Our area is rich in history and culture, and one of the most fascinating cultures is the Gullah Geechee. This weekend you can learn more about the Gullah Geeche culture at the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival in South Carolina. This festival has the largest showcase of authentic sweetgrass baskets in the Lowcountry, but the festival offers music, arts and craft, storytelling and much more.
Click here to read more about the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Sun Fun Festival in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
School is out and it’s time to have fun in the sun! Many families head to Myrtle Beach for a getaway vacation, and this weekend Myrtle Beach has a big festival.
Every year Myrtle Beach, SC, celebrates the summer season with the Sun Fun Festival. This weekend it’s time for the big kick off event with a parade, free concerts, celebraty appearances, vendors, Jet Ski Championship and much more.
Click here to read more about the Sun Fun Festival in Myrtle Beach
Shaggin’ on the Cooper – Mount Pleasant Pier
The new Mount Pleasant Pier in is open and Shaggin’ on the Cooper is back. Take your sweetheart by the arm and head to the pier for a romantic evening under the stars, where you can dance the night away on Saturday, May 22, 7 – 11:00 p.m.
Dance the night away under the stars at the new Mount Pleasant Pier while enjoying live classic oldies and beach music performed by Palmetto Soul.
Beverages will be available for purchase on-site. Â Gates open at 7pm. Live music begins at 8pm.
Only 800 tickets will be sold, no advance purchase. But tickets ($10 per person) will be available for purchase at the Pier shop beginning at 4pm on the day of each event.
For more information, visit www.ccprc.com
Beach Music Festival – Myrtle Beach Mayfest
It’s finally time for the grand opening of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 12 p.m. in conjunction with the Beach Music Festival in Myrtle Beach.
Beach Music Festival
Come out and meet the star from TLC “The Cake Boss” himself, Buddy Valestro, as he creates a giant flip flop cake. The Beach Music Festival is part of the month-long Mayfest celebration in Myrtle Beach, SC. The event features free concerts with Ben E. King, the Coasters, the Embers and other bands. The Beach Music Festival in Myrtle Beach ends with fireworks.
Schedule of Events:
Saturday, May 15, 2010 in Downtown Myrtle Beach
Ocean Blvd. between 8th Ave. N. and 9th Ave. N.
10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ~ FREE
10 a.m. Official Kick Off to the Beach Music Festival
Food Vendors Open – Arts/Crafts Vendors Open
10 a.m.- 11:15 a.m. Live Entertainment by The Embers
from Raleigh, NC. The Embers have been playing a mix of rhythm and blues and heart and soul for decades.
11: 30 a.m.-12: 45 p.m. Live Entertainment by Jim Quick & Coastline from Wilmington, NC. Coastline performs an eclectic blend of soul, blues, and rock.
12 Noon – 12:30 p.m. Boardwalk and Promenade Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on the boardwalk between 8th & 9th Ave. N.
12:30 p.m.- 1 p.m. Gigantic Flip-Flop Cake Reveal with Buddy “The Cake Boss” Valastro sponsored by Vineyard Vines
1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Character Meet & Greet with Buddy “The Cake Boss” Valastro
1 p.m.- 2:15 p.m. Live Entertainment by Billy Scott & The Party Prophets from NC. The Prophets have performed classic beach music across the southeast.
2:30 p.m.- 3:45 p.m. Live Entertainment by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs from Charlotte, NC. Maurice Williams is one of the most extraordinarily durable figures in the history of classic rhythm-and-blues and rock ‘n roll.
4 p.m.- 5:15 p.m. Live Entertainment by Mark Roberts & The Breeze from Georgetown, SC featuring the best in Dance, Funk, Rock n Roll, Motown, Beach Music, and some Country.
5:30 p.m.- 6:45 p.m. Live Entertainment by The Coasters
performing classic doo-wop and R&B.
7 p.m.- 8:15 p.m. Live Entertainment by The Catalinas from Charlotte, NC performing classic and original beach music.
8:45 p.m.- 9:45 p.m. Live Entertainment by Ben E. King
Possessing one of the most elegant baritone voices ever, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alumnus Ben E. King’s imprint on the musical landscape is so indelible that an optimum barometer has been set for countless aspiring performers.
FIREWORKS TO FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY AFTER LAST PERFORMANCE!
