Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Labor Day Weekend – Florida – 2010

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Even though most kids are heading back to school in August, and the stores are advertising for their Back To School Specials already, summer in Florida is far from over.  We’re just not ready to give up on the beach, outdoor concerts and fun in the sun. Make Labor Day weekend count and let’s have some fun with family and friends. We have come up with a few suggestions for you.

(Here is the link to our video podcast about Labor Day Weekend on the coast!)

Opening of the Beaches - Sand Castle Competition Jacksonville Beach, Fl
Fun on the beach

Sun Splash – Amelia Island
Who said we had to say goodbye to summer, instead let’s have fun in the sun.  The Sun Splash event takes place at Seaside Beach on Saturday, September 4, 2010, 8am – 7pm.  Come enjoy island fun on the beach with live music and lots of activities.

At 7 am, there will be a beach clean up with Keep Nassau Beautiful, followed by a surf contest at 8am.  Then it is time for the popular reggae music concert. Live reggae is performed from 1-7pm. There’s also a swimwear fashion show, volleyball, ping-pong, sand castle contest, giveaways and prizes.

American Music Festival in Daytona Beach
Daytona is known for auto racing and NASCAR, but this weekend it’s all about music in Daytona. It’s the American Music Festival in Daytona Beach, September 1-5, 2010.
The festival holds concerts with big name artists such as Usher, Jonas Brothers, Tony Bennett and more at the Bandshell, Ocean Center and Peabody Auditorium. Artists will also take the stage at the community stages on the festival campus.

Click here to visit our special page for American Music Festival

Labor Day in St Augustine

Birthday Bash in St Augustine
The city turns 445 years old this year and the big day is celebrated with a reenactment of the landing and a special cutting of the birthday cake.
Click here to read more about the Birthday in St Augustine Celebration

Concerts in the Plaza
Also in St. Augustine there’s a free concert at Plaza de la Constitution on Sunday September 6th with The St. Augustine Jazz Society. The music starts at 1 pm – 5 pm. For more information, visit our special page about Concerts in the Plaza in St. Augustine

First Friday Art Walk – St Augustine
On Friday September 2nd, it’s time for another First Friday Art Walk in St. Augustine. This is alwyas a fun event with lots of people mingling, checking out local arts. You can read more about on our special events page.

Toby Keith in St. Augustine, Florida

More music – Toby Keith with Jaron and The Long Road To Love are performing at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Labor Day Weekend.  The concert is scheduled for Sunday, Sept 5, 2010 at 7:17 pm.  This is one of the big concerts of the year, don’t miss out.

Click here to buy tickets now!

Spend a Day at the Beach Downtown Jacksonville
Going to the beach is a tradition for Labor Day Weekend.   But for those who would rather hang out downtown, the beach comes to the Jacksonville Landing for the third year in a row.   The beach will be open to the public for the extended Labor Day Weekend festivities starting already on Wednesday, September 1 and will remain open until Monday, September 6.

Hula Hoop contests for kids and adults will take place on Saturday with live entertainment beginning at noon. A pair of tickets to a home Jaguars Game will be given away on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. during the Big Cat Sand Dig Competition. The celebration will wrap up with a live performance by the world-famous Sauce Boss on Sunday at 4 p.m. and live music on Monday.

Here is the complete schedule:

Wednesday, September 1
Art Walk “Art Takes Shape” 5-9 p.m. Featuring a sandcastle building contest and live entertainment in the Courtyard by George Aspinall Band 7 – 11 p.m.
Arts Market 5 – 9 p.m. in front of The Landing, including over a dozen local artists and crafters.

Thursday, September 2
Adamec Bike Night 6 – 10 p.m. with live entertainment by The Ride 7 – 11 p.m. Free bike parking, $10 bike washes, on-site tattooing, live entertainment, prizes and many other vendors. Adamec Bike Night takes place on the first Thursday of each month.

