Exploring Kunta: Roots 50 Commemorative Experience

Exploring Kunta: Roots 50 Commemorative Experience is an immersive, three-day cultural heritage tour honoring the 50th anniversary of Alex Haley’s book Roots. It follows the path Kunta Kinte took after his forced arrival from Africa to the United States, tracing the journey from the water’s edge in Annapolis, MD to the communities where African Americans forged lives of resistance, resilience, and legacy in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, VA. Participants will explore African American history, genealogy, storytelling, and collective memory, connecting the legacy of Roots to living communities, living stories, and future generations.

AGENDA

Friday: August 7, 2026 – Annapolis, Maryland

Roots Begin at the Water

Participants gather at the Kunta Kinte–Alex Haley Memorial to honor the point of arrival and ancestral crossing.  Afterwards, there will be a 50th Anniversary Symposium on Oral History & Storytelling at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum. Through ceremony, storytelling, and guided exploration of African American maritime history, the day centers remembrance, grounding, and the beginning of lineage reflection.

Saturday: August 8, 2026 – Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania, Virginia

Community, Resistance, and Resilience

The journey continues through museums, cultural centers, and historic sites that illuminate how African Americans built community, preserved culture, and resisted erasure. Interactive mapping, oral histories, and collaborative art-making connect personal family stories to collective history. Participants stay overnight in a Fredericksburg hotel.

Sunday: August 9, 2026 – Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania

Legacy for the Future

The final day invites deeper genealogy exploration, reflection, and celebration at Joy Fest. Joy Fest closes the Roots 50 journey with a vibrant community celebration featuring local vendors, cultural experiences, and a headline gospel concert by acclaimed artist Luther Barnes, honoring legacy through joy, music, and togetherness. At the end of this day, participants depart for Annapolis via charter bus.

REGISTRATION TIERS

Explorer Pass

$200

Fully refundable until 7/21/26

Experience the complete three-day commemorative tour honoring the 50th anniversary of Roots. This tier includes transportation, guided programs, and cultural activities. All Explorer Pass participants receive the same core experience and commemorative materials as the Roots Tour Pass, excluding hotel accommodations.

Includes:

• Full three-day guided tour experience
• Round-trip motorcoach transportation
• Admission to all museums, workshops, and programs
• Welcome bag with commemorative memorabilia
• Participation in genealogy activities, art-making sessions, and gospel concert
• Access to all cultural meals and the closing celebration

Does Not Include:

• Hotel accommodations

CLOSING PROGRAM 8/9 12PM - 2PM

Tea with Mrs. Cleo Coleman

Musical Guest Nubirth

John J. Wright Educational & Cultural Center

Join us as we close Exploring Kunta: Roots 50th Commemorative Experience with an afternoon of tea, remembrance, and gratitude, featuring Mrs. Cleo Coleman alongside Bill and Chris Haley, grandson and nephew of Alex Haley.

$Pay What You Can

Roots Tour Pass SOLD OUT

$500

Fully refundable until 7/21/26

Experience the complete three-day commemorative tour honoring the 50th anniversary of Roots. This tier includes the full immersive experience of transportation, lodging, guided programs, and cultural activities. All full-tour participants receive the same core experience and commemorative materials as Tier 1, excluding the bonus meal voucher.

Includes:

• Full three-day guided tour experience
• Round-trip motorcoach transportation
• Hotel accommodations
• Admission to all museums, workshops, and programs
• Welcome bag with commemorative memorabilia
• Participation in genealogy activities, art-making sessions, and gospel concert
• Access to all cultural meals and the closing celebration