Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Shrimp in downtown Fernandina, Florida

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Shelly, shrimp sculpture Fernandina Beach, Florida
Shelly, shrimp sculpture Fernandina Beach, Florida

Fiberglass shrimp sculptures, each whimsically decorated by a local artist have been installed in the Fernandina Beach area and on Amelia Island.  Each shrimp sculpture is unique with its own individual personality.

Shrimp Expressions  is a community art project to benefit Micah’s Place Domestic Violence Center.  But in September the Shrimp will retreat to a temporary home to rest and get freshened up because  it’s time for them to find new homes.

On  October 16, 2010, the shrimp sculptures available for purchase will be auctioned at Micah’s Place  spectacular ShrimpElation Celebration.

Tickets to the auction will go on sale to the public in August. If you would like to take part in this fun-filled evening, please call (904) 491-6364, ext. 100 to make your reservation.

Click here for a downloadable  map in pdf format  – locate the shrimp in downtown Fernandina

shrimp sculpture, Mongoose - Fernandina Beach, Fl
Moongoose, Fernandina Beach, Fl

Every Woman’s Arts & Craft Festival – St Augustine, Fl

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This is the 12th year this popular arts and crafts festival returns to St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion.  Here you will find a variety of hand crafted items made by local artists. You’ll find painting in oil, acrylics and watercolor, beaded and semiprecious stone jewelry, stained glass, hand-poured scented candles and soups, home decor items, prints, garden art, natural beauty products and much more.

The event was founded by Marianne Campbell and Malorie Shannon over 12 years ago. It has grown from a small neighborhood summer event to an annual festival at the beach, and now an annual holiday festival has sprouted out of the effort as well.

Every Woman’s Art & Craft Festival takes place at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and works are moderately priced.

For more information, visit www.everywomansart.moonfruit.com

Cow Appreciation Day – Get a Free Meal

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Everyone likes free stuff, but how far would you do to get a free meal?
Last year more than 300,000 cow-clad customers stampeded to Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country to get a free meal for Cow Appreciation Day.

All you have to do is visit a Chick-fil-A in full “head to hoof” cow costume and receive a free Chick-fil-A Meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) on July 9, 2010. If you’re a too chicken to dress up when it’s not Halloween — Chick-fil-A will actually award a complimentary entrée to those dressed in partial cow attire. (cow-spotted scarf, purse, hat or accessory).

Just check out the silly video below…

More about Cow Appreciation Day:

· Chick-fil-A has launched www.cowappreciationday.com. This website offers cow costume ideas and tips, as well as downloadable cow spots, masks and other bovine-themed accessories for customers to use to create their costumes.

· Two online photo contests are part of the festivities. A photo contest for adults is hosted on the Chick-fil-A Facebook page http://facebook.com/Chick-fil-A. A second photo contest for kids 10 and under called Show Us the Cow is available at www.showusthecow.com. Both contests will award free Chick-fil-A products for a year to the best cow-dressed customers, and children will also have the opportunity to win a $1,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond and a digital camera through the “Show Us the Cow” photo contest.

Fourth of July Weekend in Georgia

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Fourth of July Events in Georgia 2010

4th of July fireworks at Tybee Island, GA

There are lots of fun things to do in coastal Georgia for the Fourth of July weekend. Many cities start their celebration of Independence Day already on the 3rd of July this year. This means that you can actually enjoy fireworks and events all weekend long and make the weekend an extraordinary birthday bash for the country.

SATURDAY JULY 3, 2010

Fireworks Tybee Island Pier
Get an early start for the  Fourth of July weekend and head out to Tybee Island. Here the party starts already on Saturday July 3, 2010, with fireworks at Tybee Pier and Pavilion.
Call 912-786-5444 for more information.

