Penn Center’s annual Heritage Days Celebration will be held on Nov 14- 16 for three days of cultural programming, performances, food and family activities celebrating the history and traditions of the Gullah/Geechee people and the legacy of Penn School. The Penn Center celebration, held on St. Helena Island, highlights the region’s West and Central African cultural connections through folk arts, music, storytelling, crafts, food and educational programs.
The event will feature presentations by Gullah/Geechee artisans and historical re-enactors, live entertainment, an educational symposium, a parade, a fish fry, Artists and Authors Row and a vendors market. Youth and Family Day will offer additional educational activities designed to help children and families explore the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Thursday, Nov. 12: Heritage symposium and opening festivities
The celebration begins with a Heritage Symposium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Frissell Community House. Honoring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the symposium will bring together researchers, scholars and teachers to share stories about the diverse communities and individuals who shaped the Revolutionary War and American history. The symposium is free and open to the public, with reservations encouraged.
An opening ceremony and performances by Beaufort County School District students will take place at 10 a.m. on Center Stage.
Throughout the day, visitors can explore Artists and Authors Row, the Vendors Market and Gullah Roots Village. Activities on the Penn Center grounds will include face painting, crochet and crafting, bateau building, a scavenger hunt and educational activities for children and families.
The evening schedule includes The Lowcountry Supper at 5 p.m. in the Emory S. Campbell Dining Hall. Tickets are $25 and available at the door or through Eventbrite.
A youth theatrical performance will follow at 6 p.m. at Frissell Community House, followed by an Old-Fashioned Praise House Service at 7 p.m. at Brick Baptist Church.
Friday, Nov. 13: Gullah/Geechee performances, film and storytelling
Friday’s festivities will include live performances and entertainment beginning at 10 a.m. on Center Stage, featuring Daa Geeche Gal, a poetic storyteller, saxophonist Gregory Whitaker, soul line dancing and more.
A screening of the film “Daughters of the Dust” will take place at 11 a.m. at Frissell Community House.
From 1:30 to 3 p.m., St. Helena Island native Ron Daise, author and former star of Nick Jr.’s “Gullah Gullah Island,” will present “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow.” The reader’s theater performance explores the life of Prince Rivers, a Gullah Reconstruction-era figure, and incorporates poetry, spirituals and Civil War-era songs.
Artists and Authors Row and the Vendors Market will remain open throughout the day on the Penn Center grounds.
The day will conclude with an evening fish fry and music at 5 p.m.
Saturday, Nov 14: Heritage Days Parade and cultural performances
Saturday’s activities begin with the Heritage Days Parade. Lineup starts at 8 a.m., with the parade stepping off at 9 a.m. along the route to Penn Center.
From 10 a.m. to noon, visitors can tour the York W. Bailey Museum with free admission and view the Bruce Ingram art exhibit.
Opening festivities begin at 10:15 a.m. on Center Stage, followed by a full day of entertainment featuring local and regional performers.
Scheduled performers include Whale Branch Middle School Choir, GyeNyame Dance Ensemble, Natasha Robinson, Gullah Geechee Spirituals Project, Darryl Anderson, Sydney Passmore, Claflin University Concert Chorus, Dani’s Dance Dynamic, Keondra Grant, Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters, Kelly Burns, Bruce Ingram and Michael Broddie.
The vendors market, artists and authors row and food vendors will also be available throughout the day.
Penn Center’s Heritage Days Celebration honors the historic legacy of Penn School while recognizing the enduring contributions of the Gullah/Geechee people and preserving the cultural traditions that continue to shape the Lowcountry.
