Families participating in art activities during the Juneteenth Celebration at Telfair Museums.
Telfair Museums in Savannah will celebrate the 18th annual Juneteenth with a Free Family Day at the Jepson Center and a Lecture Series featuring Ron Daise. The Family Day offers free admission to local residents, showcasing Gullah Geechee culture through art activities and performances. A lecture on Gullah history and culture will provide educational insights. Community engagement and free access to events highlight the museums’ commitment to celebrating this significant cultural heritage.
Savannah, Georgia – Telfair Museums is set to celebrate the 18th year of its Juneteenth observance with two key events that highlight the cultural and historical contributions of the Gullah Geechee people. The Juneteenth Free Family Day will be held at the Jepson Center on Saturday, June 7, 2025, with free admission for local residents. Additionally, a Juneteenth Lecture featuring Ron Daise will take place at the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
The Free Family Day at the Jepson Center will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 7. Residents of Chatham, Effingham, Bryan, Liberty, Bulloch, Beaufort, and Jasper Counties can explore the Jepson Center and the Telfair Academy at no cost. Family art-making activities and performances are scheduled between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The day’s celebrations will commence with a libation ceremony, hosted on the steps of the Jepson Center, showcasing drumming performances led by Jamal Toure of the African Spirit. Queen-Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation, will engage attendees with her storytelling, adding depth to the cultural significance of the day.
In addition, the afternoon will feature a performance by Ron Daise, widely recognized as “Mr. Ron” from the beloved children’s program “Gullah Gullah Island,” along with +artist demonstrations by Gregory Grant, a sweetgrass basket maker, and painter Napoleon Wilkerson. The Front Porch Step Team will also present a youth performance, emphasizing community participation and the passing down of tradition.
The Telfair Academy will exhibit the “Craft Along the Coast” exhibition, which will spotlight the work of African American woodcarvers and basket makers, further enhancing the cultural experience available to attendees.
The Juneteenth Lecture, hosted at the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum on June 10 at 6 p.m., features Ron Daise. His talk will delve into Gullah Geechee culture and history, exploring the connections between his novella “We Wear the Mask, Unraveled Truths in a Pre-Gullah Community” and Paul Laurence Dunbar’s renowned poem “We Wear the Mask.” This lecture aims to educate the public on the resilience, dignity, and historical significance of the Gullah Geechee people.
The events are free and accessible to the public, reflecting Telfair Museums’ commitment to educating attendees about the historical contributions of Gullah Geechee culture. Through these initiatives, the museums aim to foster a greater understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by this community throughout history.
Vaughnette Goode-Walker, Director of the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, expressed enthusiasm over the collaboration with Telfair Museums for these meaningful Juneteenth programs, highlighting the importance of community involvement and shared history.
Individuals interested in learning more about the Juneteenth events can find additional details on the Telfair Museums website.
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