4th of July Festival in St. Marys, Georgia

Independence Day Festival, St Marys, Georgia
Please note that this year, St Marys celebrates the 4th of July already on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010. Come visit historic downtown St Marys, GA, for a delightful Independence Day complete with parade and fireworks. Fireworks at dusk.  For more information call 912.882-4000

Cannons Across the Marsh, Fort King George, Darien
On Saturday- July 3, 2010 from 10am-4pm, Fort King George State Historic Site will be hosting their annual Cannons Across the Marsh celebration in honor of Independence Day.  Artillery and musket firings will be going on throughout the day.  Free watermelon and lemonade will be served.  Also, Boston Butts will be sold at $25 and may be picked up on the 3rd.  RSVPs for Boston Butts are being accepted now and must be received no later than June 30th.  Additionally, BBQ sandwiches will be sold during the day on Saturday the 3rd.

Fort King George State Historic Site, 302 McIntosh Rd. SE, Darien, GA  31305

Call (912) 437-4770 or www.gastateparks.org/fortkinggeorge

Sunday July 4, 2010

Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, Brunswick, GA
Come to Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick for an Old Fashioned Independence Day celebration on July 4, 2010, for the whole family.  Lots of fun with games, contests, free watermelon and much more. Fireworks at dusk. Downtown Brunswick. Contact 912-265-4032

Jekyll Island Beach, Georgia

Sunshine Festival Arts & Crafts Show, St Simons Island, Georgia
This annual 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.

Fireworks July 4.  July 2 – 4, 2010. Sunshine Festival Arts & Crafts Show. Pier Village Parks, St. Simons Island. Pier Village Association. Call 912-262-0628. Fireworks on St Simon’s at 9 pm!

Fourth of July Celebration – Jekyll Island, GA
Jekyll Island is a gorgeous island to visit, so if you have friends and family in town, it might be a great idea to head out to the beach on Jekyll Island.  Every year Jekyll Island hosts a family-fun party at the Beachdeck . The fireworks finale is said to be one of the best in the area. Click here to read more about the Jekyll Island Fourth of July Extravaganza

For more information call 877-4-JEKYLL

Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia

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 read all about Fourth of July events in Savannah

Lifeguard Competition – Folly Beach, SC

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Baywatch in Real Life

Come watch when Folly Beach turn into a real competition for real lifeguards. David Hasselhoff would probably not qualify for a spot in this tough contest – and I don’t think Pamela Anderson is coming either – but that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun to watch.

Local and regional lifeguards will come together to compete in a challenge that showcases and tests lifesaving skills, the 13th Annual SCRPA Lifeguard Competition, on Friday, June 25.

Organized by Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) and the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department, the day-long event brings together beach, pool and waterpark lifeguards from across South Carolina. The competition is held on behalf of the SCRPA Aquatics Branch with the goal of encouraging guards to improve their lifesaving skills and training.

“The lifeguard competition continues to be a motivating tool for lifeguards throughout South Carolina, giving them the chance to perfect and test their skills against fellow lifeguards,” said Michael Bradley, CCPRC’s Assistant Ocean Access Manager.

Bradley adds that lifeguard teams from across the state are encouraged to sign up. “Participants get the opportunity to have fun and compete in a variety of events in both the pool and ocean settings,” he says.

The competition kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with pool events at the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department’s R.L. Jones Center pool, then moves to Folly Beach County Park around 1 p.m.

Pool events at the R.L. Jones Center feature team competition in both speed races and lifesaving techniques, including Spinal Injury Management, Brick Tow Relay, 50-Yard Sprint, Submerged Deep Water Rescue with CPR, 500-Yard Swim and 100-Yard Relay events. The action-packed beach events on Folly will have teams running in and out of the water as they simulate rescues and compete in fitness tests, including the Run-Swim-Run, One-Mile Run, Beach Flags and Active Rescue events.

An awards ceremony will immediately follow the competition, with awards given to first, second and third-placing teams.

To qualify to compete, all participants must be certified through an accredited agency. Teams must be composed of 3 to 4 members, with at least one male and one female on each team. Entry fees are $50 per team and proof of certification must be furnished with registration.

Competitions are open to the public. For more information call (843) 795-PARK or email mbradley@ccprc.com.