Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Charleston, SC – January 2011 Events

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Need new ideas for the new year? The holidays are finally over, and it’s time to make plans for what to do for the month of January with your family and friends. As usual, there is always a lot going on in South Carolina, especially when it comes to food events and festivals.

First Friday on Broad – Jan 7, 2011
Participating galleries on gallery row will offer a featured wine to accompany their fine art on a relaxing stroll down The Row, on Friday January 7th from 5-8 PM. Many galleries will offer demos, music and refreshments.
http://coastalcompanion.com/south-carolina/charleston/first-fridays-on-broad/

Charleston Restaurant Week – Jan 14-22, 2011
There is no lack of good food in the city of Charleston, and every year there seems to be more restaurants and food festivals.
During this event you’ll get an opportunity to try out new restaurants and new menus and explore the culinary arts scene in Charleston. Participating restaurant serve food according to a fixed price menu. Some restaurants participate with three courses for $20, others with three courses for $30.
More details on our Charleston Restaurant Week page.

Charleston Marathon – Jan 15, 2011
The First Annual Charleston Marathon presented by the Riverfront Race Festival will take place on Saturday, January 15, 2011. The start of the 26.2 full marathon and 13.1-mile half marathon course beginning near the South Carolina Aquarium, downtown Charleston. The course will run South on East Bay St., passing Rainbow Row, and White Point Gardens, then follow King Street North where the half marathon will end at the Navy Yard at Noisette and the full marathon race will continue. The 10K and 5K road races will also begin at this start/finish line on the old navy base.

In true Low Country tradition, shrimp and grits will be at the finish line, along with music on the course from the Charleston County School District groups and adult beverages. For more information, go www.charlestonmarathon.com or www.riverfrontfestival.com.

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Charleston Comedy Festival – Jan 19 – 22, 2011
The annual festival brings in some of the hottest improv, sketch, and stand-up artists from Chicago, New York, Canada, Atlanta, and LA to the city of Charleston for a weekend of comedy.
The Charleston Stand-Up Competition finals will kick off early with a Tuesday night show at Theatre 99. On Wednesday and Thursday nights, there will be shows by local troupes Cats Hugging Cats, Full Love Throttle, Neckprov, Hot Pants, Moral Fixation, and Human Fireworks. Out-of-town performers Nate Baratze, The Shock T’s, and the Village Theatre will take over the Charleston Ballet Theatre on Thursday for a night of stand up, sketch, and improv. Read more on our special page about Charleston Comedy Festival.

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On Friday night, choose from 15 shows at various venues across town, including a show by Robot Johnson, Introducing Fish Taco, and This is Chucktown at South of Broadway Theatre in North Charleston and a stand up show featuring Nate Baratze, Dave and Ethan, and Tom Keller at the Pour House on James Island. More information at www.charlestoncomedyfestival.com

Charleston Boat Show – Jan 21 – 23, 2011
This is the biggest boat show in the Low Country with lots of things to see and do. The show takes place at North Charleston Convention Center and during the three day event you can look of course look at boats, get fishing tips, there’s even lots of fun activities for the kids.

Low Country Oyster Festival – Jan 30, 2011
One of the most popular food festivals in Charleston is the Oyster festival at beautiful Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston, SC. This is an annual festival for oyster lovers from all over the region, and now wonder, after all this is the world’s largest oyster festival.

It is said that about 65,000 pounds of oyster are delivered to the famous Charleston oyster roast for the big day, can you believe it? Don’t miss the well-known “Oyster Shucking” and “Oyster Eating” Contests. There is also live music on stage, a Kids Corner, a “Food Court” showcasing a variety of local restaurants and much more.

The Oyster Festival takes place January 30, 2011 from 10:30 am – 5 pm.
More details can be found on our special Low Country Oyster Festival page.

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Things to do in Georgia – October 2010

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When it’s October, fall festival season is in full swing and this is the month before the holidays take over. It’s time for Oktober Festivals, football and to top it off with Halloween.

