SC H4433

Recognizes and honors the Original Gullah Festival of South Carolina, scheduled for May 23-25, 2025, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort

Celebrates the festival's 39-year history of preserving Gullah culture, which blends West African, Native American, and African American heritage from the Sea Island and Lowcountry regions

Notes the festival has grown from approximately 35 attendees in 1986 to tens of thousands of annual visitors from 42 states and multiple foreign countries including Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Canada, Australia, England, Germany, and Guadeloupe

Acknowledges the festival's educational mission, including providing scholarships to students and offering workshops, fine arts exhibits, and cultural demonstrations

Expresses appreciation for the festival's economic contribution to South Carolina's tourism industry and its role as a family-oriented, nonalcoholic Memorial Day weekend event