COAST TO CULTURE SCHEDULE

JOIN US FOR THE DRAKE BSO
REUNION LABOR DAY WEEKEND

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3–SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2026

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Four Days to Remember

This is sure to be an unforgettable reunion inspired by the open skies and coastal air and the culture of Charleston. Get ready to experience specially curated events for four days to remember! Don’t miss your chance to relive old memories and make new ones!

DAY 1

Thursday, September 3, 2026

3:00 PM – Hotel Check-In: Get settled and ready for a weekend full of fun.

5:00-8:00 PM – Registration | Francis Marion Hotel, Laurens Room: Sign in and pick up your exclusive reunion swag.

7:00 PM Until – Low Country Black Jeopardy: A fast-paced, laugh-out-loud game night inspired by shared experiences, cultural references, and a little Lowcountry flavor. No trivia expertise required—just come ready to play, guess, laugh, and enjoy the moment with friends old and new.

Hospitality Lounge: Open All Weekend In The Francis Marion Hotel

DAY 2

Friday, September 4, 2026

ON YOUR OWN | Breakfast

Registration 8:00-10:00 AM: Poinsette Room

OPTIONAL | 8:00 AM Golf Outing: Play Golf at Dunes West Golf & River Club Charleston's Favorite 18 Hole Course Complete with Driving Range and Pro Shop. RESERVATION REQUIRED.

OPTIONAL | 9:30 AM-10:30 PM Charleston City Market: One of Charleston's most iconic destinations, the Charleston City Market stretches four blocks through the heart of the Historic District. Browse locally crafted art, handmade sweetgrass baskets, specialty foods, gifts, and unique Lowcountry treasures while meeting artisans whose work reflects the city's rich creative heritage. Whether you're shopping for souvenirs or simply soaking in the atmosphere, the market is an easy walk from the Francis Marion Hotel and a must-see during your stay.

INCLUDED | 10:00 AM OR 1:00 PM International African American Museum: The IAAM is a museum of African-American history in Charleston, South Carolina, located at a former shipping wharf where approximately 40% of the nation's enslaved persons disembarked. The museum opened June 27, 2023, after 20 years of planning. RESERVATION REQUIRED.

INCLUDED | 6:00 PM Dinner & Comedy at Circular Congregational Church, Lance Hall: Gather with classmates and guests for an evening of Southern hospitality at historic Circular Congregational Church. Enjoy a delicious dinner, reconnect with friends, and reflect together during our annual In Memoriam tribute as we honor the classmates, family members, and friends whose lives continue to shape our Drake BSO story.

The evening will be hosted by acclaimed comedian and actor Tony Tone (Anthony Luewellyn), whose remarkable career spans television, film, and live entertainment. Renowned for his spot-on celebrity impressions and engaging stage presence, Tony has appeared on HBO's Def Comedy Jam, BET's Comic View, Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed, and has entertained audiences nationwide as the charismatic Ringmaster of the UniverSoul Circus. His signature blend of humor, heart, and audience connection promises an unforgettable evening of laughter, fellowship, and celebration.

INCLUDED | 8:30-11:00 PM Bulldogs On the Bass Party with DJMA at Circular Congregational Church, Lance Hall: Known as the original DJ behind some of the most iconic Southern bass groups–Chill Deal Boyz, 95 South, 69 Boyz, and Quad City DJ's–his sound helped define an era of party music that still moves the crowd today. DJMA will keep the party going in Charleston.

Hospitality Lounge: Food and libations await! Open All Weekend In The Francis Marion Hotel.

DAY 3

Saturday, September 5, 2026

INCLUDED | 8:00-9:30 AM Breakfast: Francis Marion Hotel, Poinsette Room Southern Style Continental Breakfast – fruit, yogurt, choice of egg and cheese, sausage, egg, & cheese, or ham, egg, & cheese croissants, maple pecan danishes, and other assorted baked fresh muffins, with coffee, Charleston Tea Garden tea, and assorted juices.

OPTIONAL | 8:00 AM Golf Outing: Play Golf at Links at Stono Ferry Golf Course Charleston’s premier semi-private golf escape. Set amidst South Carolina Lowcountry breezes from the Intracoastal Waterway and centuries-old live oaks, Stono Ferry is the perfect refuge from society’s hustle. RESERVATION REQUIRED.

OPTIONAL | 8:00 AM-2:00 PM Charleston Farmer's Market • Marion Square: Spend your Saturday morning at one of the nation's premier open-air markets in the heart of historic Charleston. Held in Marion Square, just steps from the Francis Marion Hotel, the Charleston Farmers Market features fresh Lowcountry produce, artisan foods, handcrafted goods, local artists, live music, and specialty vendors. It's the perfect place to browse, shop, grab breakfast or lunch, and experience the vibrant community spirit that makes Charleston so memorable.

INCLUDED | 10:00 AM Drake Street Group Picture: A street named Drake? We can't resist! Wear your DRAKE UNIVERSITY and/or reunion swag, and meet us on the corner of Drake & Blake.

ON YOUR OWN | Explore Charleston: View our interactive map for a curated list of what to see, do, and experience.

INCLUDED | 9:00 AM-5:00 PM | Old Slave Market Museum: Established in 1938, the Old Slave Mart Museum is Charleston’s oldest museum of African American history and the first museum on the history of slavery in the United States. Today, the Old Slave Mart Museum is owned and operated by the City of Charleston and is dedicated to sharing the story of the domestic slave trade. RESERVATION REQUIRED.

INCLUDED | 6:30-10:00 PM Coast to Culture Gala | Gold Room, Francis Marion Hotel, Includes Southern Dinner Buffet: While Charleston celebrates jazz throughout the city, Drake BSO Reunion guests will enjoy an exclusive private performance by acclaimed recording artist Miles Jaye.

The evening features a chef-prepared dinner and dancing as DJMA keeps the celebration alive with an unforgettable soundtrack of classic hits, old-school favorites, and today's grooves. It's a night of music, memories, and meaningful connections with classmates and new friends.

ATTIRE: LOWCOUNTRY LUXE | Celebrate the soul of historic Charleston in elevated coastal style. Inspired by the warmth, grace, and timeless beauty of the Lowcountry, we invite guests to wear soft neutrals—white, ivory, beige, tan, or champagne, and a hint of light blue—accented with your favorite metallics in gold, silver, or bronze. The historic Gold Room of the Francis Marion Hotel will create a stunning backdrop for our commemorative class photo.

PRESENTING SPONSORS:

Charles Barber

DRAKE UNIVERSITY '90

DAY 4

Sunday, September 6, 2026

8:00-9:30 AM – Breakfast & BSO Business Meeting: Francis Marion, Poinsette Room Buffet Breakfast Palmetto includes stone ground grits, buttermilk pancakes, sausage, gravy, roasted red potatoes, sliced fresh fruit and seasonal berries, individual fruit yogurts, assorted cereals, fresh scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon slices, coffee, herbal tea, and assorted juices.

Join us for a presentation of the 2027 reunion in Little Rock, Arkansas and to choose the 2029 location.

10:00 AM – Church Service: Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, colloquially Mother Emanuel, is a church in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 1817. It is the oldest AME church in the Southern United States; founded the previous year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, AME was the first independent black denomination in the nation.

Explore Charleston

FIND YOUR WAY AROUNDView Our Interactive Map

Join us in Charleston for the Drake BSO Reunion 2026. Inspired by the profound loss of Drake classmate Terri Day, our tradition was born in 2014. Each year, we gather to honor our shared Drake University and Black Student Organization experience, create new memories, and forge new friendships.