CRESCENT Events
Master Drummer Comes to Greenville
Master Drummer and Expert of Malinke rhythms Djembefola Bolokada will hold a workshop at the Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in their Annex Building from 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, February 23. All drumming levels are encouraged to attend and meet Bolokada to learn from him in this 1½-hour class. The cost is $22 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information or to reserve a spot in the class, contact Ben Weston at benkweston@gmail.com or call (504) 782-6319.
The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s Community Foundation to Host Blue View Art Exhibit
The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s Community Foundation will host the Blue View Artist Co-op from March 2 to April 26 in the Hill House Gallery. The exhibit will feature work from five of the six artists who make up the Blue View Artist Co-op: Donald Collins, Robin Giddings, Lou Peden, Joel Wilkinson, and Griz Hockwalt. These artists will be in attendance at a reception in their honor being held on March 2.
The Blue View exhibit will be open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Hill House Gallery, located at 534 Pine Grove Church Road in Sunset, S.C. Visitors are asked to call (864) 481-4010 prior to their visit. The artists reception will also be hosted at the Hill House Gallery from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on March 2. An RSVP is required to attend and should be sent via email to Kathryn Gravely at KGravely@reservekeowee.com or by calling (864) 481-4010.
Front Porch of the Lowcountry Gets in the “Swing” for Spring
The City of Walterboro, known for its historic charm and abundant natural resources, has a full lineup of events and outings for the spring, encouraging residents and visitors to get ready to take in all that the city, or the “front porch of the Lowcountry,” has to offer during this beautiful time of the year.
Saturday, March 10
On Saturday, March 10, ETV’s Naturalist and USC Adjunct Professor Rudy Mancke will join the Friends of the Great Swamp Sanctuary to celebrate Great Swamp Sanctuary Day. Starting at 9 a.m., Mancke will share his love of ecosystems during a “Walk and Talk” in the Great Swamp Sanctuary. This event will begin at the De Treville Street entrance (399 De Treville Street). Tickets go on sale locally beginning February 15 at Downtown Books & Espresso, located at 213 E. Washington Street. Contact Downtown Books & Espresso at 843-549-2241. Tickets will also be on sale at the Colleton Museum and the S.C. Artisans Center. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students 12 and under. For further information, contact the S.C. Artisans Center at 843-549-0011.
Saturday, April 14
As the weather continues to warm up, and things are in full bloom, the Friends of the Great Swamp Sanctuary will entice nature enthusiasts to get outside for another “Walk and Talk” through the Great Swamp Sanctuary, this time with Master Gardener Genia Floyd. This is a free event and will be held on Saturday, April 14, at 9 a.m., beginning at the De Treville Street entrance. Those seeking additional information should contact the Welcome Center at 843-538-4353 or visit www.walterborosc.org.
Saturday, April 21
Later that month, the fourth annual Walterboro Wings n’ Wheels will showcase over one hundred aircraft and show cars. Scheduled for Saturday, April 21, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walterboro Lowcountry Regional Airport. Admission is free. Donations will benefit the MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund. Additional information may be found at www.wings-n-wheels.org.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, April 27, 28 and 29
Meanwhile, the last weekend of April brings the return of the annual Colleton County Rice Festival. Held in downtown Walterboro, this three-day event will feature arts and crafts, food, fireworks, music and a dog show, and promises fun for the entire family. In honor of the festival, the annual Rice Festival Parade will be held on Saturday, April 28, at 11 a.m. Another signature event includes the 5K run and 5K walk, which begin at 8 a.m. that Saturday at the old Post Office on Washington Street. The Mile Fun Run will begin at the same location at 9 a.m. Cash prizes will be awarded to both a male and female finisher at an awards celebration. For more information, visit www.scfestival-rice.com.
Wednesday, May 2
Come May, the City of Walterboro will host the 10th annual Downtown Walterboro Criterium, an international bicycling competition that is part of the USA Crits Speed Week. This is a free event, and visitors are invited to watch some of the best cyclists in the world race through the streets of downtown Walterboro. The race will take place on Wednesday, May 2, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will also be a children’s race, and special needs bikes will be awarded through the Little Red Dog Foundation and the Walterboro Fire Department. For additional information, visit www.walterborosc.org, or call the Welcome Center at 843-538-4353.
Saturday, May 12
On Saturday, May 12, the Friends of the Great Swamp Sanctuary will host a “Walk and Talk” in the Great Swamp Sanctuary, this time with Biologist Travis Folk. This is a free event that will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the De Treville Street entrance. For further information, contact Celeste Stone at 843-549-7658.
Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19
Always popular, the 6th annual Walterboro Antiques, History & Arts Festival is planned for May 18 and May 19. To kick things off, a Pig Pickin’ will be held on Friday, May 18, from 6-8 p.m. at the South Carolina Artisans Center. Tickets for the barbeque cost $10.00 per person. Meanwhile, antique vendors will be on site both Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Washington and Lucas Streets. There will be antique appraisals, carriage tours through the historic district, and an antique tractor show and parade. Also on Saturday, the grand opening of the Walterboro Farmer’s Market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Additionally, a Folk Art Celebration will be held that Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the South Carolina Artisans Center, located at 318 Wichman Street, while a S.C. Watermedia Society Show will be going on at the Colleton Museum, located in the newly renovated building at 506 E. Washington Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Lowcountry Juried Art Exhibition also opens this weekend. This free event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. An awards reception will follow at 6 p.m. Visit www.scartisanscenter.com, or call 843-549-0011 for more information.
