Celebrate the Rich History of the Gullah Geechee Culture at Ricefest
We can’t wait for RiceFest, the annual event that happens in Riceboro each year! The annual weekend of celebration honors the rich history of some of the first people who lived right here in Liberty County – the Gullah Geechee. This year the 3-day event will take place on the weekend of November 10-12. It’s going to be a weekend full of fun! Keep reading to find out more.
Even though it lasts all weekend, the main attraction is on Saturday! See the full schedule of events below. ⬇️
Friday, November 10th
Beginning at 6pm at the Riceboro Youth Center, 5649 S. Coastal Highway, attendees can enjoy live music, comedy performances, dancing, food and drinks! Special guests include comedian Small Fire A.K.A. Small Fry, TG Live True Gentlemen, DJ Kappavelli and comedian Nick Lewis.
Saturday, November 11th
RiceFest begins at 9am at 4614 S. Coastal Hwy in Riceboro. The annual outdoor event will host even more special guests, and it is completely free!
Sunday, November 12th
GospelFest featuring headliner Melvin Williams and Lemmie Battles will be hosted by Shannon LeCounte. The event will take place at the Riceboro Youth Center, 5649 S. Coastal Highway. Doors open at 5pm and the show starts at 6pm! Buy your ticket at www.cityofriceboro.org
Things to Know:
- The main attraction on Saturday is free and begins at 9am and goes on until the party stops!
- It is outdoors and lasts all day. We all know how fall is in south Georgia, so you may want to bring some sunscreen.
- The City of Riceboro works hard to ensure only the best entertainment for the guests flowing in to attend. Some of them include: Heatwave, Carolina Lindsey, Queen Thickums, Dats Pressure, Special Formula Band featuring Men of Soul, Mizz Coco & more!
- There will be special guests hosting the event! Join Dean Roberts of Phatt Katz and Shannon LeCounte.
A Quick History of the Gullah Geechee People and the Rice Industry in Liberty County
Ralph Daniel
One staple that holds historical and cultural significance to our coastal community is rice. The low country as a whole has an extensive history related to the rice industry but many may not know its influence on Liberty County!
Tucked away in the marsh grass you will find one of our hidden coastal gems, Riceboro. The oldest existing city in Liberty County! It’s easy to spend an afternoon riding through this quiet community on winding dirt roads with scenic glimpses of coastline. Riceboro is so much more than what meets the eye! It was once a bustling agricultural haven for rice plantations and received the name Riceboro due to the rice that was being grown here. You will not find fields of rice anymore but the heritage influenced by the industry is still prominent today!
The early colonists discovered how perfect the coastline was for growing rice, but were not sure how to be successful in the industry. When they began searching for workers, they sought out people who already knew how to plant, harvest and process rice. Those people were predominantly from the western coast of Africa, also known as the “Rice Coast,” from Senegal down to Sierra Leone.
The people brought over from those places influenced the native Gullah people who are still prominent in coastal areas of the United States, including our very own Liberty County. The Gullah Geechee have strong ties with their African cultural heritage to include names, a Creole language, handicrafts and folktales. In coastal Georgia, the Gullah folks are referred to as Geechee and are the people who have the only distinctly African creole language in the United States.
Additional Information:
In 2007 Riceboro hosted the first event created to bring the community together to celebrate, embrace, and learn about the history of the area. RiceFest provides education and entertainment honoring the heritage and cultural influence that was formed by the local rice industry and the Gullah people.
Each year there are lots of different things that take place including a gospel fest and a homecoming dance – but the most important takeaway from the event each year is the celebration of Riceboro and the Gullah Geechee people.
#ExploreLiberty and head over to Riceboro and take part in the RiceFest activities the weekend of November 10-12. For more information, please contact Riceboro City Hall at 912.884.2986. See y’all there!
