Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Fourth of July in South Carolina

by

4th of July in Coastal South Carolina

Since Independence Day is a national holiday,  many families get together and for a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of extra time off to spend time with relatives. The first week of July is usually one of the busiest travel times of the year. Many people are heading to South Carolina for the Fourth of July, and there are a lot of events going on.

Here are a few suggestions:

 

Fourth of July F-16 Fly Over – Pawleys Island
July 4, 2012

Turn your eyes to the eastern sky on the Fourth of July to wave to the F-16s of the 77th Fighter Squadron. “The Gamblers” of the 20th Fighter Wing stationed at Shaw Air Force Base will conduct a flyover of the South Carolina Coast. Listen to the sound of freedom as the F-16s roar along our shoreline. Spectators are urged to wear and wave the red, white and blue along the beaches during the flyover. The flyover, which is organized by the non-profit organization, Salute from the Shore, and the Town of Pawleys Island.

Murrels Inlet 4th of july boat parade
Boat Parade, Murrells Inlet, SC

 

Murrells Inlet 4th of July Boat Parade
July 4, 2012

The 29th Annual July 4th Boat Parade kicks off at 9am (high tide) from Garden City Point.  This year’s parade theme is “Red, White & View!  Inlet-style Tried and True.”  The parade will head over to the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk and then follow the Murrells Inlet shoreline down to the Hot Fish Club.  Best public viewing points are the Marshwalk, Belin Methodist Church, Nance’s Restaurant, Captain Pooh’s Restaurant and the Hot Fish Club.  Click here to visit our page.

 

Patriot's Point Charleston, SCFourth of July Blast at Patriot’s Point – Mount Pleasant, SC
July 4, 2012

This is without doubt the biggest Fourth of July celebration in South Carolina every year. Patriot’s Point in Charleston, SC, hosts a big firework display. The fireworks are shot from the deck of USS Yorktown. You can get all the details about the Fourth of July Blast at Patriot’s Point right here.

Shaggin’ on the Cooper
July 4, 2012

Dance the night away at the Cooper. This is one of the most popular events for the Summer in the Charleston area. Read more about this recurring event here.

27th Annual Firecracker 5000 – Hilton Head Island,SC
July 4, 2012

The 5K (3.1 miles) Hilton Head Firecracker 5000 course starts and finishes behind the Mall at Shelter Cove at Shelter Cove Community Park and takes participants through the fast and flat roads around Shelter Cove Harbour. The festive post-race celebration features music, fresh fruit, ice cold refreshments, door prizes and more. For more details about where to watch fireworks on Hilton Head Island, SC, just visit our special page for 4th of July Hilton Head Island.

Summerville, SC, parade
Non-motorized parade in Summerville, SC.

 

Red, White and Blue on the Green – Summerville, SC
July 1, 2012 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm 

Historic downtown Summerville will be transformed into an Independence Day street festival. Summerville D.R.E.A.M. (Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management) will be hosting the Annual Red, White & Blue On the Green with children’s activity stations, jump castles, live music and food stands. Summerville’s free family and community celebration! There is a special non-motorized parade, featuring kids on bikes, in wagons, on rollerblades, in strollers – all decked out for America!! Music and concessions start at 5 p.m. Please note that Summerville is celebrating Fourth of July a little bit earlier this year, which is perfect. You can make it to Summerville for the celebration on July 1 and then celebrate again in Charleston for July 4th. Get all the details for the Red, White and Blue on the Green in Summerville right here.

 North Charleston 4th of July

The City of North Charleston is hosting the July 4th celebration at the Riverfront Park on July 4, 2011 from 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM. This year’s event features Common Ground, Coastrunners, Atlanta Pleasure Band, and Ruben Studdard, along with other activities throughout the event, ending a wonderful day with a spectacular fireworks display at dark, coordinated with live music from Equinox Jazz Band. The North Charleston 4th of July Festival boasts the largest fireworks show in the State of South Carolina. The Festival is presented free of charge to the public with all general admission for attendees. Guests attending the Festival are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets, as there is no seating provided. No alcohol is permissible within the park. A wide variety of food vendors are always on site. Children activities are available free of charge, including inflatable jump castles, games, the play area, the giant sandbox, and the water fountain. The City of North Charleston’s 4th of July Festival is our largest sponsored event. Annually held at Riverfront Park, the Festival features nationally renowned performers, such as Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Marshall Tucker Band, and Lee Greenwood.

Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival 2010 – Fernandina, Fl

by

Fernandina has one of the best and biggest shrimp festivals on the coast. This year it’s the 47th Anniversary for the popular Isle of Eight Shrimp Festival. This year the festival is scheduled for April 30 – May 2, 2010.  Fernandina Shrimp Festival is traditionally held the first weekend in May in the Historic downtown Centre Street business district in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida.

Pirate Parade and Invasion
The party kicks off already on Thursday with an exciting Pirate Parade at 6 p.m. You’ll get to see all kinds of creations in this unique parade – from pirate ships to gigantic shrimp. The theme for this year’s parade is “Name that tune”, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to be performed. Coastal Companion is planning to film the parade this year, so if you happen to see me, make sure to say hello.

Then on Friday it’s time for the opening of the festival and the actual invasion of the pirates Friday night.

Amelia Island River Cruises Ferry Boat

There’s also a bunch of contests;  Best Decorated Boat, Best Decorated Pirate, Miss Shrimp Festival pageant, and my personal favorite, the only one I could possibly participate in and win  – the ice cream eating contest.

Plan for lots of people, lots of fun and plan for walking a lot. The Amelia Island River Cruises will run a special ferry boat from St Marys, Georgia over to the festival, so check with them for the schedule. If the weather is nice, it’s a beautiful trip past Cumberland Island and Fort Clinch – and you won’t have to fight traffic that way. (www.ameliaislandrivercruises.com)

For the complete program, visit the website at www.shrimpfestival.com

Isle of Eight Shrimp Festival, Fernandina, Amelia Island, Florida

Holiday Regatta of Lights 2009 – St Augustine, Fl

by

Come to St Augustine, Florida on Saturday December 12, 2009, to see the Regatta of Lights – a holiday parade of boats. The boat parade consists of boats 15 to 85 feet in length – sailboats, trawlers, shrimp boats and more – all festively decorated with glittering lighted displays ranging from Christmas, to patriotic or whimsical.

Awards will be made for the best theme, most colorful, best in class, and best overall. Beginning at 6 p.m., the boats will light up Matanzas Bay between the Bridge of Lions and Castillo de San Marcos. The Regatta of Lights is sponsored by the St. Augustine Yacht Club. For more information, call 904.824.9725 or go to St. Augustine Yacht Club.

St Augustine, Florida

Christmas Tree Lighting and Boat Parade – Savannah, GA

by

The city of Savannah welcomes the holiday season with a boat parade on Saturday November 28th, 2009. The Savannah River will be filled with lighted boats, holiday decorated boats and more boats! Get into the holiday spirit and come and look for the best lit vessel and pick your favorite. The beautiful parade navigates up the river and then along historic River Street and Rousakis Plaza.

The WTOC Lighting of the Tree Ceremony begins at 6pm in Morrell Park and is followed by the Lighted Flotilla!
savboatparade

Jacksonville Light Parade 2009

by

The St. Johns River sparkles in holiday cheer during the Jacksonville Light Parade on November 28.  Sailboats and other boats festively decorated for the holidays will parade down the river in the heart of Downtown.  Boaters will light up the sails and dress up as Santas and wave to the crowds along the riverbanks.  Don’t miss this spectacular holiday event which is followed by a fireworks show  with Jacksonville’s signature “waterfall” fireworks cascading from two Downtown bridges.

jaxlightparade2009 Jacksonville Light Parade
Saturday, November 28
7 p.m.
Downtown Riverfront


The parade can be seen from both the northbank and southbank of the downtown riverfront. Families are encouraged to bring their chairs, blankets and picnics to the riverfront for this magical evening!
Click here for a printable map

Annoucements of parading boats, themes and holiday messages will be broadcast along the northbank and southbank of the riverfront.

For more details visit www.coj.net

jaxboatparade