Gullah Geechee Festival coming to Myrtle Beach area for first time in decades. What to know
A new festival celebrating the history of Atlantic Beach and the culture of the Gullah Geechee people is coming to the Myrtle Beach area this June.
Atlantic Beach Gullah Geechee Cultural and Nature Festival will take place June 23 through 25 on the streets of Atlantic Beach, S.C.
Planned activities for the free festival include a parade of fashion from throughout Atlantic Beach history, dance performances and food vendors.
Visitors will experience Gullah Geechee poetry and music in a presentation by Ron Daise, performer and VP for Creative Education at Brookgreen Gardens.
Patricia Mallett, an organizer of the festival, said this three-day event is the first of its kind in over 20 years and hopes to make it an annual tradition.
Mallett said the goal of the festival is for Black individuals to share their history, in a time where the state legislature is trying to restrict topics taught in schools, specifically those related to race.
“I pray that (visitors) will get the understanding of more about our Gullah Geechee culture,” Mallett said.
This story was originally published April 8, 2023 at 8:00 AM.
