Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Back2School Beach Fest in St. Augustine

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There is no better way to celebrate Back to school than with a day at the beach – and in St Augustine, that’s exactly what’s happening this weekend.  School-aged children and their families are invited to the free inaugural Back2School Beach Fest on Saturday, August 20th, on St. Augustine Beach and at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. This Saturday is packed with fun activities for the whole family.

 

Spend a Day at the Beach

This community event will promote clean beaches, healthy lifestyles and a fun day at the beach before kids head back to school.The Back2School Beach Fest kicks off from 11am until 3pm on the beach between the Matanzas Avenue and Mary Street beach access ramps, where events will include a beach clean-up, one-mile fun run and free surf lessons. The festivities continue at 3pm with an Oceans Expo at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre with live music, environmental education booths, local arts and crafts vendors, a bounce house and interactive kids activities.

 

Movies at the Amphitheatre

The all-day event will conclude in the evening at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre with a series of movie screenings, including short surfing films at 6:30, followed at 7:30 by the feature film “Turtle: The Incredible Journey.

BEACH ACTIVITIES between Matanzas Avenue and Mary Street 11:00-3:00
St Augustine Amphitheater, St. Augustine 3:00-9:00

The inaugural Back2School Beach Fest will be presented by the Friends of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and the St. Johns County Cultural Events and Beach Services Divisions, in partnership with Keepers of the Coast, N’Play, Sweetwater Brewing Company, PCI and Volcom.
Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 11:00 am. to 9:00 p.m.

Call 904.209.0549 or visit the website www.sjcfl.us for more information.

day at the beach

Things to Do in Georgia – August 2011

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August is the month when kids go back to school and life returns to normal for many parents. But here on the coast Summer is far from over. Actually August is usually one of our hottest months, so there is no surprise that the month offers both cool jazz and and a beach music festival.

Savannah is a special place in the summer with its beautiful squares and gorgeous architecture. In the summer, downtown is usually filled with people from all corners of the world and the city takes on an international atmosphere.  

It’s always a pleasure to visit the riverfront in downtown Savannah, especially in the summer.  Lot’s of people, and lots of fun.  

SAVANNAH

2009 Heirloom Tomatoes

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!
August 2, 2011
Restaurant Cha-Bella is inviting all tomato-lovers to the 2nd Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival – a special evening of heirloom tomato celebration. This event offers 14 different kinds of organic heirloom tomatoes. A four course killer tomato meal is available for $29.  Email farmboxharvest@cha-bella.c​om to reserve your seat – space is limited and will fill up fast. Call 912.790.7888 for more information.

 

First Friday Oyster Roast & Fireworks
August 5, 2011 at 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm 

Savannah Westin Hotel, GeorgiaThe Westin Savannah Harbor hosts a riverside evening celebration with live music, libations and hot fresh grill items & oysters for the first Friday every month. Call 912.201.2000 for more information or visit www.westinsavannah.com

Cigar Box Guitar Concert
August 6, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Come to a free concert with local blues/slide guitarists Eric Culberson, Georgia Kyle and Roy Swindell at The Ships of the Sea Museum Garden. The musicians will play Museum-model cigar box guitars in advance of the cigar box guitar making workshop on August 20. Video appearances by Richard Leo Johnson and Scott Ainslie. Refreshments available. More information at www.shipsofthesea.org or call 912.232.1511

 

Jazz it Up on the River
August 13, 2011 at 5 pm. 
Jazz – Just Across The River presents, Barbara Rosene In Johnny Mercer Tribute at the Westin Savannah Harbor. 
Barbara Rosene, who is the vocalist with the Harry James Orchestra will perform a tribute to the master of lyric, Johnny Mercer. Recently Ms. Rosene has been touring with The Harry James Big Band led by Fred Radke. They have been visiting cities all over America and Canada including performances at The Montreal Jazz Festival. 

The concert is free for Coastal Jazz Association members and $10 for non-members. For more info call: 912.920.1317

 

Low Country Boil at the Fort
August 27, 2011 from 6 – 9 pm.

