Offering free admission, entertainment, and activities, the Sweetgrass Festival also provides an opportunity for local basket makers to showcase, promote and market their sweetgrass merchandise to locals as well as cultural tourists from around the country.

Additionally, the Sweetgrass Festival provides an opportunity for engagement, interaction, and exposure to the Gullah People’s cultures. Informative and interesting educational sessions will enlighten and entertain participants of all ages.

In 2006, Governor Jim Hodges designated the Sweetgrass Basket-making art form as the SC Official Art Craft. With the largest percentage of the original sweetgrass basket makers living within Mount Pleasant and surrounding communities, Mount Pleasant is also known as the home of the Original Sweetgrass Basket Makers. A significant portion of Mount Pleasant Highway 17 has been designated by SC DOT as the Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway. These are all bona fide claims that can be made nowhere else in our country.