Edisto makes summer sizzle with annual events, leading right into a “cool” fall
Edisto Island, S.C. – The Edisto Island and Edisto Beach communities have plans to make the most of the longer days of summer and early fall with a full line-up of “hot” events guaranteed to help make every single day on Edisto a special one to remember.
Starting in late spring, the work of local artisans will be featured at the Arts and Crafts Market, held every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the picturesque Big Bay Creek. The exceptional work of these talented people will be on display each week through early fall.
Another favorite event that locals and visitors alike look forward to after a day at the beach or sight-seeing is Bingo. Fun for all ages, Bingo is held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, beginning on June 3 and running through August 9. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and games begin at 6:30 p.m. Guests should arrive early to get a seat. Bingo is always held at the Lions Club, located on Edisto Beach at 2907 Myrtle Street.
Marking the official start of summer, the Tomato Open Golf Tournament is scheduled for June 20 and June 21 at the Plantation Course at Edisto, located within the Wyndham Resort across from Big Bay Creek on Edisto Beach. There will be a pre-tournament cocktail party and live auction on Friday night. The tournament will start Saturday morning with registration and breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. For more information, visit www.edisto.org or www.theplantationcourseatedisto.com.
Come late July, the Edisto Marina will once again sponsor the Governor’s Cup Billfish Tournament. This ever-popular event will bring great fisherman from far and near to Edisto July 24 through July 27. Final registration is Wednesday, July 24. Fishing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, followed each day with the weigh-in. For more information, visit http://www.edistomarinasc.com
As summer draws to a close and fall gets underway, everyone is invited to put their shagging shoes on for the annual Edisto Music & Shag Fest, August 29 and August 30 at Bay Creek Park, next to the Edisto Marina. The activities will begin at noon on Friday with arts and crafts and food vendors. DJ Jim Bowers will entertain from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sea Cruz Band will play from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the Embers featuring Craig Woolard will perform from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday’s events, starting at 10:00 a.m., include arts and crafts, food vendors, and a full day of entertainment. Jim Bowers will once again be providing music from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Steve Craig and The Out of Towners will play from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and at 7:00 p.m. the East Coast Party Band will take the stage until 11:00 p.m. The annual shag competition begins at 9:00 p.m. Shag clubs from around the southeast plan to participate. For more information, please call 843-869-3867 or visit www.edistochamber.com.
In preparation for the fall season, EdistoPride will sponsor a Beach & River Sweep on September 20. The sweep will begin at Edisto Beach State Park. Those interested in participating should contact EdistoPride by phone at 843-869-4422 or by email at edistopride@aol.com.
The 4th annual Edisto Shrimp Fest will be held Saturday, September 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Bay Creek Park. This increasingly popular event celebrates the fishing industry and its contributions to Edisto. Local seafood is center stage and will be prepared using celebrated Edisto recipes. Arts and crafts vendors will offer some great shopping opportunities for island and other treasures. DJ Jim Bowers will provide music during the afternoon hours and Steve Craig and the Out of Towners will take center stage from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information, please call 843-869-3867 or visit www.edistochamber.com.
Meanwhile, nature lovers may want to consider a variety of tours that focus on birds and other wildlife on Edisto, including dolphins and migratory birds that pass through the area, such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons, along with thousands of shorebirds, such as the dunlin, whimbrel, and godwit.
Set in a rare, sparsely-developed corner of the world, Edisto, with its vast green spaces, ancient live oaks, wide open marsh views, and quiet, pristine beach, offers a coastal island experience uncommon today among Eastern seaboard communities. Visitors and residents arrive under a live oak canopy via Highway 174, designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as a National Scenic Byway. Here, there’s a slower pace of life, coupled with a broad range of year-round recreational activities, all set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. This is the coastal island destination that is said to offer its own “state of mind…any time, any season.” For more information, please call the Edisto Chamber of Commerce at 843-869-3867 or 1-888-333-2781 or visit www.edistochamber.com.
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