Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Catfish Festival in Kingsland, Georgia 2009

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The annual Catfish Festival held in historic downtown Kingsland draws over 75,000 people over three days.
This festival celebrates catfish, and you just have to taste the catfish served at this event. How do they do it? Who knows, it’s actually a secret recipe that has been used for years. But we do know that 10,000 pounds of farm-raised catfish is prepared for the festival, so you know that this is a popular dish at the festival. The catfish go on sale at 12:00 noon on Saturday and Sunday and 11:00 a.m. on Labor Day. Other menu items include the famous deep-fried onion blossoms, oriental fare, barbecue, and homemade ice cream.

The festival opens, as many festivals do, on Saturday, September 5th with a 5K run so you can work up an appetite and really make room for those 10,000 pounds of catfish. Booths filled with art, antiques, crafts and collectibles will open at noon on Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. on Labor Day.

During the three days from Saturday September 5 – Monday September 7, people will flood the streets of downtown Kingsland, Georgia to browse over hundreds of arts and crafts and antiques, sample the foods of nearly 30 different food vendors, and most importantly, sit down to enjoy farm-raised Southern Fried Catfish, hushpuppies, grits, coleslaw, and sweetened iced tea.

Schedule of Events


Saturday, September 5, 2009

7:30am 5K Run Registration begins at 6:45AM and ends at 7:10 AM on Saturday September 5, 2009 at the corner of Williams
Avenue and Highway 17. The run will start promptly at 7:30 AM, rain or shine at the Municipal Office on Williams Avenue.
Official Annual Labor Day Catfish Festival T-shirt will be given to the first 20 PRE-REGISTERED participants. Race applications
are available for pickup at the Kingsland Welcome Center and Kingsland City Hall.

12:00pm Official Festival Start Time, Festival area opens: Children’s Amusement Area, Arts & Crafts Booths,
Antiques & Collectibles and Food Vendors Catfish Festival Dinners includes coleslaw, hushpuppies,
grits & iced tea – $10.00 Catfish Nuggets includes French fries – $8.00

6:00pm Festival Closes

Sunday, September 6, 2009

12:00pm Festival Opens, Children’s Amusement Area, Arts & Crafts Booths, Antiques & Collectibles and Food
Vendors Catfish Dinners includes coleslaw, hushpuppies, grits & iced tea- $10.00 available
Catfish Nuggets includes French fries – $8.00

1:45pm Free Concert at Main Stage Area Featuring Local Church & Gospel Groups including Jericho Road,
Kingsland 1st United Methodist Chamber Choir, & On the Edge Band

6:00pm Festival Closes

Monday, September 7, 2009

7:00am –11:00am
Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast – Tickets $4.00 each, include: Tall Stack of Fresh Pancakes, Thick
Southern Bacon, Sausage Patties, Coffee & Juice

9:00am Festival Opens, Children’s Amusement Area, Arts & Crafts Booths, Antiques & Collectibles and Food
Vendors

10:00am Official Annual Catfish Festival Parade , Hwy 17 South
Floats should be decorated with a theme of your choice. Lineup will begin at 9:30am on Highway 17 at Boone St. in Kingsland.
Parade applications are available for pickup at the Kingsland Welcome Center and Kingsland City Hall.

11:00am Festival Awards Ceremony (Main Stage Area) Antique / Classic Car, Truck & Tractor Exhibition
Catfish Festival Dinners includes coleslaw, hushpuppies, grits & iced tea – $10.00
Catfish Nuggets includes French fries – $8.00

1:45pm Free Concert at Main Stage Area Featuring Local Bands including Cumberland Blues Kings, Trigger
Happy Los guitaros sicarios , On the Edge Band

6:00pm Festival Closes

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We interviewed Tonya Rosado about the Catfish Festival in 2008. The video is included below.

Catfish Festival Kingsland Georgia

Riverside Arts Market in Jacksonville, Florida

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We recently visited the Riverside Arts Market in Jacksonville, Florida.
Here is the video from the popular arts market downtown. You can find interesting arts and crafts items, vegetables and fruit, and even great organic coffee!

The bridge above the market will keep you cool in the summer, and protect you from the rain. This market takes place every Saturday, so if you’re looking for something to do – come visit!

Fireworks Inspired Cocktails for Fourth of July

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Celebrate Fourth of July with a colorful cocktail to spice things up at your party.

Get your best martini glasses ready, because these explosive cocktails are sure to impress your guests.

