Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort, SC
Travel Article

Beaufort County Water Festival:
A Great Time For All Ages

In July “Beautiful Beaufort By The Bay” celebrates its great Sea Islands heritage and present-day progress with Water Festival. Its official roots began in the 1930's, when on-shore parties accompanied sailboat races on the Beaufort River. The Festival also dates back to the antebellum era when plantation owners raced barges on our Low Country waters. Then and now this event draws huge crowds from all over to enjoy the fun and celebrate our close connection to the water.

The home of Water Festival , Beaufort, South Carolina, is the second oldest city in the state. Beaufort is nestled on the coast between Charleston, SC (70 miles north) and Savannah, GA (45 miles south), and is just an hour's drive from the popular resort island of Hilton Head. Beaufort is easily accessible from US Highway 17 or Interstate 95 (exits 38, 33 or 8). Many of the events take place in the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, a seven-acre recreational area in the heart of the downtown historic district overlooking the Beaufort River. Other events take place right on Bay Street in the center of the city. There is the ever-popular street dance, parade and hilarious bed races.

Water Festival begins a week ahead of the opening ceremony with a golf, horseshoe, fishing, billiards, bowling, and youth soccer tournaments. There is also a kayak race. Opening night is free to all providing patriotic entertainment by the Parris Island US Marine Corps Band and Fireworks over the river. It is a spectacular evening with families and friends gathered in this idyllic waterfront park with their lawn chairs and refreshment purchases benefiting many community organizations.

Saturday is filled with events such as craft fairs, toad fishing, tennis tournament, the highly personal local challenge of the raft race, as well as a badminton tournament, sailing regatta and water event show. This full day ends with a concert in the park. Sunday offers the very popular River Rally event with boats of all sizes tying up together on the sandbar in the river. Many boaters from all over have enjoyed this event for years and it is most definitely a huge part of local tradition during Water Festival. The crafts, art, coast guard cutter, water event show, and Bocce Tournament add to the fun of the day. A Teen Dance caps off the Sunday events.

Monday is children’s day and Community Service Agencies Appreciation night. The craft fair and art show remains at the festival all week. Tuesday is always a very popular day with the all-day croquet tournament and Reggae Night entertainment. Wednesday provides another local favorite, the Talent Show. This event showcases the areas finest performers on stage in the beautiful Waterfront Park. Thursday continues with crafts, croquet and an antique show and sale. The Low Country Supper and entertainment top off another fabulous day. Low Country favorite cuisine, Frogmore Stew is served to thousands. Frogmore Stew showcases our local favorites: shrimp and corn boiled along with sausage and potatoes. It’s mighty fine local fare.

Friday night fun begins with the “Bed Races” down Bay Street. Teams push a gurney with a rider down the main street of town. Although they wear silly costumes and laugh most of the way down the street, this is serious competition in this town. Friday night the street dance has locals and visitors from all over dancing and conversing in the street. Southern hospitality and small town fun define this special evening.

Saturday offers the Grand Parade in the morning, shrimp boat and Coast Guard cutter tours, air show and Commodore’s Ball. Sunday is the closing day but the fun doesn’t end. The Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats begins the day. Beaufort takes great pride in its Fleet of Shrimp Boats and it is a spectacular event to see. This year there will be a free blue grass concert in the afternoon with the events culminating with an air show by Beaufort’s own Marine Corp Air Station.

All of this does not just happen. Many, many community businesses, organizations and people volunteer huge amounts of time to make this annual event an affair to remember. The incredible time planning this event rivals major parades in that the day after Water Festival ends the committee is already planning the next year’s events. Much praise and gratitude is due to these fine men, women and teens of Beaufort. This is just one of the many annual events which showcase our Low Country pride, heritage and just plain love of fun. Come enjoy the hospitality of this small historic but mighty little city. You’ll come back again and again.

For more details about events, contact
Beaufort County , P.O. Box 52,
Beaufort, South Carolina 29901
or call 843-524-0600

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