The annual Sweetgrass Festival in Mount Pleasant is designed to promote and bring attention to the contributions of the Gullah Geechee people’s history, culture, traditions and their sweetgrass basket art form that originated in Mount Pleasant and continues to exist in our town and surrounding communities today.

Offering free admission, entertainment and activities, the Sweetgrass Festival also provides an opportunity for local basket makers to showcase, promote and market their sweetgrass merchandise to locals as well as cultural tourists from around the country.

Additionally, the Sweetgrass Festival provides an opportunity for engagement, interaction and exposure to the Gullah Geechee people’s cultures.  Informative and interesting educational sessions will enlighten and entertain participants of all ages.

In 2006, Governor Jim Hodges designated the Sweetgrass Basket making art form as the SC Official Art Craft. With the largest percentage of the original sweetgrass basket makers living within Mount Pleasant and surrounding communities, Mount Pleasant is also known as the home of the Original Sweetgrass Basket Makers. A significant portion of Mount Pleasant Highway 17 has been designated by SCDOT as the Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway. These are all bona fide claims that can be made nowhere else in our country.

Schedule of Events:
2022 Stage Performance Schedule:
(Just a little teaser for what you can expect in 2023!)

10:00 - Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie Opens Festival
MPFD Honor Guard National Anthem - Rose Di Mambro-Dillon
10:05 - The Plantation Singers
10:30 - Bruce Ingram
11:00 - Brian Burchfield
11:30 - Island Duo Steel Drum Band
12:00 - Honey Bea’s Production
12:30 - Deacon Abraham Heyward & the Mighty Rushing Wind
12:45 - Jessica Berry
1:15 - Wendell Culbreath “The Dubber”
2:30 - Wona Womalan West African Drum & Dance Ensemble

Cooper River Room Schedule:

All Day
Slave Artifact Display; George Bryant
Historical Reenactments with Bruce Ingram

Programs:
10:30 - Heirs Property Discussion
11:30 - Sweetgrass Basket Making Demonstration
12:30 - Gulllah Storytelling - Glander Pressley
1:30 - Sweetgrass Basket Making Demonstration
2:30 - Heirs Property Discussion

Date:
July 22, 2023

Time:
10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location:
Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park,
99 Harry Hallman Jr. Blvd.,
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

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