Fourth of July CocktailsRoman Candle

3 oz. Three-O Berry Vodka

½ Oz. Cranberry Juice

Dash of Grenadine

½ oz. Blue Curacao
Shake vodka, cranberry juice and grenadine in a shaker with ice. Strain into martini glass. Pour Blue Curaçao gently down the side of the glass so it comes to settle on the bottom.

The Sparkler 4th of July cocktailsSparkler

1 oz. Three-O Pomegranate Vodka

2 oz. Sparkling Wine

Splash POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice

Combine vodka and pomegranate juice in the bottom of a champagne flute

Top with sparkling wine or champagne

Fire Cracker 4th of July cocktailsFire Cracker

2 oz. Three-O Grape Vodka

½ oz. Blue Curacao

Splash Tonic

Shake vodka and blue curacao with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass

Add tonic and garnish with a cherry

Cherry bomber fourth of july drinksCherry Bomber

1 ½ oz. Three-O Cherry Vodka

4 oz. Ginger Ale

Splash of grenadine

Mix in a glass filled with ice and garnish with a cherry

With 17 unique flavors, Three Olives provides endless unique mixing opportunities to try at home or at the bar.Three Olives flavored vodkas prove to hit the mark without overpowering, and already have numerous accolades, including Impact Magazine’s Hot Brand Award, already in their favor. Three Olives Vodka comes highly recommended by prestigious publications such as Wine Enthusiast, Quarterly Review of Wines, Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal, and more.
Three Olives was also named the #1 Vodka by Russian Life Magazine, upsetting numerous upscale vodka brands.


Fourth of July in South Carolina, 2009

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4th of July Blast at Patriots Point, Charleston
One of the best places to watch fireworks and celebrate Independence Day has to be Patriots Point in Charleston.

Fourth of July South CarolinaFirst, during the day there is a action-filled festival with live music, a kids Zone, a beverage garden with both soda and adult libations, and a food village. Admission to the actual land festival is free, but there is admission fee to the ships, Medal of Honor Museum and exhibits.

(Click here to watch our newest videos for Fourth of July)

The fireworks display is one of the bests in the country. Fireworks begin at 10:05 PM. The fireworks show has been calledd “Top 5 Independence Day Celebrations” by the New York Times. Fireworks is set to patriotic music and launched from the deck of the U.S.S. Yorktown with the Charleston Harbor as a backdrop.

27,500 people showed up last year, so come early and prepare to stay late. Read more about the 4th of July Blast at Patriots Point, Charleston, SC

Middleton Place Celebrates Independence Day Weekend – Charleston, SC
Remember exactly why we’re celebrating Independence Day, and learn more about how it all started with a real Independence Day celebration at Middleton Place. Take a step back in time, hear the fife and drums and smell the gun powder at the home of Arthur Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Here you can walk through an 18th century military camp with re-enactors and experience up close and personal how the troops lived. There will also be cooking and musket firing demonstrations, and ceremonies commemorating the contributions of Arthur and Henry Middleton.
At 3:00 pm the Declaration of Independence is read.
Regular Admission. Call 843-556-6020 or visit middletonplace.org

Luau in the Swamp
Maybe you’re looking for something a little bit more exotic than your common picnic, barbeque, parade and firework combo, and I have found a great little event for you. Take the whole family to a Luau at Cypress Gardens on Independence Day for a big birthday bash called “Luau in the Swamp”.

Wait, it’s not as odd as it sounds.

Fourth of July Party in South Carolina 2009This is the year the state of Hawaii is officially “over the hill” – or to put it in plain English; it’s Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of statehood. So Cypress Gardens is putting on a big party on the 4th of July and everyone is invited. If you and your family want to experience a little bit of Hawaii in South Carolina, just head out to Cypress Gardens. It’s a whole lot cheaper than flying to Hawaii.

As expected, hula dancers and ukulele band will be a part of the entertainment lineup. Everyone is invited to enter the limbo and the Hawaiin costume contest. The kids will love it, and I’m afraid my wife won’t be able to resist either. In that case, it’ll be one of those events one will be glad to forget, but the kids will remember for ever.

You’re also invited to bring your own ice cream churn and enter the ice cream contest. I can see it clearly now. I’ll be forced to wear a Hawaiian shirt with pink flowers and parrots and carry an ice cream churn under one arm, and under the other, a wife dressed in a hula outfit ready to limbo.

What can I say…oh poi!

I was encouraged to hear that The Supporters of Historical Cypress Garden will roast a pig, because I know that will be delicious. There will also be other island food available, and for the less adventurous among us the American staple of hot dogs and hamburgers.

