The Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center (WHHRC) invites the public to its annual Heritage Festival, a weekend of history, culture, and storytelling. This year’s theme, “Preserving the History of the Willow Hill Community: From Oral Traditions to Community Archiving—You Too Have a Story to Tell,” highlights the power of local memory and the importance of preserving the voices that shaped our communities.
The event takes place Friday, August 29th, through Sunday, August 31, 2025, at the historic Willow Hill School grounds (4235 Willow Hill Rd., Portal, GA).
Weekend Highlights
FRIDAY
9:00am-12 noon:
- Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the new outdoor community space
- Guided museum tours
SATURDAY
8:00am – 12:00 noon
- The William James High School Class of 1968 will host a Welcome Breakfast followed by a tour of the museum as part of their class reunion celebration
1:00pm – 6:00pm
- Featured presentation:
- “The Heroism of the Black Men of the Willow Hill Community During the 1946 Gubernatorial Election” — developed for the Association of African American Museums Conference, this presentation honors the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
- “The Heroism of the Black Men of the Willow Hill Community During the 1946 Gubernatorial Election” — developed for the Association of African American Museums Conference, this presentation honors the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
- Community Archiving Panel, featuring:
- Dr. Ronald W. Bailey, PhD, Professor Emeritus of African American Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign — a nationally recognized expert on Black political thought and community archives
- LaPortia Mosley, Community Engagement Officer at the Georgia Historical Society, presenting the statewide Community Archives Initiative
- Community Interview with Bulloch County Commissioner Ray Mosley — an engaging conversation highlighting local leadership, legacy, and vision for the future
SUNDAY
2:00pm - 4:00pm -- Gospelfest
Food will be available Saturday and Sunday from Mosely Farms.
The Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center is also honored to announce the installation of a permanent exhibit, "More Than a Name," commemorating Bulloch County's African American soldiers who gave their lives in WWI.
This powerful exhibit is a gift from the Georgia Southern Department of History and Dr. Brian Feltman. It serves as a lasting tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and service of these fallen heroes. It will stand as a permanent part of Willow Hill's mission to preserve and share the stories too often left out of the historical record.
The exhibit will be unveiled during the Willow Hill Heritage Festival weekend.
For more information on the festival, contact the WHHRC at [email protected] or (912) 865-7154.
