Historic Columbia to Host 43rd Annual Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture

Join Historic Columbia (HC) at Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture presented by Bank of America from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18. Now in its 43rd year, Jubilee, a free, outdoor festival, brings musicians, artisans, dancers and storytellers together to celebrate on the grounds of the Mann-Simons Site. 

After a virtual platform in 2020, Jubilee this year is centered on the return of live performances from noteworthy local artists and vendors. Visitors can again enjoy South Carolina-based entertainment – in -person.  

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control (DHEC) will be on-site from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., offering COVID-19 vaccines. All three authorized COVID-19 vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson – will be available, as well as booster shots for those who are eligible.  

The musical lineup features local acts Musical Solutions, Reggie Sullivan and TiffanyJ. 

Musical Solutions performs a variety of genres and can be seen at local festivals, weddings and family reunions. The eight-member band has a distinct Palmetto State flavor with Columbia native Lucious Frierson, Jr., playing the keyboard and assisting with vocals. Vocalist and songwriter Tammy Gillett is from Lancaster, South Carolina, and Kenny Rolle, Sr., a Columbia resident, has built a reputation as one of the most “go-to” drummers in the area.  

Reggie Sullivan is the lead of the Columbia-based Reggie Sullivan Band. Sullivan was recently named “Best Local Jazz or Blues Artist” by the Free Times for 2021. The local publication noted of Sullivan, “Blues-jazz or jazz-blues? For bassist/singer/bandleader Reggie Sullivan, it really doesn’t matter. He’s as comfortable fronting a pop-rock combo as he is sliding into a dazzling jazz solo, and that’s true whether he’s in the corner of a noisy bar or suited up for a performance of the big band-oriented South Carolina Jazz Masterworks. He’s everybody’s go-to bassist because he’s got all the range.” 

TiffnayJ is a Columbia singer, songwriter and proud Keenan High School alumna. An accomplished voice in the community, TiffanyJ won BET 's “Pitch Your Hustle” competition in 2018 for her Super Beauty Pep Talker doll that helps to combat bullying and boosts self-esteem in children. 

Below is a full list of the festival’s entertainment lineup: 

11 a.m. TiffanyJ 

Noon Musical Solutions 

1 p.m. Reggie Sullivan 

3 p.m. Mrs. Jenkins Dance Academy 

4 p.m. Divas of Perfection Dance Team 

5 p.m. Pride Ensemble  

The festival will also include a children’s area with educational and family-friendly activities. In addition, there will be many vendors selling food aligned with the cultural representations found at the festival. Demo artists, such as sweet grass basket weaver and Jubilee staple Mary Graham-Grant, will also perform.  

The 43rd annual Jubilee is an open-air event with activities and entertainment across two blocks, from Mann-Simons Site to the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House, allowing ample space for social distancing between vendors and attendees. Hand sanitizer stations will be in place throughout the event space. 

Jubilee, Columbia’s longest running festival, is a free event and made possible by its generous sponsors Bank of America, Palmetto Citizens Credit Union, McDonald’s, Publix Charities, The Big DM, Hot 103.9, WACH FOX 57, DHEC, Richland County, The Links Inc., Lourie Life & Health, Something Borrowed, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Experience Columbia SC, City of Columbia, South Carolina ETV, Keep the Midlands Beautiful, Carolina Panorama, South State Bank, EFinancial Advisors and The Rutherford Law Firm.  

Visit JubileeSC.org to learn more.