Free Gospel, Golf and Black History: Unity Weekend Brings the Village Together in Aiken, SC

Neighbors, grab your lawn chairs, because Aiken is about to host one of those weekends that reminds us why we love where we live. Umoja Village's fourth annual Unity Weekend runs October 16–18, 2026, and two of its three events are completely free.

From a charity golf tournament to a free gospel festival that organizers say draws 3,000 to 5,000 people to a traveling Black history museum, the whole weekend is built around one simple idea: when a community shows up together, everybody is better for it. Here's what you need to know before you go.

What's Happening Around the Village

Unity Weekend is hosted by Umoja Village in Aiken, South Carolina. It stretches across three days and three Aiken locations, so there's a way in for just about everyone, whether you love golf, gospel music, or history.

Friday, October 16: Unity Golf Tournament

The weekend opens at Cedar Creek Golf Club, 2555 Club Dr., Aiken, SC 29803, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Players can compete in a hole-in-one contest for a chance to win a car or truck, plus closest-to-the-pin and longest-drive contests.

There's also a silent auction, lunch, and an awards ceremony.

Proceeds support Umoja Village programs, including youth mentorship, adult second-chance programming, and the Richard Johnson, Jr. Umoja Village Resource Center. If you're reading this on Friday morning, the first tee shots may already be flying, but the rest of the weekend is still ahead of you.

Saturday, October 17: UnityFest

This is the big community gathering. UnityFest is a free gospel festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Beverly D. Clyburn Generations Park, 700 Mack Henry Holland Drive, Aiken, SC 29801. You may remember it as ShoutFest; organizers say it's a new name with the same community impact.

The lineup includes Wess Morgan, Terence Young, Kelantae Gavin, Laura Wilson, Bruce Robinson Jr., Akintunde, Chris Parker, and several other gospel artists, choirs, and praise dancers. There will also be vendors and a kids zone. A friendly tip from organizers: bring lawn chairs, but leave the coolers and tents at home.

Sunday, October 18: Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels

The weekend wraps up at the Center for African American History, Art and Culture, 120 York St. NE, Aiken, SC 29801, with a traveling exhibit called “Through the Eyes of Its People.” It runs from 1 to 5 p.m., and it's free and open to the public.

The Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels was founded by Angela Jennings in 1995. Its artifacts, memorabilia, and artwork span from 1860 to the present. The name comes from the Akan idea of “retrieving the wisdom of the past to build the future,” and the exhibit often highlights the stories of ordinary people. The Sunday event is co-sponsored by the City of Aiken.

Why It Matters

Some weekends are just on the calendar. Others actually knit a community tighter. Unity Weekend aims for the second kind by offering three very different doors into the same celebration: a day on the course, a day of music and fellowship, and an afternoon of history.

It also matters because of where the money and energy go. Golf proceeds support mentorship for young people and second-chance programming for adults, which are the kinds of neighbor-to-neighbor efforts that change lives long after the weekend ends. Organizers also note that some funding assistance comes from Aiken County Accommodations Tax Funds.

How This Impacts Our Community

Families get a free, kid-friendly Saturday with a kids zone and live music. Church groups, choirs, and gospel lovers get a stage that celebrates faith and fellowship. Students and history lovers get a hands-on look at Black history in a way a textbook can't always deliver.

Local vendors and visitors benefit too. Organizers have listed special Unityfest rates at the Hilton Garden Inn Aiken (350 East Gate Drive) and the Hampton Inn Aiken (2189 Oak Grove Road) for folks traveling in from around the CSRA. If you're coming over from Augusta, you might also enjoy our recent look at the Georgia-Carolina State Fair.

How You Can Get Involved

• Come to UnityFest. It's free, so bring the family and a lawn chair, and plan on 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. of music.

• Volunteer. Organizers are looking for volunteers, especially to help with the safety team during Unity Weekend.

• Sponsor. Vendor applications are closed, but sponsor applications are still being accepted through Umoja Village.

• Visit the Sankofa exhibit. Bring a grandparent, a youth group, or your Sunday school class on October 18 from 1 to 5 p.m.

• Support the mission. Whether through the golf tournament, a sponsorship, or simply showing up, you're backing youth mentorship and second-chance programs.

• Spread the word. Share this post with a neighbor who needs a good reason to get out of the house this weekend.

For registration, volunteer sign-ups, and the latest updates, visit Umoja Village's Unity Weekend page. A listing on the Thoroughbred Country South Carolina events page gives Umoja Village's contact as 803-226-0150 or umojavillage333@gmail.com. As with any event, check the organizer's page for last-minute changes before you head out.

Around the Village Calendar

• Friday, October 16, 9 a.m.: Unity Golf Tournament, Cedar Creek Golf Club, 2555 Club Dr., Aiken, SC.

• Saturday, October 17, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.: UnityFest (free), Beverly D. Clyburn Generations Park, 700 Mack Henry Holland Drive, Aiken, SC.

• Sunday, October 18, 1–5 p.m.: Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels (free), Center for African American History, Art and Culture, 120 York St. NE, Aiken, SC.

Sophie's Suggestions

Heading out to celebrate Black history and culture? These two in-stock finds from our shop fit right in:

• History Wasn't Just Erased, It Was Rewritten | Alkebulan T-Shirt: a conversation-starting tee for anyone who loves digging into history, a nice fit for a Sunday at the Sankofa exhibit.

• I Make Black History Sweatshirt | Black History Month Crewneck: a cozy crewneck for those cooler fall afternoons in the park.

Around the Village Takeaway

A village isn't built by buildings; it's built by people who keep showing up for each other, one song, one story, and one lawn chair at a time.

Want more neighborly news? Browse the rest of our Around The Village stories.