Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture

Join Historic Columbia at Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. Now in its 39th year, this free outdoor festival brings musician, artisans, dancers and storytellers together to celebrate South Carolina’s black history and culture on the grounds of the Mann-Simons Site. This year’s Jubilee will feature a head-lining performance from Cheri Maree, an international recording artist, songwriter and author who brings “soul jazz” to the center stage. A multi-talented vocalist and musician raised in Columbia, S.C., Cheri’s eclectic sound and style have graced the stage with legendary Grammy-winning artists, including Patti LaBelle, Al Jarreau, Hootie and the Blowfish and Brian McKnight. A handful of other performances from South Carolina musicians – representing a variety of genres, including R&B, jazz, gospel, soul and reggae – will take place throughout the festival. “When the festival started in 1978, it was a small community celebration,” said Robin Waites, Historic Columbia’s executive director. “Nearly four decades later, Jubilee has grown into a can’t-miss event that draws thousands of attendees from all over the state and region to celebrate with live music, performances, art, food and much more.” Jubilee will feature historic storytelling, artist demonstrations and family-friendly activities. Throughout the day, guests are invited to take house tours of the Mann-Simons Site and the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House for $1 and take the African American Historic Sites Bus Tour for $2. In addition, there will be a variety of outdoor vendors selling food, beverages, art and wares. Jubilee is made possible by the festival’s generous sponsors and is a free community event that will be held along the streets outside of the Mann-Simons Site at 1403 Richland Street in downtown Columbia. Visit JubileeSC.org for more information on the festival and the full line-up of entertainment and artists.