COLUMBIA -- From a small Sunday afternoon event to a three-day celebration on two historic properties, "Jubilee: Festival of Heritage" has become one of Columbia's longest-running cultural festivals. This year, the Historic Columbia Foundation will present the festival's 30th anniversary from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.

To celebrate, the festival has been expanded from 1403 Richland St., site of the Mann-Simons Cottage, to 2025 Marion St., former home of civil rights leader Modjeska Monteith Simkins. Visitors can enjoy two stages of entertainment, tours and cultural programs while celebrating the life and contributions of freed slave Celia Mann and her descendants, who lived and worked at the Richland Street site until 1970.

Some of the region's best demonstration artists, musical performers and vendors are scheduled to appear at this year's festival. Scheduled activities and programs include hands-on children's activities, storytellers, step teams, heritage sites tours, tours of the Mann-Simons Cottage, exhibits and book signings.

Festivalgoers can expect an array of cultural entertainment and programs, including a performance by R&B and disco icon Evelyn "Champagne" King, a step team showcase and an archaeology presentation revealing stories and artifacts from the Mann-Simons property.

In recognition of the festival's 30th year, the Historic Columbia Foundation will honor the 30 most significant black Americans from Columbia and Richland County. Recipients will be individuals who have made a long-lasting and significant impact on their community, state or nation. Honorees will be announced Thursday, Aug. 21, during a tribute gala that will kick off the Jubilee weekend festivities. On Friday, Aug. 22, the Historic Columbia Foundation will hold a dialogue featuring local and regional scholars who will discuss the recipients, their contributions to society and their relevance in the community today.

"Jubilee" is a celebration in honor of Celia Mann and her descendants. Mann, an enslaved Charlestonian midwife, gained her freedom, walked to Columbia and acquired a circa-1850 cottage before the Civil War. Her descendants occupied the home for more than 100 years until it was restored as a house museum in the 1970s. The Mann-Simons Cottage is one of only a few houses in South Carolina once owned by free blacks in antebellum days and now preserved as a historic house museum. The collections in the cottage reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of free blacks. An exhibit area in the cottage presents information on Mann and her descendents, the restoration of the cottage and the archaeological excavation at the site.

For more information on "Jubilee: Festival of Heritage," call 803-252-1770 or visit www.HistoricColumbia.org.

"Jubilee: Festival of Heritage" performance schedule, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23

Mann-Simons Cottage, 1403 Richland St. -- Kiss 103.1 Main Stage

10-10:30 a.m. -- Jubilee Choir: Second Calvary Baptist Church, First Nazareth Baptist Church and First Calvary Baptist Church

10:30-10:45 a.m. -- Benedict College Concert Choir

11 a.m.-noon -- Aunt Perlie Sue (Storyteller, Singer)

12:15-1 p.m. -- Jarvis Brothers (Gospel)

1-1:45 p.m. -- Drink Small (Blues)

2:15-3 p.m. -- High Fidelity (Jazz)

3:15-3:30 p.m. -- Drumline and step-off

4-4:45 p.m. -- Tailor Made (R&B)

5-6 p.m. -- Evelyn "Champagne" King

City of Columbia Community Stage

10:30-11 a.m. -- Double Dutch Forces

11-11:15 a.m. -- Adrienne Pruitt (Praise Dancer)

11:30-noon -- Logan Elementary Steel Drum Band

12:15-12:45 p.m. -- Eau Claire High School Jazz Band

1:15-1:45 p.m. -- Ibile African Drummers

2-3 p.m. -- Step Team Showcase

4-4:30 p.m. -- Triple Threat Hip Hop Dancers

Other events

11 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Historic house tours

Noon -- Interpretative Storyteller Kitty Wilson-Evans

2 p.m. -- Mann-Simons archaeology presentation

Special to The T&D

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