Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Thanksgiving Weekend in Savannah

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The weekend following Thanksgiving, celebrates the holiday season with Savannah Holly Days on Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28.

On Friday, November 27 from 6-9 p.m., there will be skating under the stars, a delicious wine tasting, an outdoor holiday movie, a festive marketplace and shopping on Broughton Street.

On Saturday, November 28, start the holidays off right with cookies and milk with Santa Claus in Santa’s Workshop from 9:15-10 a.m. From 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., the Savannah Holly Days will have a snow area for playing in Reynolds Square, a skating rink on Broughton Street, shopping in a festive marketplace with great downtown shops and local artisans.

There will also be holiday movies at The Lucas Theatre as well as live entertainment including music and dance performances. Santa will be on hand for photographs and memories along with a variety of children’s activities. From 6-9 p.m., there will be a holiday movie shown on the side of Il Pasticcio.

Savannah Lighted Boat Parade takes place on the river and is well worth a visit. Lots of holiday decorated boats will pass by. There is also the Tree Lighting Ceremony on this Saturday, so it’s a busy day.

For a full list of Savannah Holly Days event information as well as information on special holiday offers from Savannah accommodations, restaurants and attractions, please visit www.SavannahHollyDays.com. For more information, please contact Laura Simpson at 912.644.6452
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Winter Wonderland 2009 – St Augustine, Florida

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This holiday season head over to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre to enjoy a Winter Wonderland! Admission to Winter Wonderland is free and the event is open Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

This is the third year for the popular Winter Wonderland festival at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre starting November 20th and running through January 3rd. More than 80,000 people have spent the holiday season with Winter Wonderland and made it part of their holiday tradition.

New additions to this year’s festival include the Blizzard Bounce House & the Elf Express Train as well as a New Theatre original production of “A Time for Everything”, thousands of additional lights, more decorations, more holiday scenes painted by local artists, and the most holiday cheer in Florida!

Other Winter Wonderland favorites include St. Augustine’s ONLY Ice Skating Rink with Nightly Snow Fall! America’s ONLY Refrigerated Ice Slide, Sleigh Rides, Elf Village, Reindeer Games, Elf Village, Lighted Nature Trails, Candy Cane Forest, S’Mores Pit, and of course the man himself Santa Clause!

Website : www.winterwonderlandflorida.com
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.471.1965
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Right Whale Festival – Jacksonville, Florida

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With as few as 350 remaining, North Atlantic right whales are in jeopardy and are often threatened by human activities.  The mission of the Right Whale Festival is to celebrate right whales and the beginning of their calving season. The goal is to engage the community and heighten public awareness of both right whales and the importance of the area as the whales make their seasonal return to the waters off FL/GA coast — the only known North Atlantic right whale calving grounds. This one-day family-oriented festival will feature children’s activities, music, beach cleanup, and other activities geared towards informing and inspiring the community about right whales, their habitat, and conservation needs.

http://www.rightwhalefestival.org/

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St Johns Town Center Tree Lighting with American Idol

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American Idol winner Taylor Hicks is scheduled to headline the third annual holiday event at St. Johns Town Center on November 21, 2009.

This event is  filled with holiday festivities including live entertainment, kids activities and even fireworks. Beginning at noon, you can enjoy a street festival featuring arts and crafts, food vendors, entertainment, giveaways, carnival games, balloon artists, face painting and characters from the popular online community Tootsville. There will also be very merry activities like bounce houses, a magician and jugglers.

The Tree Lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m. with special performances from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville Mass Choir and Charlie Walker. At 8 p.m., the fifth-season winner of American Idol Taylor Hicks will perform his soulful hit songs as well as seasonal favorites to get everyone into the holiday spirit. This season’s concert takes place in a new location in front of the Great Tree in Park Green near Maggiano’s.

Immediately following the performance, Taylor Hicks will join Santa to lead the audience in an exciting countdown to light the dazzling 30-foot tree and a spectacular fireworks finale!

“We’ve had such a great response from the community the past two years, and 2009 is even bigger and better with extended festivities,” said Kristin Balvin, director of mall marketing and business development for St. Johns Town Center. “We are thrilled to bring back the tree lighting again this year and look forward to sharing this holiday tradition with Jacksonville families.”

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The Battle of Secessionville – Charleston, SC

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The Re-enactment of The Battle of Secessionville is the focal point of Living History Weekend every November at Boone Hall Plantation. Hundreds of re-enactors help bring the battle alive that occurred 145 years ago — on June 16, 1862. Confederate soldiers at Fort Lamar on James Island kept Charleston from being seized by Union forces and despite being outnumbered by Union soldiers by more than 2-to-1, Confederate forces were able to prevail. The win marked the last time the Federal Army would attempt to capture Charleston by land.

The name Secessionville did not come from the secession of South Carolina, but for an earlier attempt of some plantation owners to rebel.

The re-enactment, serves to remind visitors about this pivotal battle and to honor the lives lost. Proceeds from the battle re-enactment go to preservation efforts for the H.L. Hunley submarine and other projects initiated by the Confederate Heritage Trust.

Living History Weekend is also known as a fun and educational experience for families as Boone Hall Plantation is transformed into the color and lifestyle of the antebellum era.

The Re-enactment of The Battle Of Secessionville
Sat. Nov. 14, 2009 – 3PM
Sun. Nov. 15, 2009 – 2PM

Click here for a discount coupon on admission.  At the bottom right of the webpage there is a coupon for $5.00 off admission for this event.

TICKETS TO THE RE-ENACTMENT ARE REGULAR ADMISSION PRICES TO BOONE HALL PLANTATION
Regular Adult Admission – $17.50

Seniors – Military – AAA   $15.00
Children 6-12                    $7.50
Children Under 6 Admitted FREE With Accompanying Adult

Schedule of Events

Friday, November 13, 2009

9am-3pm   School Day Presentation

Saturday, November 14, 2009

8:30 am      Parade / Colors

9:00 am      Infantry Drill – Drill Field

9am-Noon  Black Confederate – Oak Tree

9:30 am      Medical Presentation – Confederate Camp

10:00 am    Provost Presentation – Oak Tree

10:00 am    Officers Call – Fort Lamar

10:30 am    Infantry Demonstration – Oak Tree

11:00 am    Confederate Army stacks arms on Sutler Row

11:30 am    2:00 pm – Black Oak Ladies Feed the Troops

12:30 pm    Confederate Army leaves Sutler Row

12:30 pm    Federal Army leaves Camp for Sutler Row

12:30 pm    Ladies Dress Presentation – Wall in front of mansion

1:30 pm      Weapons inspection – Confederate Camp

2:00 pm      Federal Army falls in for Weapons Inspection – Sutler Row

3:00 pm     Battle of Secessionville

4:00 pm     Armies pass in Review – Battlefield

6:00 pm     Camps close to public

Sunday, November 15, 2009

8:30 am      Parade / Colors / Change of Command Ceremony

9am-Noon  Black Confederate – Oak Tree

9:30 am      Medical Presentation – Confederate Camp

10:00 am    Provost Demonstration – Oak Tree

10:30 am    Infantry Demonstration – Oak Tree

11:00 am    Church Services – Front Porch of Mansion

11:00 am    Ladies Dress Presentation – Oak Tree

12:30 pm    Federal Army Weapons Inspection – Avenue Of Oaks

12:30 pm    Weapons Inspection – Confederate Camp

2:00 pm     Battle of Secessionville

3:00 pm     Armies pass in Review – Battlefield