Edisto set to shift seasons with a bounty of spring and summer events
Edisto Island, S.C. – With the end of winter not too far in the offing, the Edisto Island and Edisto Beach communities turn the corner toward spring and the long, languishing days of summer with events to showcase the food, history, and natural beauty of this quiet coastal island destination.
Ultimate Chef Competition
The Edisto Eats Food Festival draws to a close on March 17, when the 2nd annual Ultimate Chef Competition will take place at McConkey’s Jungle Shack at 2:00 p.m., followed by a community oyster roast, which begins at 5:00 p.m. There will also be an Arts & Craft Fair. At 8:30 a.m., the first annual Edisto Beach Road Race gets the day off to a running start.
Third Annual Lowcountry Classic High School Golf Tournament
From March 30 to April 1, the Plantation Course will host the third annual Lowcountry Classic High School Golf Tournament featuring 32 teams of young, talented golfers from all over South Carolina. The practice round will start after lunch on Friday, with competition beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. The final round will be held on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Seating is available free of charge.
Art Guild Spring Show and Sale
On Saturday, April 7, local artisans will showcase their wares at the annual Art Guild Spring Show and Sale from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event will be held at the Edistonian General Store, located at 406 Highway 174 on Edisto Island.
Bidding for History Silent Auction
April closes with the popular Bidding for History Silent Auction, to be held at Middleton Plantation on Saturday, April 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This popular event, in a picturesque setting with sumptuous cuisine to match, is sponsored by the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society. For additional information, visit www.edistomuseum.org.
Edisto Day Bazaar
May brings the Edisto Day Bazaar, an annual arts and crafts festival. The bazaar will be held on Saturday, May 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lions Club, located on Edisto Beach at 2907 Myrtle Street. This fun-filled event attracts all ages and features local arts and crafts, from trinkets to treasures, and tasty bites too.
Third Annual Edisto Beach Offshore Challenge
The ever-popular offshore fishing challenge is scheduled for May 5 at the Edisto Beach Marina. The Captain’s Meeting will be held at Dockside Restaurant May 4 at 7:30 p.m.
For additional information, go to www.edistobeachoffshorechallenge.com.
Open Land Trust Legacy Live Oak Dedication Ceremony
The Open Land Trust Legacy Live Oak dedication ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 20. A speaker will be announced soon. The Land Trust is expanding their Back to Nature events in 2012 to include a series of nature tours, excursions, workshops, and lectures throughout the year. Visit www.edisto.org or call 843-869-7820 for more information on these exciting and interesting events.
Edisto Beach Fire Department’s Annual Fish Fry
Those longing for a taste of the local catch await the Edisto Beach Fire Department’s annual fish fry, to be held May 26 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club, located at 2907 Myrtle Street, Edisto Beach.
Tomato Open Golf Tournament
June has golfers preparing to take a swing as the Edisto Island Open Land Trust sponsors the annual Tomato Open Golf Tournament. The tourney, which is scheduled for June 23, will be held at the Plantation Course at Edisto, located within the Wyndham Resort across from Big Bay Creek on Edisto Beach. The festivities will kick off on June 22 with a pre-tournament cocktail party and live auction. For more information, visit www.theplantationcourseatedisto.com.
Eco Tours and Other Excursions
In addition to these scheduled events, summer brings out the crowds, including nature lovers, who flock to Botany Bay Plantation, a wildlife management area set on over 4000 acres of forest, marsh, and beach. Botany Bay Eco Tours offers a variety of eco-tours here, by foot, kayak, or boat. Visitors may also explore this pristine natural area on their own. Hours of operation are from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the summer months, excluding Tuesdays. For more information, call 843-869-2998 or visit www.botanybayplantation.com.
Other parts of the island are easily explored via a guided kayak excursion with Edisto Watersports & Tackle. For prices and tour times, visit www.edistowatersports.net or call 843-869-0663. Additionally, Island Bikes and Outfitters offers guided kayak tours of Edisto’s most secluded estuaries and beaches. More information can be found by calling 843-869-4444 or by visiting www.islandbikesandoutfitters.com.
Bingo
After a long day at play, some may be enticed by a seat indoors at the Edisto Lions Club, which will be hosting Bingo on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and games begin at 8:00 p.m. It is recommended that visitors arrive early to get a seat. Fun for all ages, Bingo will begin on June 5 and run through August 9. It will be held at the Lions Club, located on Edisto Beach at 2907 Myrtle Street.
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 alike enjoy 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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