Events Calendar

July 2008
July 4 - South Carolina Aquarium (Charleston)	Fourth of July at the South Carolina Aquarium Delicious food supplied by Jim ‘N Nicks BBQ and Cupcake, refreshments from Pepsi, music courtesy of Lee Edwards Entertainment and spectacular fireworks overlooking Charleston Harbor, courtesy of Patriot’s Point, it is sure to be a wonderful event! Tickets are limited, so we suggest making reservations well in advance of the holiday to ensure a space. Call (843) 577-FISH (3474) if you have questions, or to make reservations.
July 9-12 - Charleston City Marina	HMY/Viking Megadock Billfish Tournament
July 23-26 - Bohicket Marina	Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament Bohicket Marina on Seabrook Island will host the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament from July 23-26. This is the last of the events for this year’s annual South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfish Tournament series. Participating boats amass points for billfish landed or released and compete for major awards. Now in its 20th year, the Governor’s Cup Billfish Series is designed to promote South Carolina’s Billfishing Tournament industry, increase coastal tourism and encourage the conservation of ocean pelagic fish through the tag and release of billfish. Prior to the start of the series, less than ten percent of the state’s billfish were released after being caught. South Carolina anglers, undoubtedly inspired by the message of conservation that the Series has fostered, now release over ninety percent of the billfish caught, contributing to the state’s reputation as a world leader in marine fisheries conservation.

August 2008
August 1-3 - Wadmalaw Island	Rockville Regatta
August 15 - Daniel Island	Two-time Grammy Award-winning Hootie and the Blowfish return to the Charleston area for their annual Homegrown Concert on Friday, August 15 at the Family Circle Magazine Stadium on Daniel Island. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring school supplies to the show which will be donated to local schools. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the concert begins at 8:00 p.m. with opening act Josh Kelley.Tickets range from $25.00-$38.00 and can be bought at www.Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone (843) 554-6060, local Publix outlets, or weekdays at the Family Circle Tennis center ticket office. Originally inspired by the band’s desire to do something about budget cuts in education, the Homegrown concerts help raise awareness of the needs of schools in the local community. Since its conception in 2003, the concert series has expanded to include a 24-city tour, helping to raise funds and donate supplies to schools in each community. The band, made up of lead vocalist/guitarist Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld first met up as freshmen at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. By the time they graduated, they had built a strong local following which later exploded into stardom in the 1990’s with hits like “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry” and “Only Want To Be With You”. Rucker’s rich, gutsy baritone is the driving force behind the group’s crossover success, appealing to rock, folk, country, blues, pop and R&B fans alike. Their debut album, Cracked Rear View, is one of the best selling albums of the 1990’s, going platinum sixteen times and establishing them as a musical force to be reckoned with.
August 31 - Mt. Pleasant	Southern National Barbecue Championship and Bluegrass Festival Professional barbecue teams, musicians and lucky bystanders will assemble at the Annual Southern National BBQ Championship & Bluegrass Festival at Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mount Pleasant on August 31st. Chompin’, stompin’ and generally having a good time aside, this is a serious competition that attracts barbecue experts from all over the country. Cooking teams compete for prizes in Professional, Amateur and Tailgating categories, while festival attendees enjoy free samples of barbecue (while they last) and can purchase full plates from onsite vendors. Kids’ activities keep the little ones happy and the location is a lovely setting for a summer afternoon. Ticket prices are: $20.00 for adults, $7.50 for children 6-12 years, and free for children under 5 years. Parking is free. For a complete festival schedule visit boonehallplantation.com or call 843-884-4371, ext. 221. Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, the historic site of the festival, is worth visiting on its own merits as an example of living history. The spectacular approach to the main house, lined with dramatic live oaks and draping moss, has been featured in blockbuster films such as The Patriot and The Notebook. The house and grounds have been open to the public for tours since 1956, and a variety of crops have been grown for 320 years. A thoroughly modern market down the road sells the peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkins and other produce that are popular today. Bluegrass music has been enjoying a surge in popularity in recent years with movies like the Cohen Brothers’ ‘O Brother Where Art Thou and artists like Alison Kraus and Vince Gill introducing that “high lonesome sound” to millions of new fans.