Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Springing the Blues 2009 – Jacksonville Beach

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Springing The Blues is an annual festival drawing a crowd of approximately 125,000 blues fans to Jacksonville Beach. Here you can experience performances from some of the nation’s top Blues performers. Springing The Blues is a free outdoor blues music festival. The goal of the festival is to celebrate blues.  The three-day oceanfront music festival features a selection of blues performers as well as other  activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Springing The Blues festival is traditionally held at Jacksonville Beach, Florida’s Oceanfront SeaWalk Pavilion on the first weekend of April each year.

A Few Festival Facts:

• Downbeat Magazine named Springing the Blues as one of the top 50 Music Festivals in the World

• SouthEast Tourism Society named the festival as one of the top 20 destination events in the U.S.

• Springing the Blues is known as Florida’s largest free outdoor blues festival.

• In 1997 the festival was voted as “Best Festival in Northeast Florida” by Folio Weekly Magazine’s annual poll.

Past performers at the festival have included many famous musicians such as; Larry McCray, Phillip Walker, Tinsely Ellis, Saffire “The Uppity Blues Women,” Maurice John Vaughn, Earl King, Mitch Woods And His Rocket 88’s, Susan Tedeschi, North Mississippi Allstars, Tab Benoit, Little Jimmy King, Henry Gray and the Cats, Grammy Award winner Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Ruby Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, R. L. Burnside, Smoky Wilson, Coco Montoya, Smokin’ Joe Kubek and B’nois King.

This year the festival will take place on April 3-5 at Seawalk Plaza, Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Savannah Music Festival 2009

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The city of  Savannah has spring fever.  First it’s St Patrick’s Day and the city is taken over by a green, then the city follows up with a classy music festival unlike any other. The Savannah festival is unique, it offers up a buffet of music. There is truly something for everyone, and you really can’t imagine a more appropriate city for such a festival.

The Savannah Festival kicks of on March 19th  and continues thru April 5th, 2009. It’s difficult to give you any guidance as to choice of music. Just take a look at their extensive program and read the information on the festival website, it’s enough to keep you busy for a while.  Click here to visit Savannah Music Festival.

The video below gives you a pretty good idea as well. And if you didn’t know, the festival also made it as the weekly pick for Coastal Companion’s weekly show, the Georgia edition.

17th Annual Lighthouse Festival & Michelob Ultra 5K 2009 – St Augustine, FL

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St Augustine has one of the prettiest lighthouses on the coast. If you haven’t visited it yet, here is your chance. On Saturday, March 21, it’s time again for the annual Lighthouse Festival. During the festival St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum will offer free admission to the tower, the museum and the grounds during the festival.

The festival has lots of fun activities for both kids and adults. As always there will be special games and crafts for children, great food, pony rides, and archaeological activities. Children can even buy, build and sail their own model boat in the pond.

Radio Disney AM 600 and the Disney Fun Squad Cast will broadcast live from 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Local entertainers will perform throughout the day including live music from Josh n’ Lou.

The Michelob Ultra 5K Run/Walk and the Shepard & Shepard Fun Run will also be held during Lighthouse Festival courtesy of the Junior Service League of St. Augustine. The 5K Run begins at 4:30 p.m. and the Fun Run begins at 5 p.m.; both races will start and finish in front of the lawn of the keepers’ house. Registrater in advance by visiting the Junior Service League of St. Augustine’s website www.jslofstaugustine.org, or participants on the day of the race from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Last year about 8,000 visitors came to the lighthouse for the festival throughout the day. Free parking will be available at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre (which is probably your best bet for parking) and there is a shuttle that will take you from there to the festival. Paid event parking will also be available at the Lighthouse & Museum.

This festival takes place on Saturday March 21st from 11 am – 6 pm.

For more information call (904) 829-0745 or visit www.staugustinelighthouse.com

Can-Am Days in Myrtle Beach 2009

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In Myrtle Beach this weekend, the big Can-Am Days Event kicks off. This festival is basically “Snow Bird Spring Break” in South Carolina and comes with a huge line-up of fun events for the family.

