Savannah, Ga., February 4, 2015 - With tomorrow's Keynote address, the Georgia Historical Society is set to kick off the 2015 Georgia History Festival with a full slate of events beginning this week.
On Thursday, February 5, Dr. Dennis Blanton of James Madison University (formerly of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History), will discuss his work over the past decade to better define the route of Hernando de Soto’s 1540 expedition through Georgia through excavations at the site of a possible encampment in Telfair County. This event will take place at the Coastal Georgia Center in Savannah at 6:30 p.m. The event and parking are free.
The History Festival continues this weekend with two popular events. At the Colonial Faire & Muster at Wormsloe State Historic Site, February 7 & 8, visitors can experience the everyday life of colonial times through historical interpretation, cannon firings, demonstrations of cooking and craft techniques, all free of charge. Also this weekend is the annual Super Museum Sunday on February 8, when 50 sites throughout Coastal Georgia will open their doors to the public free for this one-day event. A full list of participating locations can be found at georgiahistory.com.
February 12, Shuman Elementary School will play host to the annual Shuman Cup Cricket Tournament where local school teams play colonial cricket, the favorite sport of the original Georgia colony.
Of course no event is more anticipated than the annual Trustees Gala, the Georgia Historical Society’s premiere annual event and the marquee of the Georgia History Festival. This year the Georgia Historical Society and the Office of the Governor will induct Alana Smith Shepherd, co-founder of Shepherd Center in Atlanta, and Paula S. Wallace, president and co-founder of Savannah College of Art and Design, as new Georgia Trustees. The induction will take place Saturday, February 14 at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah when GHS presents the heraldry of “The Seven Empires,” a majestic evening including lively conversation with the inductees and other local, state, and national leaders. Seats for this event can be purchased by calling the Georgia Historical Society at 912.651.2125, ext. 120 or online at georgiahistory.com.
The 2015 Georgia History Festival will conclude February 18 with the Georgia Day Parade. This annual commemoration of the founding of the Georgia colony on February 12, 1733, by James Edward Oglethorpe dates back to the earliest years of the colony’s founding. Students, musicians, local dignitaries, and costumed historical figures will march through Savannah’s historic squares during this beloved annual event.
The parade will be streamed live on WSAV.com and rebroadcast at noon on WSAV-TV and again at 7:00 p.m. on MyLC-TV. Check your local listings for location of those stations on your cable or satellite provider.
The Georgia History Festival is the signature K-12 educational program of the Georgia Historical Society. Held annually around the anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Georgia on February 12, 1733, this commemoration brings history to life for students of all ages through a variety of programs, including a series of in-school events.
For additional information on any of these events or to schedule interviews with Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society; Laura Garcia-Culler, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; Christy Crisp, GHS Director of Programs or Dr. Dennis Blanton please contact Patricia Meagher at 912-651-2125, ext. 153 or on cell at 434-996-7085 or by email at pmeagher@georgiahistory.com.
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