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Approximately 1 mile of the 1.2 mile boardwalk is complete and open to the public. The boardwalk is currently open from just north of the 14th Avenue Pier to Fourth Avenue North.
The remaining section of the new boardwalk project, from Fourth Avenue North to just south of the Second Avenue Pier, will take a little longer to be completed.
The mile-long Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade traverses from the 14th Avenue to 2nd Avenue Piers in Myrtle Beach. The boardwalk will provide oceanfront views of the pristine beachline and is divided into three different sections.
The northernmost portion will wind down from the 14th Avenue North Pier to Plyler Park.
The mid-section will be located from Plyler Park to the former Pavilion Amusement Park site at 8th Avenue North and will encompass more of a carnival-like atmosphere with oceanfront dining and businesses. The southernmost end of the boardwalk leading up to the 2nd Avenue pier will have a meandering oceanfront park.
South Carolina Aquarium Celebrates 10 Years
This weekend, May 14 – 16, 2010,  you can help celebrate the Aquarium’s 10-year birthday with fun, fish and feedings.  Enjoy special dive shows, unique feedings, animal enrichment programs, a mascot parade, crafts and more! Enjoy special celebratory programs at the:10s of each hour.  Check out the newest addition to the Aquarium, a rare albino alligator and watch as this jaw-dropping reptile is fed breakfast at the Gator Feeding Program; catch a glimpse of a fishy cake in the Great Ocean Tank at the ‘Hang 10 with the Divers’ dive shows; watch as one of the Magellanic penguins goes Picasso with Penguin Art, and participate in an Aquarium-wide Mascot Parade including four Aquarium mascots, educators, volunteers and the crowd-pleasing Waddle Wagon.  For a limited-time only, make sure to check out the new historical timeline display which takes you through the years of the Aquarium detailing major events, animal acquisitions, accomplishments and more.
Aquarium guests will not want to miss these Birthday Celebration Programs:
Especially for the early birds!
Visitors can join educators first thing in the morning for a favorite returning program, Harbor Happenings at 9:10 a.m. Enjoy complimentary coffee by our friends from Charleston Coffee Roasters as you hear more about the creatures that swim and play in the harbor.
Happy Birthday Otters!
A species that has been around since the Aquarium opened, watch as the otters are given a life-size birthday cake at 10:10 a.m.! Enjoy seeing them climb and play in this interactive wooden cake during an activity that helps enrich their daily lives.
It’s our party and we will put cake in the tank if we want to!
Join educators and staff for a very special Interactive Dive Show, ‘Hang Ten with the Divers,’ at 11:10 a.m., where guests will participate in a 10-year game show and watch what happens when you put Cake in the Tank!
Alligator Breakfast
Watch as the newest addition to the Aquarium, a rare, one of 50 in the world, albino alligator is fed breakfast! A jaw-dropping experience for the whole family, don’t miss this exclusive, never-before-seen-by-the-public Gator Feeding at 12:10 p.m.
Call that penguin Picasso!
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind activity at 1:10 p.m.: Penguin Art. An activity known as animal enrichment, watch as one of our Magellanic penguins creates its own artwork with paint on canvas!
Gator and Penguin and Otter, Oh My!
Join in as Aquarium staff, volunteers, the four Aquarium mascots, and one of our Magellanic penguins come together for a Birthday Mascot Parade through the Great Hall at 2:10 p.m. Afterwards, get your picture taken with the mascots and watch as the penguins of Penguin Planet are fed their afternoon snack.
It’s our party and we will put cake in the tank if we want to! Join educators and staff for a very special Interactive Dive Show, ‘Hang Ten with the Divers,’ at 3:10 p.m., where guests will participate in a 10-year game show and watch what happens when you put Cake in the Tank!
It’s been ten turtle-rific years! Join us at 4:10 p.m. for an exclusive Sea Turtle Rescue Program show with a live turtle. Learn more about the treatments and therapies used to rehabilitate the sick and injured sea turtles and how you can help all endangered sea turtle species.
Birthday bliss and festive activities abound for guests of all ages with a weekend focused on celebrating our guests, members and community. Swim on over to the Aquarium for some fun May 14 – May 16, 2010. For more information, visit scaquarium.org or call (843) 577-FISH (3474).