Decoration Day Play at the Gullah Festival

The Decoration Day Play at the Gullah Festival brings the Sea Islands’ past to the USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort for an evening of music and storytelling. You will hear spirituals and spoken word that trace the origins of Memorial Day, once called Decoration Day, through a Gullah cultural lens. The tone is intimate, like listening to oral history on a coastal front porch, with a clear focus on Lowcountry tradition.

This performance pairs naturally with the Original Gullah Festival along the Beaufort waterfront. We suggest you spend the afternoon at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park to browse local makers and try traditional dishes, then head to the theater for the 7:00 PM start. After the curtain, a slow walk past the downtown marina, with the moon on the water, rounds out the night.

The venue is climate controlled and designed for sound, so you can catch every lyric and line. The play suits history minded travelers, couples, and families seeking context beyond the usual highlights, and the storytelling format holds attention for school aged children and older. Photography rules vary, but flash is typically not allowed during the performance.

Tickets are $60 and worth booking ahead through the official festival website, since seating is limited and the show often sells out. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early for parking and your preferred seat, and bring a light sweater since the theater can run cool. Street parking is available near campus, though many visitors use public lots closer to the waterfront and walk a few blocks; for maximum ease, stay downtown within walking distance, or consider rentals on Lady’s Island or Port Royal.