Call 843-553-0515 or visit www.cypressgardens.info. More details in the events calendar for Luau in the Swamp at Cypress Gardens, South Carolina

fourth of July Celebration in South Carolina 2009Festival in the Park – Moncks Corner, SC
Celebrate the 4th of July at Old Santee Canal Park. This is an event for the whole family with live music and entertainment, a classic car and truck show, and pet shows. The Berkeley Artist’s Guild’s annual members show will be in the Berkeley Museum from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. And to cap the day off, fireworks will go off at dusk.

For more information call 843-899-5200 or visit www.oldsanteecanalpark.org

Red, White and Blue on the Green, Summerville, SC
This year’s annual 4th of July Celebration in Historic Summerville is going to be a celebration of gigantic proportions. There will be live music featuring 60 Cycle Humm, a magic show by Van Doren the Magician, Jump Castles, Hot dogs and Hamburgers, Barbeque, Ice Cream, Cold Drinks. Also tons of games and Contests for the whole family, the Patriotic “Non Motorized Parade” and one of South Carolina’s most fantastic Fireworks Displays.

MYRTLE BEACH

Star Spangled Celebration
Come celebrate Independence Day in Myrtle Beach with face painting, sidewalk sales, Balloons by Green Jelly Bean, Pony and Camel Rides, petting zoo, patriotic music, beach music and of course fireworks

Hwy. 17 Bypass between 21st and 29th Ave. Additional satellite parking will located at the old NASCAR Grille with free shuttle buses service.

Call 843-444-3200 for more information or visit www.BroadwayAtTheBeach.com. visit our events calendar for Star Spangled Celebration in Myrtle Beach.

The Market Common Independence Day Celebration
Enjoy music, children’s activities and fireworks as we celebrate our Independence Day Celebration at the Market Commons, 4017 Deville Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 on July 4th from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Visit www.MarketCommonEvents.com or call 843-839-3500

Fourth of July in SC
Independence Day Celebration at the Surfside Pier
Surfside has its own 4th of July festival at the pier. Steve Fairchild, who has been called the city of Surfside’s own “Garth”, is performing, but if that’s not enough to convince you to head to the pier – how about free ice cream and watermelon? There’s also concessions available with hot dogs,hamburgers,chips &drinks


Murrells Inlet Boat Parade
Celebrate Independence Day with a unique 4th of July tradition, South Carolina style. Plan for a full day for the whole family, beginning with a boat parade.

26th Annual July 4th Boat Parade at high tide – Freedom is Fine in 2009. Watch a parade of creatively decorated boats cruising down the creek. The fitting theme for this year is “Freedom is Fine in 2009”. The best view is from the Marsh walk area. Make sure to arrive early to get the best spot. Boat Parade starts at 5 p.m. Call 843-357-2007 for info.

Have a picnic dinner with your family for the 4th of July (check out some of our recipes) or visit one of the restaurants in the area. You’ll have time to finish off your meal before it’s time to head down to the water again for fireworks. (Read the calendar entry for Murrells Inlet Boat Parade, South Carolina)

July Fourth Fireworks at 10pm
Fireworks are shot off over the Inlet waters. Thousands of people line the shores to enjoy the display. Call 843-357-2007.

Hilton Head Island

Firecracker 5000, Hilton Head Island, SC
Work up a healthy appetite for all those barbeques and picnics on Independence Day and start out with a run or walk 5K Run fourth of July Hilton Head Island, SCduring the Firecracker 5000 race on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
The 5K (3.1 miles) Island Packet Firecracker 5000 course starts and finishes behind the Mall at Shelter Cove. This is a fast and flat course around Shelter Cove Harbour. The independence day inspired post-race celebration features live music, fresh fruit, ice cold refreshments, door prizes and more. (Visit the events calendar for Firecracker 5000, Hilton Head Island, SC)

Visit www.bearfootsports.com for more information.

Fireworks at Shelter Cove on July 4th, Hilton Head Island, SC
Shannon Tanner will perform at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. for a special Harbourfest celebration and perform a selection of patriotic music.
Call 800-827-3006 for more information or visit hiltonheadisland.org

Harbourfest 2009 July 4th Celebration, Hilton Head Island, SC
Don’t miss the special Fourth of July fireworks show, which offers a vibrant extravaganza of light over the harbor at Shelter Cove Harbour.

Skull Creek Fireworks, Hilton Head Island, SC
Free Community Fireworks display from a barge in the Intracoastal Waterway – Skull Creek at 9:30PM. Live outside entertainment begin at 6PM at Hudson’s, Boathouse II, and Charley’s Crab. Food and beverages available.