The event usually draws about 100,000 Canadian visitors and snowbirds from northern states to South Carolina. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce introduced Canada Days back in 1961 to attract Canadians during their spring break. The name was later changed to Canadian-American Days. This festival is considered to be the first international festival organized in the state of South Carolina.

From March 14-22, 2009, the Myrtle Beach area rolls out the red carpet to welcome Canadian and American visitors with a line-up of fun events, giveaways, discounts and concerts taking place throughout the Grand Strand.

“Can-Am Days celebrates our snowbird visitors, who escape the cold and snow for the beautiful climate and wealth of attractions of the Myrtle Beach area,” said Brad Dean, MBACC president and CEO. “Many of these visitors have been traveling to our destination for decades, and we strive to create new memories for each generation through our festivals.”

“This year we welcome RBC Bank as presenting sponsor,” said Amie Lee, MBACC director of festivals and special events. “RBC Bank has added excitement to Can-Am Days by introducing the Battle at the Beach golf tournament. The timing of the tournament coincides perfectly with the much-anticipated unveiling of the new Pine Lakes golf course.” The Pine Lakes golf course has been closed for nearly two years for renovation and redesign and will reopen March 14.

The 48th Annual Canadian-American Days will offer a variety of events. Highlights include:

* 26th Annual National Shag Dance Championships, March 12-14 – This competition is especially fitting for the Myrtle Beach area, where the shag dance originated. The event showcases amateur and professional division dancers with more than 50 couples are expected to compete for the national title. Studebaker’s, Myrtle Beach. Admission $15-$25.
* 2009 RBC Bank Presents the Royal Canadian Artillery Band and Seaforth All Girls Marching Band Concert, March 14 – The Royal Canadian Artillery Band, one of six Canadian Forces brass and reed bands, is a unit of 35 professional musicians. Formed more than 100 years ago, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band represents the Canadian Forces at home and abroad. The Seaforth All Girls Marching Band of Ontario has been delighting audiences near and far with popular show tunes and other nontraditional marching music for more than 60 years. The band, a group of 50 to 60 young women, range in age from 11 to 19. Surfside United Methodist Church, Surfside Beach. Free but tickets are required. Tickets available Feb. 25 at the Surfside Beach Town Hall.
* 2009 RBC Bank Presents the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, March 15 –The Royal Canadian Artillery Band, one of six Canadian Forces brass and reed bands, is a unit of 35 professional musicians. Formed more than 100 years ago, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band represents the Canadian Forces at home and abroad. Myrtle Beach Community Church, Myrtle Beach. Free but tickets are required. Tickets available Feb. 26 at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
* 2009 RBC Bank Canadian-American Days Kickoff Celebration Expo, March 16 – This expo officially kicks off Can-Am Days and features exhibitors, musical entertainment, prizes, giveaways and refreshments. Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach. Free to the public.
* Out of Winter Into Spring: The Courage to Live Undivided, March 17-19 – Presented by Still Learning Inc., this retreat at the beach will renew the heart and spirit. Sea View Inn, Pawleys Island. Space is limited. $889 per person. Canadian currency accepted.
* 15th Annual South Strand Wildlife and History Day, March 18 – Enjoy family-friendly entertainment, exhibits and activities including birds of prey and reptile demonstrations and sea turtle and beachcombing programs. The Taste of Murrells Inlet, a culinary extension of the event, will boast specialties from some of the finest restaurants in the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. Event and park admission are free. Cost for food.
* 2009 Battle at the Beach, March 19 – Golfers are invited to participate in the first annual Canada vs. U.S.A. Friendly Competition for the RBC Cup, four-person scramble format. The tournament will take place at the just-renovated Pine Lakes golf course, known as “the Granddaddy.” Prizes will be awarded. All tournament profits will be donated to Myrtle Beach Haven. Presented by RBC Bank and sponsored by Damon’s Grill, Scatori’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant and Divine Dining Group. Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtle Beach. Fee $100 per person, $350 per foursome.
* For more information, call (800) 356-3016 or visit CanAmDays.com for the most current information and event times.