17 Jun Georgetown hosting Gullah Geechee Cultural Summit June 25, 26 The Gullah Geechee culture is one of the most distinctive and historically rich cultural traditions in the United States, rooted along the coastal regions of South Carolina, Georgia, northern Florida, and parts of North Carolina. This month, the historic city of Georgetown will host the 2026 Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor South Carolina Summit, a two-day gathering celebrating culture, community and preservation. The public is invited to attend. “We envision a vibrant region where the rich heritage of the Gullah Geechee people is celebrated and preserved for generations to come,” Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor National Heritage Area (NHA) Executive Director Djuanna Brockington. “The South Carolina Summit offers a unique opportunity to learn from experts, engage with community leaders, and celebrate the living legacy of the Gullah Geechee people.” This special event, with the theme, “Voices of Preservation: Culture, Land & Legacy,” will be held Thursday, June 25, and Friday, June 26. The Gullah Museum on KIng Street will be open during the two-day Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Summit in Georgetown. (Photo by Clayton Stairs/Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce) Thursday, June 25 The first day will feature the Gullah Table Experience in the parking lot of The Gullah Museum on King Street from 5:30-8 p.m. an evening of food, fellowship, and celebration at The Gullah Museum. Guests will enjoy a vibrant vendor market featuring local artisans and businesses, delicious catered cuisine, music from a live DJ, and opportunities to connect with fellow attendees. Shopping begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m. Friday, June 26 The summit’s second day features a full schedule of workshops, panel discussions, and presentations focused on preserving Gullah Geechee culture and community assets from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A boxed lunch will be provided for attendees at Bethel A.M.E. Church on Broad Street. Featured sessions include: North Coast Cultural Preservation Panel Dr. Jessica Barry: Language Preservation Presentation Heirs’ Property Conservation Panel Keynote Address by Ron Daise: The Fifteen Twenty-Six Project Gullah Geechee developed among descendants of West and Central Africans who were enslaved on rice, indigo, and cotton plantations in the Lowcountry beginning in the 18th century. Because many plantations were located on isolated sea islands and coastal wetlands, enslaved Africans had greater opportunity than in many other parts of America to preserve elements of their ancestral languages, beliefs, and customs. Over generations, these influences blended into a vibrant, uniquely African American cultural identity. Ron Daise, a cultural interpreter, performer, and author for more than 40 years, will be the keynote speaker during the summit. (Photo by Reece Moore Photography) Ron Daise, the keynote speaker, is a Gullah Geechee native of St. Helena Island and served as Vice President for Creative Education at Brookgreen Gardens for 18 years before retirement in 2022. While there, he created and implemented numerous programs, initiatives, and exhibitions that fostered understanding and appreciation of Gullah Geechee culture and history. A cultural interpreter, performer, and author for more than 40 years, Daise is also a charter member and former chairman of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission. Along with his wife Natalie Daise, he starred in and served as cultural consultant for Nick Jr’s award-winning “Gullah Gullah Island” preschool show of the 1990s. “My keynote address will align with the Summit’s theme, ‘Voices of Preservation: Culture, Land & Legacy.’” Daise said. “I will offer examples of ways that Gullah Geechee history and heritage can be presented and preserved effectively and authentically.” Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor NHA The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a federal, National Heritage Area. The purpose of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor NHA is to preserve, share and interpret the history, traditional cultural practices, heritage sites, and natural resources associated with Gullah Geechee people of coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. For more information, visit: gullahgeecheecorridor.org For registration information and event updates, visit the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor event website or follow them on social media at @gullahgeecheenha By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast® 0 Hammock-All
