Historic Columbia Foundation celebrates 35 years of Jubilee: Festival of Heritage
The Historic Columbia Foundation presents the 35th anniversary of Jubilee: Festival of Heritage on August 24. Jubilee celebrates the rich cultural heritage and entrepreneurial spirit of the Mann-Simons family and is held on the grounds of the Mann-Simons Site in Columbia, S.C. The festival is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
A sample of festival activities:
- Live musical entertainment including R&B, jazz, blues and gospel
- Vendors with African-influenced and traditional merchandise
- Crafts and activities for children
- Tours of the Mann-Simons Site (adults $1/children free)
- Bus tours of African-American heritage sites (adults $2/children free), the Modjeska Simkins property
- Many other events throughout the day
View the list of participating artists and vendors and find more information on Historic Columbia Foundation’s website. (Pictured: Indigo artist Arianne King Comer at Jubilee 2012.)
About the Mann-Simons Family:
Although only one house stands today, the Mann-Simons Site historically was a collection of commercial and domestic spaces owned and operated by the same African-American family from at least 1843 until 1970. Former slaves from Charleston, Celia Mann, a midwife, and Ben Delane, a boatman, became the first generation of family members to live on the property and laid a social and material foundation that allowed successive generations to pursue a variety of businesses and social undertakings.
The property and its multiple buildings changed considerably over time to better accommodate the needs, tastes, and aspirations of this remarkable family.
Historic Columbia Foundation recently completed the Mann-Simons Outdoor Museum, a free exhibit featuring five ghost structures, interactive wayside signage and a new website, www.mannsimons.com. This outdoor museum is a first for South Carolina and one of a handful of its kind nationwide.
Via: Historic Columbia Foundation