Image by Flickr user concubineImage by 20090525-sweetgrass.jpg

The Sweetgrass Festival on Friday, June 5th, and Saturday the 6th at Laing Middle School will celebrate the rich Gullah Geechee cultural heritage and provides the most extensive showcase of sweetgrass baskets in the Lowcountry area.

This year's event features an assortment of unique handmade arts & crafts, paintings, live performances, and documentary films.

Here's a bit more about it from their Web site:

This year's event features an assortment of unique handmade arts & crafts, paintings, live performances, and documentary films. Festival-goers will enjoy two days filled with entertainment that includes gospel songs and praise dance, storytelling and Gullah Geechee skits, basket-making demonstrations and the Adande African Drummers and Dancers. Visitors will be treated to a variety of authentic Gullah cuisine, classic barbeque, fish, chicken and beverages offered for sale by more than 15 Lowcountry restaurants and food vendors. Children and adults will enjoy family friendly activities including a waterslide.

Publicians on Lowcountry Gullah Geechee history, fiction, and cookbooks will be available for sale as well. Featured authors include.....

Admission and parking are free. The festival is a family event and no alcohol is sold. Animals, skateboards, and bicycles are not allowed. Businesses interested in becoming a sponsor for the event should contact Thomasena Stokes-Marshall at (843) 856.9732.

For more on the festival, check out the event Web site.

Laing Middle School is located 2213 Highway 17 North in Mount Pleasant.