Willow Hill Heritage Festival Returns

Celebrating Stories, History, and Community

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.

✨ WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

FRIDAY 9:00 AM - 12 Noon

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the new outdoor community space
Guided museum tours

SATURDAY
8:00 AM – 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

1:00 PM– 6:00 PM

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

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
Interactive archiving workshops and oral history interviews
Museum tours and history exhibits

SUNDAY 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM:

Gospelfest — a spirited afternoon of gospel music and community fellowship

Food available Saturday and Sunday from Mosley Farms

“This festival is about honoring the past while investing in the future,” said Dr. Alvin D. Jackson, MD, WHHRC Board President. “We’re especially excited to host voices like Dr.Bailey, LaPortia Mosley, and Commissioner Ray Mosley, who help bring these important conversations to life.”

Location:
4235 Willow Hill Road Portal, Georgia 30450

Admission: Free and open to the public

Celebrate heritage, share your story, and connect with a legacy that continues to inspire. Every voice matters—especially yours. You, too, have a story to tell.
Community members are encouraged to bring funeral programs, photographs, and paper documents that may become part of the Willow Hill Community Archive—preserving local history for future generations.

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Browse videos below to see footage recorded during previous Heritage Festivals.

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