Edisto Set to Shift Seasons with a Bounty of Spring and Summer Events
With the end of winter not too far in the offing, the Edisto Island and Edisto Beach communities turn the corner toward spring and the long, languishing days of summer with events to showcase the food, history, and natural beauty of this quiet coastal island destination.
Ultimate Chef Competition
The Edisto Eats Food Festival draws to a close on March 17, when the 2nd annual Ultimate Chef Competition will take place at McConkey’s Jungle Shack at 2:00 p.m., followed by a community oyster roast, which begins at 5:00 p.m. There will also be an Arts & Craft Fair. At 8:30 a.m., the first annual Edisto Beach Road Race gets the day off to a running start.
Third Annual Lowcountry Classic High School Golf Tournament
From March 30 to April 1, the Plantation Course will host the third annual Lowcountry Classic High School Golf Tournament featuring 32 teams of young, talented golfers from all over South Carolina. The practice round will start after lunch on Friday, with competition beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. The final round will be held on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Seating is available free of charge.
Art Guild Spring Show and Sale
On Saturday, April 7, local artisans will showcase their wares at the annual Art Guild Spring Show and Sale from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event will be held at the Edistonian General Store, located at 406 Highway 174 on Edisto Island.
Bidding for History Silent Auction
April closes with the popular Bidding for History Silent Auction, to be held at Middleton Plantation on Saturday, April 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This popular event, in a picturesque setting with sumptuous cuisine to match, is sponsored by the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society. For additional information, visit www.edistomuseum.org.
Edisto Day Bazaar
May brings the Edisto Day Bazaar, an annual arts and crafts festival. The bazaar will be held on Saturday, May 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lions Club, located on Edisto Beach at 2907 Myrtle Street. This fun-filled event attracts all ages and features local arts and crafts, from trinkets to treasures, and tasty bites too.
Third Annual Edisto Beach Offshore Challenge
The ever-popular offshore fishing challenge is scheduled for May 5 at the Edisto Beach Marina. The Captain’s Meeting will be held at Dockside Restaurant May 4 at 7:30 p.m. For additional information, go to www.edistobeachoffshorechallenge.com.
Open Land Trust Legacy Live Oak Dedication Ceremony
The Open Land Trust Legacy Live Oak dedication ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 20. A speaker will be announced soon. The Land Trust is expanding their Back to Nature events in 2012 to include a series of nature tours, excursions, workshops, and lectures throughout the year. Visit www.edisto.org or call 843-869-7820 for more information on these exciting and interesting events.
Edisto Beach Fire Department’s Annual Fish Fry
Those longing for a taste of the local catch await the Edisto Beach Fire Department’s annual fish fry, to be held May 26 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club, located at 2907 Myrtle Street, Edisto Beach.
Tomato Open Golf Tournament
June has golfers preparing to take a swing as the Edisto Island Open Land Trust sponsors the annual Tomato Open Golf Tournament. The tourney, which is scheduled for June 23, will be held at the Plantation Course at Edisto, located within the Wyndham Resort across from Big Bay Creek on Edisto Beach. The festivities will kick off on June 22 with a pre-tournament cocktail party and live auction. For more information, visit www.theplantationcourseatedisto.com.
Eco Tours and Other Excursions
In addition to these scheduled events, summer brings out the crowds, including nature lovers, who flock to Botany Bay Plantation, a wildlife management area set on over 4000 acres of forest, marsh, and beach. Botany Bay Eco Tours offers a variety of eco-tours here, by foot, kayak, or boat. Visitors may also explore this pristine natural area on their own. Hours of operation are from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the summer months, excluding Tuesdays. For more information, call 843-869-2998 or visit www.botanybayplantation.com.
Other parts of the island are easily explored via a guided kayak excursion with Edisto Watersports & Tackle. For prices and tour times, visit www.edistowatersports.net or call 843-869-0663. Additionally, Island Bikes and Outfitters offers guided kayak tours of Edisto’s most secluded estuaries and beaches. More information can be found by calling 843-869-4444 or by visiting www.islandbikesandoutfitters.com.
Bingo
After a long day at play, some may be enticed by a seat indoors at the Edisto Lions Club, which will be hosting Bingo on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and games begin at 8:00 p.m. It is recommended that visitors arrive early to get a seat. Fun for all ages, Bingo will begin on June 5 and run through August 9. It will be held at the Lions Club, located on Edisto Beach at 2907 Myrtle Street.
Set in a rare, sparsely-developed corner of the world, Edisto, with its vast green spaces, ancient live oaks, wide open marsh views, and quiet, pristine beach, offers a coastal island experience uncommon today among Eastern seaboard communities. Visitors and residents alike enjoy a slower pace of life, coupled with a broad range of year-round recreational activities, all set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. This is the coastal island destination that is said to offer its own “state of mind…any time, any season.” For more information, please call the Edisto Chamber of Commerce at 843-869-3867 or 1-888-333-2781 or visit www.edistochamber.com.
