Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

2008 Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival

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The 4th annual Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival takes place October 20-26.This is a week long celebration of Bluffton’s unique history, cuisine, art and culture.
Discover “Where Fine Art & the Bounty of The Sea Come Together,” showcasing locally harvested seafood, Low country cuisine, area and regional artists, live music and entertainment, fishing tournament, boat tours, children’s activities, fireworks and much more.

Monday October 20th
Kicking off the festivities, local environmentalists, Nancy Schilling, Friends of the Rivers, and Kim Jones, Natural Resource Manager for the Town of Bluffton, will present “Appreciating our Waterways” during a seafood lunch and learn at May River Grill on Monday, October 20 at noon. Tickets are $25.00 a person and can be reserved by calling the Heyward House Historic Center at 843.757.6293.

Wednesday October 22nd
Wednesday night at seven, award winning cookbook author and story teller, Joe Dabney, hosts a lively presentation at Ulmer Auditorium, Bluffton Town Hall, with hilarious accounts of his many interviews while researching his prize winning books. Joe’s “Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread & Scuppernong Wine” won the prestigious James Beard “Cookbook of the Year” Award and is described by Pat Conroy “makes my mouth water for Southern food and my heart hunger for Southern stories”.

Thurday October 24th
The Church of the Cross Historic Tour and Box Lunch
11:00 AM – 12:00 Noon: Docent Tour of The Church of the Cross
12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM: Box lunches in “Cross Cafe”. Box lunches include
“world famous” shrimp salad sandwich, chips, drink, and homemade cookie,
all for $10.00. For more information and reservations, call (843) 757-2661
The Bluffton Farmers Market 2008 Grand Finale
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Bluffton Oyster Company Park on Wharf Street
A bountiful array of autumn produce, plants and herbs and delicious food, prepared
by a variety of local food vendors, including local seafood, barbecue, and gumbo.

Special features: A showcase sale of LowCountry Cookbooks, rousing musical entertainment by a medley of musicians and singers who have performed during the season, such as Sun City Strummers, Bill Dupont, Mike Armistead, and Willy Cohen. There will also be a bake sale by the Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church. For more information call (843) 815-4411.

5K Run/Health Walk Pre-registration Party
Rotary Community Center, Oscar Frazier Park
5:00 PM – 7:00PM
Race Packet Pick Up, Register early and enjoy the fun!


Friday October 24th
Friday night, “Pop and Oyster With Champagne” and enjoy live music with Bill Averbach & Bam Jazz during VIP Night at the newly restored Old Town Museum at Seven Oaks from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $75 with proceeds benefiting “Friends of the Rivers” and “Kids in Kayaks”. Tickets can be reserved by calling 843.815.6278.

Saturday October 25th
On Saturday, October 25, the two-day open-air street festival of visual and performing arts begins at 10 a.m. More than 50 by-invitation-only artists from near and far will be showcasing their talents in all media. The Street Art Market continues until 5 p.m. and resumes again on Sunday, October 26 at 11 a.m. Musicians at several stages throughout the historic district will be performing both days along with strolling entertainers and mimes. Over twenty restaurants will also line the downtown streets offering a true taste of the Low Country.
Saturday night, Rockin’ in the Dock, a Seafood Extravaganza with music by the B-Town Playaz is scheduled at the Bluffton Oyster Company from 5:30 -8:30 p.m. capped off with a fireworks finale at dusk.

Sunday October 26th
Pack a picnic lunch for Sunday to enjoy the Blessing of the Fleet and Gospel Music at 2 p.m. on the lawn at the Church of the Cross.

For details the complete schedule of events visit www.blufftonartandseafoodfestival.com, or call (843)-757-2583

Harvest Fest in Charleston, South Carolina

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Harvest Fest Offers Autumn Family Fun
Long ago, in agricultural communities of the Southeast, families would gather together in the fall to celebrate the onset of harvest season and give thanks for the plentiful growth of crops by enjoying a day of food, music, dancing, crafts, and games. The harvest season tradition continues this November right here in Charleston, but with a modern touch. In the spirit of the Southern colonial autumn celebrations of days past, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission hosts Harvest Festival on Saturday, November 1 at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center within Johns Island County Park.

Fall Fun for the Whole Family
C’mon down from 11 to 5 for the best down-home delights like hayrides, a crafters market (great for holiday shopping!), lots of delicious traditional country fare available for purchase, and much more! Dance the day away to live foot-stompin’ bluegrass by five local bluegrass bands. Keep the kids busy with a variety of fun country games and activities such as the stick pony corral, lassoing demonstrations, pumpkin decorating, and scarecrow-making contest. And bring your carved pumpkin for a chance to win a Gold Pass. Old-fashioned down-home cuisine such as barbecue and kettle corn will also be available for purchase as well as icy-cold beverages.

