Event Details (U.S. National Park Service)

★

Special Event

Fee:

Free.

Location: LAT/LONG: 32.388224, -80.576477

16 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, SC 29920

Dates & Times

Date:

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Time:

Sunrise

Type of Event

Cultural/Craft Demonstration

Partner Program

Description

Penn Center's annual Heritage Days will take place November 9-11, 2023.
During the event, the park will be hosting a travelling exhibit at Darrah Hall from students entited "Tied to the Land"Movement, Memory, & Justice

For information regarding Heritage Days or to register for Penn Center events, visit https://www.penncenter.com/heritage-days For inormation about park operations around Heritage Days, contact us as e-mail us

“Honoring Our Past, Inspiring the Future, Stand Up for Justice”

Dates: Thursday, November 9th; Friday, November 10th; and Saturday, November 11th, 2023 Location: Penn Center, 16 Penn Center Circle, St. Helena Island

This three-day event has celebrated the culture and heritage of Penn Center on St. Helena Island in South Carolina's low country since 1981. The celebration was a successor to "Harvest Days," held yearly from the early 1900s until 1948, when Penn School closed. This annual event began because so many individuals and institutions of the Sea Islands have been touched by the activities of Penn School and later Penn Center, and because this honored institution has been instrumental in preserving and strengthening the Sea Island culture, the idea of a Penn Center Heritage Days Celebration was born in August of 1981. Since its inception, Penn Center’s Heritage Days Celebration has grown from a single day of events to three days of song, food, performers, seminars, as well as other events.

Thursday, November 9th with the Gullah Roots Village: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

The formal opening of the festival will take place from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

A powerful and moving Youth Theatrical Performance will take place from 6:00pm to 7:00 pm. (Tickets: Adults $12.00/Students $8.00).
A Lowcountry Supper will unfold at Penn Center’s Emory Campbell Dining Hall from 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm ($20.00 includes meal, desert, and a drink).
An Old Fashion Prayer Service (7:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
A Heritage Featured Artist Reception titled “Sam Doyle Coming Home” (lite refreshments will be served). Featured speakers are: Artist Mary Mack, Dr. Saundra “Renee” Smith and Brenda Singleton. 6:30 pm-8:00 pm, York W. Bailey Museum, 16 Penn Center Circle-West, St. Helena Island.

Friday, November 10th Family and Friends Day: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Arts, Authors’ Row: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm/ Food Vendors 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Heritage Symposium: Educator’s Professional Development (8:30 am/registration-3:00 pm/concurrent sessions) $40.00-qualifies for continuing education credits.
“Tied to the Land “2:00 pm – 4:30 pm. (Darrah Hall/ Penn Center’s campus/Free and Open to the Public).
Old School Fish Fry, Oyster Roast & Crab Crack (“Soul Music Night”) 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

Saturday, November 11th: 9:00 am – 12:00 am

Heritage Days’ Parade: 9:00 am
Heritage Days’ Center Stage Program: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Soul Slide Dance Party: Frissell Community House 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm ($10.00/ATD $15.00)
Crafts and Food Vendors: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Activities at MLK Park featuring HBCU representatives from South Carolina, Georgia and beyond. 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Reconstruction Park: 11:00 am 5:00 pm
Young Professionals Mixer/ Emory Campbell Dining Hall (east side of the campus) 8:00 pm – 12:00 AM.

More information