36th Annual Penn Center Heritage Days Celebration
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The Penn Center 16 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena, South Carolina 29920
Penn Center will hosts its 36th annual Heritage Days Celebration, Nov. 8-10, on the historic grounds of Penn School National Historic Landmark District. This three-day cultural event will honor and celebrate the founding of Penn School, Gullah Geechee Sea Island history, art, food, music, crafts and West African cultural legacy.
The Heritage Days Celebration kicks-off at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, with an opening ceremony, a tribute to the founders of Penn School, following with a youth theatrical play – "Road of Remembrance," lowcountry supper, old-fashioned prayer service, and the Heritage Days Featured Artist Reception, showcasing Diane Britton Dunham’s artwork that melds the Sea Islands Gullah and Louisiana Creole cultures. The second day of the celebration is dedicated to learning, with Youth & Family Day beginning at 9 a.m., which will offer "fun fuh de chillun and famlee" (fun for the children and family), and educational symposia—Our Story: Reconstructing Freedom starting at 12:30—5:30 p.m. Later in the evening, guests will delight in a festival favorite--fish fry, crab crack & oyster roast, accompanied by music at the Back in the Day Jam. Throughout the three-day event craft fair and food vendors are available. The final day, Saturday, Nov. 10, the community will come together for a grand Heritage Days Parade beginning at 9 a.m., with Gullah storytellers and re-enactors, singers, African drummers and dancers performing on center stage from noon to 4 p.m. The final celebration event, Soul Line Dance party, will be hosted by the Family Slide Dancers and starts promptly at 7 p.m.
Penn Center is happy to announcE there will be no gate admission fees for 2018; however, there are costs for some Heritage events and food. There is a fee for parking on Penn Center’s campus (East and West), and handicapped parking will be available. Parking fees include: $5 per car/truck/van and $25 per tour bus. Please bring your outdoor folding chairs for comfort.