Trail Ride Special
A special addition to this year’s event will be a weekend trail ride. Equestrians are invited to ride the 20-miles of Mullet Hall trails during the day, camp out with their horses at night, and participate in Harvest Festival activities on Saturday. Registration is required by Thursday, October 23.

Music Schedule

12pm The Plantation Allstars

1pm Southern Flavor Bluegrass Band2pm Hungry Monk Music

3pm Yee Haw Junction

4pm Bluestone Ramblers

Harvest Festival 2008 takes place on Saturday, November 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center within Johns Island County Park. Fees are $5 per person. Kids 12 and under and Annual Gold Pass holders are admitted free. For more information, please call 795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com.

Darien Fall Fest – Darien, Georgia

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Come to beautiful waterfront in Darien for the Fall Fest. View the works of local artists and craftsmen, meet regional authors at a book signing, watch a pooch parade, sample local foods, or sit a spell and listen to music provided throughout the day. For the more adventuresome, witness the battle re-enactment at Fort King George or observe a lime burn at Ashantilly or sample Crab-In-A-Crock recipes or ride in a helicopter over the salt marshes or take a boat tour of Darien from the river. There are plenty of activities for the kids including a movie at sun down while the adults dance the evening away on the newly finished docks. Breath the fresh fall air of a small shrimping community steeped in Georgia history. Spend the day and evening in Darien, Georgia.

Event schedule:
10 a.m.
Opening Ceremonies with a cannon salute and the McIntosh County Academy Band performing (Broad Street)
Bike Tour of Darien leave the Chamber Office
Start a tour of Ashantilly with Buddy Sullivan
Meet the Authors at Book Signing presented by the McBee’s (Friends of the Library)
Pet Parade

11 a.m.
Live Entertainment – Darien Geechee Shouters
Lime Burn at Ashantilly
Boat Tour of Darien from the River

11:30 a.m.
History and Tour of St. Andrews Cemetery with Buddy Sullivan

12 noon
Boat Tour of Darien from the River

12:30 p.m.
Dedication of DDA Public Docks

1 p.m.
Live Entertainment – Coby Shubert
Boat Tour of Darien from the River

2 p.m.
Fort King George Battle Re-enactment (The Debatable Land)
Boat Tour of Darien from the River

3 p.m.
Live Entertainment – Emily Smith

3:30 p.m. Fort King George From the River (Charter Boat Tour)

4 p.m.
Live Entertainment – Stewart Marshal of Stewart & Winfield
Crab-In-A-Crock Contest
Scarecrow Contest

5:30 p.m.
Live Entertainment – Will Gore
Awards for Crab-In-A-Crock, Scarecrows & Pet Parade

ALL DAY ( 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.)
MC -Sam The Music Man
Waterfront DDA Education Venue – Shrimp Boat Grave digger and Las Tango
Helicopter Rides
Ashantilly
Fort King George
Walking Tour of Darien
Kids Activities (on the hour)
Arts & Crafts
Antique Vendors
Food Vendors

7 – 9 p.m.
Move “Night at the Museum” – Bluestein Corner at Broad Street
Dock Dane on Skipper’s Dock

Contact for the festival:
Colleen Jolly
912-230-3099
darienfallfest@gmail.com

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, 10 a.m.. – 6 p.m.

Fifth Annual Sustainable Seafood Festival – Charleston, SC

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Celebrate fresh, local seafood as you sample creations from the area’s best chefs at this outdoor event featuring fresh seafood and fun for the whole family. Rate the offerings of more than a dozen of Charleston’s finest chefs as they compete in sustainable seafood cook-off competitions and share their skills in free cooking demonstrations. Enjoy local beers from Palmetto Brewing Company and organic wines from Bonterra Vineyards, buy fresh shrimp right off the boat and learn how our seafood choices today can ensure fish for the future. The Fifth Annual Sustainable Seafood Festival This family friendly harbor side event features children’s activities, music and much more. Catch the excitement of the fourth-annual High School Recipe Contest as student finalists from throughout the state face off to prepare their original dishes for a judging panel of culinary experts. The top three juniors and seniors will be offered scholarships of up to $12,000 to Johnson & Wales University. Entry to the Festival at the Maritime Center is free. Seafood, beverages and other snacks are available for purchase. For more information, call (843) 577-FISH (3474) or visit scaquarium.org.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
12:00 noon — 6:00 p.m.
Charleston Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside Street, Charleston