Pirate Fest, Tybee Island, GA

Oktoberfest on the River – Savannah, GA

October 1 – 3, 2010
Savannah has a wonderful Oktoberfest on Riverstreet. This festival has everything you expect from beer garden, to Oompah band and Wienerdog race. Visit our special events page for Oktoberfest on the River

Tybee Island Pirate Fest -Tybee Island, GA

October 8 – 9, 2010
Quickly change from lederhosen to peg leg and eye patch because as soon as the Oompah band stops playing, the pirates take over the whole island of Tybee. It’s time for the popular Pirate Fest on October 8 – 9, 2010. Check out our special events page for Tybee Island Pirate Fest.

Georgia Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival – Jekyll Island, GA

October 7 – 10, 2010
In October Georgia is hosting the greatest diversity of bird species. Jekyll Island celebrates with a special festival where you can learn more about our birds and nature. Check out the special page for Georgia Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival on Jekyll Island, GA

The Great Ogechee Seafood Festival – Richmond Hill, GA

October 15-17, 2010
There’s another seafood festival in Georgia in October. This time, head to Richmond Hill outside Savannah for lots of fun for the whole family. Find out more here – The Great Ogechee Seafood Festival.

Shalom Y'All Jewish Food Festival

Tybee Island Festival of the Arts

October 16 – 17, 2010
Tybee Island goes straight from pirates to the arts, and why not. This is a great arts festival with lots of artists from the region. Read more on our page for Tybee Island Festival of the Arts

Shalom Y’all – Jewish Food Festival – Savannah, GA

October 31, 2010
There is another food festival in Georgia this month. This festival takes place in Forsyth Park. Come explore Jewish food. Find out more on our special page for Shalom Y’all – Jewish Food Festival – Savannah

Savannah Film Festival

October 31 – November 6, 2010
This festival is getting bigger and bigger every year. The festival kicks off at the end of October, check out our special events page for Savannah Film Festival.

Wait… There is more to read…
Kingsland Catfish Festival Video
Right Whale Festival – Jacksonville, Fl
Pirate Gathering – St Augustine, Fl
Taste of Charleston

Pirate Parade at Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival

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The Isle of Eight Flags shrimp festival in Fernandina, Amelia Island, Florida,  draws a huge crowd every year, but the festivities kick off early with a fun and festive parade. Here you’ll see all kinds of floats and costumes,from dancing shrimp, to dancers, live bands, music, soldiers and of course the always popular pirates. This time they even managed to scare our camera man. Check out this video and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
(Click here to read our previous post about the Fernandina Shrimp Festival)

Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival 2010 – Fernandina, Fl

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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

The Great Atlantic Music & Seafood Festival, Jax Beach, Florida – 2010

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The Great Atlantic Music & Seafood Festival takes place on Saturday, March 20, 2010.  The motto – or the slogan –  for the  “Celebrating the Salt Life in all of us”, and that seems fitting. After all, what would life on the coast be without great music festivals and seafood festivals, and to combine the two into one event is just pure genius.  The Great Atlantic Music & Seafood Festival takes place at Jacksonville Beach, Florida, on Saturday March 20, 2010.

The event location is SeaWalk Pavilion right on Jacksonville Beach, which is a perfect location for this type of festival. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. and continues all day until 10: 00 p.m at night. Let’s hope for nice warm weather this weekend!

Another great plus that I need to mention is that this is a free festival. That’s right, there is no fee for admission. Just come to as you are to Seawalk Pavilion and hang out for 10 hours of non-stop live music by national recording artists and regional touring bands.  The performances vary from performing rock, blues, Americana, and newgrass sounds.

In addition to the non-stop music, the festival food court serves up a smorgasbord of fresh Florida Seafood anyway you like it – blackened, grilled, steamed… pick your favorite.  For those who are not fond of seafood (believe it or not, there are people like that), there’s other foods as well. And there are  ice cold beverages to quench that salty thirst.

When you get tired of the music or need a break, head over to The Festival Market. Here you’ll find unique and interesting original arts, crafts and more. There’s also lot of fun, friendly, family rides, games and activities for the kids. So bring the whole family!

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
12:30 p.m. Saltwater Grass
2:00 p.m. Chroma
3:30 p.m. Yankee Slickers
5:00 p.m. The Sarah Mac Band
6:15 p.m. kLob
7:30 p.m. Anders Osborne

For more information about the festival, visit City of Jacksonville Beach website.