The Coastal Carolina University Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the city of Conway, and Conway Downtown Alive will host the second annual Gullah Geechee Community Day on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Conway. Venues from across the city’s historic district will feature Gullah and Lowcountry foods, workshops, lectures, and performances, all showcasing the Gullah Geechee culture of this region. The event, which is free and open to the public, is part of the International Gullah Geechee and African Diaspora Conference hosted by the Edwards College’s Charles Joyner Institute for Gullah Geechee and African Diaspora Studies on Feb. 25-26, 2022.

“We’re really excited to bring together local Gullah Geechee artisans, performers, and students with some regional talent,” said Alli Crandell, interim director of the Joyner Institute. “Gullah Geechee history is South Carolina history, so we look forward to coming together and celebrating our shared traditions with food, talks, and hands-on activities. There’s really something in the programming for every age and interest.”

The goal of the Gullah Geechee Community Day is to highlight the significance of Gullah Geechee cultures and the wider African diaspora to both Horry and Georgetown counties. Gullah Geechee refers to the descendants of enslaved individuals, predominantly from West Africa, who retained many of their African traditions and cultures because of their relative geographic isolation. The federally-designated Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor includes Horry and Georgetown counties.

Decorative trolleys will transport guests from the artisan market at the Conway Visitor Center to dance and music performances and lectures at the Horry County Museum, talks and workshops at City Hall, film showings at The Hut at First United Methodist Church, and art workshops at the Horry County Memorial Library. Food trucks offer tastes and demonstrations of Lowcountry and Gullah cuisines at the Town Green on Laurel Street.

More information about the Gullah Geechee Community Day, including an event schedule, map, and volunteer opportunities, can be found on the event’s Facebook page and on its website, gullahgeecheeday.com.

The event is supported by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation, and others.