This annual event is the only fundraiser for this National Historic Landmark and Georgia’s oldest brick fortification – Old Fort Jackson in Savannah. The event includes a silent auction, live music, a low country boil, and programming for kids and adults. Admission is free. Call 912.232.3945 for more information.

 

Something Old, Something New…
August 28, 2011 from noon  – 4 pm. 
Planning a wedding soon? This event will feature service providers for limousine, photography, music, flowers and rental furniture and equipment. See the very latest in fashions and wedding attire in the fashion show and experience culinary delights created by the Richmond Hill City Center team. The event takes place in Richmond Hill at the Richmond Hill City Center. Call 912.445.0043 for more information. Tickets $5.00 at the door.

ST SIMONS ISLAND

St. Simons is also busy in the summer.  In the evenings, lots of people walk down to the pier to watch the sunset or the fishermen.  If you’re lucky, you might even spot a dolphin or two.

Jazz in the Park
August 28, 2011 

The Jazz in the park series at the lawn of St. Simons Lighthouse has become a favorite summer event in the Golden Isles area. This month the concert takes place on Sunday, August 28 when  Just Jazz Quintet is performing. Read more about the event on our page for Jazz in the Park

JEKYLL ISLAND

Beach Music Festival on Jekyll Island, GA
August 12 – 13, 2011  

To me nothing says summer more than beach music.   The Jekyll Island Beach Music festival is held in Great Dunes Park which is the new park that was built on Jekyll Island. Everyone’s favorite beach music band “The Swingin’ Medallions” is performing again this year.  

Check out our video from the event on the special page for Beach Music Festival on Jekyll Island.


 

Hootie & The Blowfish in Charleston, SC

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Hootie & The Blowfish – In Concert at the Family Circle Cup

 

 

The Family Circle Cup
Daniel Island, SC

Come out to the Lowcountry’s biggest party on August 12 – 13, 2011,  when Charleston’s favorite band returns for the eighth consecutive Homegrown Concert.  Hootie and the Blowfish Homegrown Weekend will be a 2-day event this year. A seperate ticket will be necessary for Friday night and Saturday night, but your best bet is the 2-Day Passes are available for a discounted rate.

This concert at Family Circle Stadium is always sold out, so don’t hesitate or wait – you need to buy your tickets today!

Click here to reserve your tickets today!

Hootie & the Blowfish,  Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, Darius Rucker, and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, have sold more than 25 million albums since they started back in 1994.  The band established the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation to support children of South Carolina through supporting school music programs.

 


Cirque du Soleil : Alegria | Jacksonville, Fla.

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Alegría is a classic Cirque du Soleil production that has received international acclaim and wowed over 10 million people worldwide since it premiered in 1994 in Montreal. After 15 years performing under the big top, Alegría embarked on a new journey in May 2009 and is now presented in arenas throughout the United States and Canada.

Alegría means “jubilation” in Spanish. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth—it is against this backdrop that the characters of Alegría play out their lives. Kings’ fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats and children make up its universe, along with the clowns, who alone are able to resist the passing of time and the social transformations that accompany it.

The performance features an international cast consisting of 55 performers and musicians from 15 countries. Alegría combines a baroque style with colorful, flamboyant costumes. Original music is performed live and an elaborate set is used as backdrop to the astonishing spectacle of athleticism and artistry.

The 2½ hour spectacle (with intermission) showcases breathtaking acrobatics including the dramatically sensuous Synchro Trapeze and the high-energy Aerial High Bars where daring aerialists fly to catchers swinging more than 40 feet above the stage. Imagine two agile performers who bring alive the Mongolian art of contortion and artists manipulating flaming knives around their bodies in the rhythmic and dangerous Fire-Knife Dance.

The vibrancy of youth is alive in fast-paced Power Track, a brilliant display of synchronized choreography and tumbling on a trampoline system that is magically revealed under the stage floor. In Russian Bars, artists fly through the air with spectacular somersaults and mid-air twists, landing on 4-inch wide bars perched on the sturdy shoulders of the catchers.

