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Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Jekyll Island Shrimp n’ Grits Festival in Georgia

September 20, 2013 by Susanne Talentino

The annual Shrimp n’ Grits festival in Jekyll Island, Georgia, is one of our favorite festivals on the coast. There is always a lot to see and do at this festival. This year it’s the 8th year for the popular Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival. If you love seafood, especially shrimp, this is the place to visit. The festival takes place in the historic district on September 19 – 21, 2014.
To kick-off the weekend, Opening Night Plate Samples will be offered on Friday, Sept. 20, with plates priced at $3 each. On Saturday and Sunday, the festival hosts two cooking contests, first, an amateur Cooking Competition and then the Professional Chef Cooking Competition. There will also be cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs.
Shrimp & Grits Festival on Jekyll Island, GAFrom the Kids Fun Zone, zip lines and bounce houses, to ongoing cooking demos, shrimp eating contests and never-ending assortment of tasty finds, the 2013 Shrimp & Grits: Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival promises to dish up a good time for the whole family!

General admission to the festival is free.

Here is our video from when we visited the festival a while back.

Fun things to do in Florida in October

September 26, 2012 by Susanne Talentino

Who doesn’t love October? The weather is a little bit cooler and it’s a great time to spend time outside. October is always a month filled to the brim with festivals, celebrations and events. But October is not only about pumpkin patches, scary ghosts and gremlins or lederhosen and oompah bands.  Just take a look at some of our suggestions below.

First Wednesday Art Walk – Jacksonville, Florida
October 3, 2012 
The theme for the month is Hispanic Heritage. Head downtown for dance and music and much more. Here is our video from last year’s event.

 

First Friday Artwalk – St Augustine, Florida

October 5, 2012
The art walk in St. Augustine is a social affair with lots of people mingling in the streets outside the many quaint shops, galleries and other venues participating. Read more – First Friday Artwalk St Augustine, Florida

Datil Pepper Festival – St. Augustine, Florida

October 6 – 7, 2012
Spice things up with the datil pepper at this festival. The datil pepper is celebrated at this festival in St. Augustine every year. More details here – Datil Pepper Festival.

Les deMerle

 

Amelia Island Jazz Festival – Fernandina, Florida

October 7 – 14, 2012
The well-known jazz musician Les deMerle has been the driving force behind this popular jazz festival for many years and created an exciting program. Read more here – Amelia Island Jazz Festival

 

Greek Festival

 

Greek Festival – St Augustine

October 12 – 14, 2012
Experience food and culture from Greece, without leaving your own backyard – just come to this festival in October. Read all about it here – Greek Festival in St. Augustine

 

 

Biketoberfest – Daytona Beach, Florida

October 18 -21, 2012
Motorcyclists from near and far will converge in Daytona for the special Biketoberfest. Biketoberfest® is an international award-winning motorcycle festival offering a getaway weekend filled with bikes, sun, beaches and most importantly – lots of fun. During this event, traditionally scheduled on the third weekend in October, you can enjoy delicious food, live music and lots of people-watching.Read more on our event page for Biketoberfest.

Spooktacular at the Jacksonville Zoo

 October 19-21, 2012 & October 26-31, 2012

Come to Jacksonville Zoo for the spooktacular Halloween celebration – safe for children. Pirates cove, Pumpking Patch, Enchanted Forest and much more.  6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Click here for more information. 

Daytona Beach Dream Cruise

 Southern Women’s Show

Oct 18 – 21, 2012

The Southern Women’s Show returns to Prime Osborne Convention Center. This year it’s the 24th annual show.

Here is the link for a $2.00 off admission to the show to print out!

women can shop for beautiful jewelry and hip handbags, watch fabulous fashion shows, attend cooking demonstrations and sample gourmet foods, treat themselves to makeovers, and meet celebrity guests! Visit their website for more info.

Daytona Beach Dream Cruise – Daytona, Fl

October 26 – 28, 2012
This is a car show and event for car enthusiasts from the region with lots of events around Daytona Beach, Florida. Read more on our special page for Daytona Beach Dream Cruise


St Augustine, Florida

 

Uptown Saturday Night – St Augustine

Every month antique dealers and art galleries in the Old City’s San Marco District hold the popular event Uptown Saturday Night. This monthly art event combines a festive party atmosphere with hospitality and special deals. Find out more here – Uptown Saturday Night

 

 

Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic – Jacksonville, Fl

October 24 – 37, 2012
The football fans from both universities will gather in Jacksonville for the annual battle between the two giants. Lots of events and happenings around town. Read more here Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic

 

Fourth of July in South Carolina

June 20, 2012 by Susanne Talentino

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.

Riverside Arts Market – Jacksonville, Florida

February 28, 2012 by Susanne Talentino

Spring is in the air – and the opening of the season for Riverside Arts Market in downtown Jacksonville is a sure sign that spring has arrived. On Saturday, March 3, 2012, RAM holds its grand opening celebration. There will be a parade at 9:45 am to kick off the season and everyone is invited to participate. There will be music performances on stage, a juggler, a sword swallower and balloon art – just to mention a few. This is a great opportunity to come and check out some of the artists and the many hand made items available from the vendors, and make sure to come hungry – because there is always a lot of food to choose from. Lots of arts & crafts and fresh produce. For more information about Riverside Arts Market check out our special page.

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Valentine’s Day Weekend Tips from Joe

February 7, 2012 by Susanne Talentino

We have just launched a Coastal Companion segment of our TV show “I Know Jax”. The weekly show broadcasts on CW 17 on the First Coast, in Camden County and Glynn County and surrounding areas and reaches approximately 675,000 households. Coastal Companion has it’s own segment in the show where we take a look at upcoming events, festivals and other happenings in the coastal area of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

In this episode Joe is taking a look at what to do for Valentine’s Day. 

Going forward we’re going to highlight fun places to visit and talk about what you can do with friends and family. You can watch the complete episodes of I Know Jax online, just click here. I Know Jax inspires you to explore. Savannah Westin Hotel, Georgia

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