The Clotilda Reunion and Tourism Symposium

May 3, 2026 • 2:30 – 4:30 pm

Join us in Gee’s Bend for a special panel discussion
featuring Clotilda descendants from Africatown and Gee’s Bend, Alabama.

The program will take place at the Gee’s Bend Welcome Center against the backdrop of the exhibition Between History & Memory: Dinah Miller’s Legacy in Gee’s Bend, which explores the legacy of the first known named Gee's Bend quiltmaker and Clotilda survivor, Dinah Miller.

The symposium will also include a presentation on tourism initiatives in Africatown. Representatives from Clotilda: The Exhibition, Africatown Freedom Tours, and the Dora Franklin Finley Africatown American Heritage Trail will share opportunities to explore the historic Africatown community through authentic, place-based experiences.

Register Here

In-person and online
Suggested donation: $15 per person

PRIMARY IMAGE: MATT ARNETT | QUILTER PORTRAITS: STEPHEN PITKIN

Schedule of Events

2:30 PM • Curator’s Welcome & Exhibition Tour

Emma Yau, Assistant Curator at Souls Grown Deep, will open the program with a welcome and guided introduction to Between History & Memory: Dinah Miller’s Legacy in Gee’s Bend.

3:00–4:00 PM • Clotilda Descendants Panel Discussion

Moderated by Jessica Fairley, Manager of the Africatown Heritage House, this panel brings together descendants of Clotilda survivors from Africatown and Gee’s Bend. Panelists will share personal histories, family legacies, and reflections on the enduring cultural connections between the two communities.

4:00–4:30 PM • Tourism Symposium: Africatown Initiatives

Representatives from leading Africatown organizations—including Clotilda: The Exhibition, Africatown Freedom Tours, and the Dora Franklin Finley Africatown American Heritage Trail—will present on current tourism initiatives and opportunities to engage with Africatown through meaningful, place-based experiences.

Moderator

Moderator

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Gee’s Bend Spring Yard Show is a community-wide, self-guided event that invites residents to display quilts, artwork, and handmade goods in their yards, porches, and other outdoor spaces. Visitors are encouraged to explore Gee’s Bend at a relaxed pace and discover the community's creativity.

  • Saturday, April 25, 2026
    10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

  • Across Gee’s Bend and Alberta, Alabama. Participating locations will be shared via an event map.

  • Maps of participating locations will be emailed to all registered guests during the week of the event.

    Printed maps will also be available for pick-up on the day of the event at:

    Gee's Bend Welcome Center
    12021 Co Rd 29, Boykin, AL 36723

    Sew Gee's Bend Heritage Builders
    15173 Co Rd 29, Alberta, AL 36720

    Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy
    4295 County Road 29, Alberta, AL 36720

  • The Yard Show is free and open to the public. A suggested donation of $25 is encouraged to help support the event and future community programming.

  • Yes. Advance registration ensures you receive the event map by email and important updates.

    In addition, the first 100 registered attendees who contribute $25 or more will receive a one-of-a-kind letterpress poster, designed and printed especially for the Yard Show by Hatch Show Print.
    Posters must be picked up in person on the day of the event at the Gee’s Bend Welcome Center.

  • Food and refreshments may be available along the route through independent vendors. All food sales are operated separately from the Yard Show and are not managed by event organizers. Availability, menus, and pricing will vary by vendor.

  • You’ll encounter quilts displayed on clotheslines, artwork and crafts presented outdoors, and other creative expressions shared throughout the community. Each stop offers a unique glimpse into the creative life of Gee’s Bend.Item description

  • Some participants may offer work for sale, while others are sharing work for display only. Availability will vary by location.

  • Yes. The Yard Show is designed as a welcoming, all-ages experience.

  • Visitors should be aware that there are no sidewalks in Gee’s Bend, and many driveways and roads are unpaved. Most displays are visible from the roadside or yard, but terrain may be uneven. We encourage guests to plan accordingly and reach out in advance with specific accessibility questions.

  • Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended. Please plan for outdoor conditions—sun protection, water, and weather-appropriate clothing are encouraged.

  • Photography for personal use is generally welcome. Please be respectful and ask permission before photographing individuals or specific works.

  • The Gee’s Bend Spring Yard Show is organized by Visit Gee’s Bend in collaboration with community members and local partners.

  • The Gee’s Bend Spring Yard Show takes place in private yards and outdoor spaces throughout the community. Because of the decentralized and intimate nature of the event, media access is limited and requires advance registration.

    All members of the press, documentary teams, and commercial content creators must register in advance and agree to the event’s media guidelines.

    Media participants must:

    • Obtain permission before entering or filming on private property

    • Receive consent before photographing or interviewing individuals

    • Refrain from filming minors without guardian permission

    • Avoid drone use without prior written approval

    Visit Gee’s Bend cannot guarantee access to specific artists or private spaces.

    For full details, please review our Media Guidelines here.

    👉 Register for press access

  • Community members interested in hosting a Yard Show display are invited to register in advance by emailing carly@visitgeesbend.org.

    Participation details and guidelines will be shared with registered hosts.

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