Now Alegria and Cirque du Soleil is coming to Jacksonville and performing at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on June 29 & 30, and also July 1, 2, 3.

Don’t miss this exciting performance – click here to reserve your tickets now!

Charleston International Film Festival Announces Best of Shorts Screening on June 29th

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Charleston, SC, June 20, 2011 – The Charleston International Film Festival (CIFF), South Carolina’s premiere event for independent filmmakers and film enthusiasts, would like to announce the Best of Shorts Screening on June 29th at the Cinebarre in Mt. Pleasant.

If you missed the Charleston International Film Festival main event, you have the chance on Wednesday to catch festival short film award winners and audience favorites at both 7PM and 9PM.

The programs will feature different films, but both include at least 7-8 shorts films of all genres in under two hours, making for a fun and unique film night out. Tickets are available at the Cinebarre box office for $8 day of or $7 in advance online at www.CharlestonIFF.com

7PM Short Block

Rooftop – Music video with local musician Emily Hearn with an appearance by Bill Murray. (Re)Discovering Don ZanFagna – Internationally acclaimed local artist, whose work has been featured in Charleston Magazine, this short documentary displays his work that is being rediscovered and appreciated after 30 years.

The Tub – Frannie (Dedee Pfeiffer) reluctantly relives her life and her lovers, guided by a mysterious woman whom she thinks she knows.

God and Vodka -The story of a writer’s final attempt to capture the words and memories, both touching and comedic, of a relationship that ended all too soon.

November – From Norway, this story is to remember and to forget the loss of loved ones. A visual and symbolic journey.

The Buck Johnson Story – A comedic short about a struggling writer, Dave, who feels the only way out of his Pork Pen job is this story about a wild redneck character, Buck F*@$in Johnson.

Place Stamp Here – The world disassembles us, and then puts us back together. This process repeats & repeats & we are never quite the same as when we started. Then again, neither is the world. Animation by twins Joy Vaccese and Noelle Melody.

How Tourette’s Saved My Life – Short comedy from local Art Institute student, this is a slice of life from a man who copes with Tourette’s Syndrome, and finds his outbursts saving his life.

9PM Shorts Block

Theatre Marvelosa presents “Zee Hat!!” – Local group revels, set in a French Bistro, Ravello sings to Zee Hat!! His prize possession, as Tanti Bacci tries to prove her love for him by vowing to retrieve Zee Hat when it is stolen by Ze Fox.

Saying Goodbye – SC filmmakers present this story about a woman who has lost everything moves into a southern nursing home where a cat with the ability to predict death and a spunky fellow resident inspire her to enjoy living again.

The Perfect Hurl – An innocent 14-year-old wanders moonlit suburbia with his daredevil classmates. His first taste of trouble is one to savor.

Jeremy – When his incarcerated father is transferred to a distant prison, fourteen year-old Jeremy must face life alone with his game-show addicted brother and two violent older half-brothers.

The Story of Us – The Story of Us is about a guy who finds himself blinded by his past love. Atroz – This comedy from Spain is about ‘Awful’ a singular teddy bear, a worn and curmudgeon one, whose owner is Luna, a little girl who has taken him as her best friend.

Sexting – People are not who they seem to be when a misdirected text message leads a young woman to meet with the wife of her boyfriend and ask what is really going on in their relationship.

Visit our special events page for Charleston International Film Festival

About CIFF Charleston International Film Festival

(CIFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to educate, entertain, and inspire through the art and science of film. Co-founded in 2007, by film producer Summer Spooner Peacher and Charleston native Brian Peacher, the festival showcases over 70 short films, features and documentaries from around the world. Attendees gather for five days every Spring to attend premieres, panels, special events and the Annual Awards Gala.

Other pages:

Annual Events & Festivals in Charleston, SC

Charleston Farmer’s Market