Friday, September 3
Big Cat Sand Dig for a pair of tickets to a Jaguars home game 7 p.m.
Live music in the Courtyard by George Aspinall Band 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Saturday, September 4
Live music in the Courtyard by Palmetto Catz 2 – 6 p.m. and Radio 80 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Kids Hula Hoop Competition 3 p.m.
Shag Lessons and Demonstrations by the First Coast Shag Club 2 – 3 p.m.
Big Cat Sand Dig for a pair of tickets to a Jaguars home game 7 p.m.
Open Hula Hoop Competition 8 p.m.

Sunday, September 5
Shag Lessons and Demonstrations by the First Coast Shag Club 2 – 3 p.m.
Sauce Boss LIVE! 4 – 8 p.m. Enjoy a performance by celebrity gumbo chef and entertainer the Sauce Boss … and even try his famous gumbo!
Live music in the Courtyard by The Rhythm Cure 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Monday, September 6
Live music in the Courtyard by Hipp Street 4 – 8 p.m.

For more information visit www.jacksonvillelanding.com

Art & WineFest in Jacksonville,Florida, August 2010

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At the Art & Wine Festival in Jacksonville you get to sample wines from around the globe, and taste food from the area’s finest restaurants as well as explore amazing desserts while you mingle. You also get to look at the works from of over twenty five of the area’s most exciting artists.

In addition, there are silent auctions for wonderful surprises in art, travel, entertainment and lots more.

Proceeds from the Art & Winefest will benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The Art & Winefest, is presented by The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 177.
Tickets:$35 (plus a Service Charge of $1.50)
Thursday, August 12 from 6pm-9pm at Hyatt Regency Riverfront

Click here to buy your tickets now

Labor Day Weekend – Georgia – 2010

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Labor Day is always a big deal on the coast of Georgia with a variety of annual festivals and events. It’ll be hard to choose, but here’s a quick rundown to help you with you plan your weekend getaway trip.

Savannah Craft Brew Fest

Let’s start in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is always a beautiful city to visit, especially in the warmer season. You can take a nice walk down to Riverstreet. One of our favorite places to visit for a drink, something to eat or just to people watch is the City Market.

But if you visit Savannah during Labor Day weekend, the place to be is Savannah Craft Brew Fest. This event start already on September 4 with the grande tasting event on Saturday September 5.

For more information visit our special page about Savannah Craft Brew Fest.

Tybee Island Beach Bash

About a 20 minute drive from Savannah, you’ll find Tybee Island, often referred to as Savannah’s own beach.  If you’re looking to spend your Labor Day weekend on the beach – why not head out to Tybee Island. The island has plenty of nice restaurants and bars, quaint shops and on Saturday September 5, 2010, Tybee celebrates the weekend with a big bash. It’s the Tybee Island Labor Day Beach Bash – complete with fireworks.

Read more here – Tybee Island Labor Day Beach Bash

You have to taste the catfish!

In Camden County further south, Labor Day weekend is celebrated every year with a festival. It’s the annual Kingsland Catfish Festival. This festival of course serves southern fried catfish – but besides food, the festival comes with vendors, arts & crafts, live music and a parade.

Read more here about the Kingsland Catfish Festival

Click here to watch our video podcast about Labor Day Weekend!

Labor Day Weekend 2010 in South Carolina

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Traditionally Labor Day is the holiday to say “goodbye” to Summer and “hello” to Fall.  For us here in the south, the warm weather will linger well after Labor Day weekend, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to turn down an opportunity for a party.  Especially if the party involves lots of fun for the whole family.  This weekend there are lots of festivals to choose from in the low country involving the beach, live music and also good food.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Beach, Boogie and BBQ in Myrtle Beach

Beach, Boogie and BBQ Festival – Myrtle Beach
The annual festival takes place in Grand Park at the Market Common on September 4 – 5, 2010.  Nothing says Summer more than great BBQ and live music on the beach, and this festival has it all.  In addition to music and food, there’s also arts & crafts and lots of other vendors.