Free Parking and Shuttle Service is offer from 6pm – 10pm from the Boys and Girls Club on Gumtree Rd to parking lot at Hudsons (pick up and return). Shuttle is offered by the Island Rec Center.

Call 843-681-6444 or visit www.islandreccenter.org

Young Boys running with Flag

Fourth of July in Georgia

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Fantastic Fourth of July on River Street, Savannah, GA

In Savannah, the celebration takes place on River Street in the downtown district.

Celebrate the Fourth of July in River Street style in Savannah, Georgia. The party starts at 5 p.m. on the plaza with live entertainment, ice cream eating contests and more.

Fireworks will begin around 9:20 p.m.

Call 912.234.0295 or visit www.riverstreetsavannah.com

Click here to watch the new weekly show video for Fourth of July in Georgia

Savannah Swings!

This event has become a yearly tradition in Savannah, and no wonder. It’s definitely very special way to celebrate the 4th of July. Just listen to this.

First, start out with a delicious picnic catered by the First City Club in Reynolds Square. There is really no better way to get a feel for the first city than by spending time in the squares, and why not a picnic. It is after all Fourth of July.

After the picnic, it’s time to head inside the cool Lucas Theater. This time of year, heading inside, can be a great way to cool off. Now you’re going to experience a cool jazz concert with “Jeremy Davis and the Fabulous Equinox Jazz Orchestra” with singers Clay Johnson, Adam Jones, Trae Gurley and Huxsie Scott and Special Guest Kim Polote.
Don’t get too relaxed, because then it’s time to move to the beat, this time we’re following the band’s lead. We’re follwing the musicians in a New Orleans-style procession from the front of the Lucas, down the Abercorn ramp, all the way down to River Street. Here it’s time to sit again. This is where you’ll find the best seat in the town for fireworks viewing right on the river. Savannah swings!

Tickets for the concert, parade and seats are $25 for adults, and $10 children 12 and under. There is a $5 discount for military, fire & police.

Tickets for the picnic are available for an additional $20 for adults, $15 for children 12 and under.

The picnic is 3.30 – 5.oo pm and the concert starts at 6 p.m. at the Lucas Theatre.

All tickets are available by calling 912-525-5050.

Savannah Georgia Fourth of July

Fireworks Tybee Island Pier

Get an early start for the 4th of July weekend and head out to Tybee Island. Here the party starts already on Friday July 3rd with fireworks at Tybee Pier and Pavilion.

Call 912-786-5444 for more information.

Sunshine Festival Arts & Crafts Show, St Simons Island, Georgia

This arts and crafts festival takes place in Postell Park in the village. Come and get inspiration for your next art project, or find that perfect gift! Painting, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, garden art, wood craft, photography, sculpture, sweetgrass baskets, art glass and much much more.

July 3-5 from 10 am to 5 pm.

912.262.0628

Fireworks on St Simon’s at 9 pm!

Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, Brunswick, GA

Come to Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick for an Old Fashioned Independence Day celebration for the whole family. Lots of fun with games, contests, free watermelon and much more. Fireworks at dusk.

4th of July Celebration – Jekyll Island, GA

Jekyll Island is one of our favorite places to visit, and the beach is gorgeous. So if you have friends and family in town, it might be a great idea to head out to Jekyll Island. Take a quick tour of the historic Landmark district and then head to the beach deck. Jekyll Island hosts a family-fun party at the Beachdeck featuring the DeeJay game show – the Big Dawg and Paul Show. The fireworks finale is said to be one of the best in the area.

For more information contact The Jekyll Island Welcome Center: 877-4-JEKYLL

www.jekyllisland.com

Independence Day Festival, St Marys, Georgia

Come visit historic downtown St Marys, GA, for a delightful Independence Day complete with parade and fireworks.

The day starts early with a 5K/10K run, then it is time for the annual parade down main street. Arts and crafts, food vendors and entertainment all day. Fireworks at dusk.

For more information call 912.882-4000

Waterfront in Darien, Georgia

Why wait until Saturday, start your party already on Friday in Darien when Mason Waters and The Groove All-Stars perform on the Waterfront Stage in Darien on Friday July 3rd in celebration of Independence Day. Gates open at 6:00pm; Music begins at 7:00pm with FIREWORKS!! scheduled for 9:15pm.

Cannons Across the Marsh, Fort King George, Darien

Join the Garrison for a day of artillery drills, musket firings and soldier’s life activities to honor Independence Day. Free watermelon and lemonade will be served. $3.50-$5. (912) 437-4770.

Fourth of July