Visit our special events page for Beach, Boogie and BBQ Festival in Myrtle Beach, SC

BBQ and Bluegrass Festival – Charleston
You really can’t go wrong with delicious bbq and live bluegrass music. It’s a combination fit for a nice weekend celebration, and to top it all off – this festival takes place at beautiful Boonehall Plantation. It’s no surprise that this event is a Lowcountry Labor Day Weekend favorite. The festival takes place on Sunday September 5, 2010.
Read more on our special events page for BBQ and Bluegrass Festival at Boonehall Plantation

Jazz in Charleston

Lowcountry Jazz Festival – Charleston, SC
Another crowd pleaser is of course the Lowcountry Jazz festival also taking place on Labor Day weekend.  The festival celebrates its  second year in 2010. This anticipated music festival brings together international artists and local artists during one extraordinary event.  Concerts take place at a variety of venues in addition to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in Charleston.

Read more on our special events page for Lowcountry Jazz Festival in Charleston

Related posts:

Watch Coastalcompanion.com’s video podcast for Labor Day Weekend South Carolina, Georgia, Florida

It’s Shark Week in Charleston and Jacksonville

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As you know, it’s Shark Week this week on Discovery Channel.  This summer favorite first aired in 1987 and it has been a cable TV hit ever since with a cult-like following. Shark Week features documentaries and educational programs about sharks for seven days straight.  This year Shark week is hosted by Late Late Show’s own Craig Ferguson, I’m not sure what knowledge about the big fish the Scotsman can bring to the table – but I’m sure Craig will boost ratings.

Here at Coastal Companion we decided to make our own version of Shark Week. After all, who want’s to spend a whole week watching TV in the summer?

Take a look at our ides for what to do during Shark Week.


Jacksonville Sharks
Guys like to watch hard hits and lots of action, isn’t that how Shark Week got popular in the first place? But when we talk about Sharks in Jacksonville, were not talking about fish with big teeth, we’re talking lots of arena football action with the city’s home team – The Jacksonville Sharks.  It’s the first year for the team, and they are the South Division Champions of the Arena Football League. Take a look at the incredible action in our video from the last game Jacksonville Sharks vs. Spokane Shock!

Fans are have created their own Shark Dance, the dance team is the Shark Attack team – and it’s just a lot of “fin-tastic fun”! (Click here to watch our video and see for yourself) The Jacksonville Sharks are what Discovery Channel commentators would put it “nature’s perfect killing machine”! The team is  in the playoffs and are facing the Orlando Predators at the Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday August 6. The question is are the Predators  going to become shark bait? Yeah, it is definitely Shark Week in Jacksonville.

Love at First Bite in Charleston
In South Carolina the aquarium celebrates Shark Week with a week long celebration of all things Shark.  Catch one of the shark-themed dive shows, participate in new special interactive activities such as ‘Sharkeology’ and ‘Shark Shapes,’ venture through Shark Alley to see the real size of some of these silent giants and of course, marvel at live sharks swimming in the Aquarium’s largest exhibit, the Great Ocean Tank.

For those who swim with the big fish,  on Thursday, August 5, there’s a a FREE showing of the classic shark movie, ‘Jaws’ at the Aquarium’s Movie on the Lawn! See ‘Jaws’ on the big screen with the sound of the ocean just beyond your seat. Lawn opens at 7 p.m. with the movie beginning at dark. Before the movie starts, interact with Aquarium educators rovering the lawn and watch an Aquarium-made short film on shark myths. This is a free showing, although donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the conservation efforts at the Aquarium. Bring your own chair or blanket.

The South Carolina Aquarium will celebrate Shark Week July 30 – August 8, 2010. For more information, visit scaquarium.org/sharkweek or call (843) 577-FISH (3474).

Sandbar Shark, courtesy of: South Carolina Aquarium