Edisto soon to be in full bloom with spring events
February 10, 2016
As the days get a bit longer and the temperatures soon start to rise, the Edisto Island and Edisto Beach communities have plans in place to make the most of this pristine time of the year. Spring is set to fully blossom with events that showcase the natural beauty and charm of this quiet coastal island destination in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
To start, the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society’s 2016 Lecture Series begins on March 8 with a talk about the Grimke Sisters given by Dr. Amy McCandless, Professor at the College of Charleston. The lecture will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the New First Missionary Baptist Church at 1644 Hwy 174. Admission is free of charge and open to the public.
Later that month on March 19, two returning events promise a fun-filled day. The 5th annual Edisto Beach Road Race – 5K, 1 Mile Walk & Fun Run – will get things off to a running start. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs on beach streets and along Big Bay Creek. Participants are encouraged to register early for this increasingly popular “fun for all ages” event by visiting www.edistochamber.com or www.eventbrite.com.
Following the race is an event that residents and visitors won’t want to miss: the 6th annual Edisto Eats Festival and Ultimate Chef Competition at McConkey’s Jungle Shack at 108 Jungle Road. The competition will feature winning chefs from events held on February 3 at Pressley’s at the Marina and February 27 at Finn’s Island Grill. During these preliminary cooking events, local chefs will prepare and serve six mini-courses with a common ingredient. In addition to the competition, the Edisto Eats Festival will feature arts and crafts vendors, raffles and giveaways, live music by Edisto Gumbo, and more. For additional information, visit www.edistounited.org.
That same weekend, From March 17 through March 20, the Edisto Art Guild Players will present the comedy “Said the Spider to the Spy” at the Edisto Beach Civic Center, located at 42 Station Court. A special dinner theater performance will be held on March 17. Additional performances will be on March 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and on March 20 at 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 843-869-3192 or 843-869-3099.
On March 26, the Art Guild’s semi-annual Arts and Crafts Show and Sale returns. An annual favorite, the event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Edistonian General Store, located at 406 Highway 174 on Edisto Island.
The ever popular Arts and Crafts Market, located at Bay Creek Park, happens every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., April through October. Local artisans offer a wide variety of items for perusal and purchase.
New this year, the Edisto Beach State Park is offering a Spring Survival Series featuring the following courses: Bow Drill Basics – Fire by Friction, on February 20; Water Purification, on March 26; Primitive Hunting, onApril 9, and Edible Plants, on May 14. Those interested in registering for a course should call 843-869-1430.
The Edisto Day Bazaar is set for May 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Lions Club on 2907 Myrtle Street. This very popular event attracts all ages and features an arts and crafts fair, a gently-used clothing and household items sale, a white elephant sale, baked goods, and a café with a variety of tasty options.
Later in the day, the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society will host a Kentucky Derby party at one of Edisto’s beautiful plantations. Attendees can watch the famous horse race in style, while enjoying fancy hats, mint juleps, and appetizers. For more information and tickets, visit www.edistomuseum.org.
Another great annual event is the Open Land Trust Legacy Live Oak Dedication and Conservation Celebration at Indigo Farms, located at 2944 Hwy 174. This year’s event will take place on May 15 at 2:00 p.m. Visit www.edisto.org or call 843-869-9004 for more information.
The Edisto Beach Annual Fish Fry will be held on May 28, from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., at the Edisto Lions Club at 2907 Myrtle Street. This event always offers a delicious fish dinner and lots of homemade desserts. There will also be an arts and crafts fair, as well as fire truck rides for the kids along the beach.
Summer brings the return of Bingo at the Edisto Lions Club. Held every Tuesday and Thursday evening, doors open at 6:00 p.m., and games begin at 6:30 p.m. It is recommended that visitors arrive early to get a seat. Fun for all ages, Bingo will begin on June 7 and run through August 2.
The Open Land Trust Cocktail Party and Live and Silent Auction is scheduled for June 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the Edisto Beach Civic Center, located at 42 Station Court. For more information, visit www.edisto.org.
On June 18, the Plantation Course at Edisto will once again host the Tomato Open Golf Tournament starting at 8:30 a.m. The course is located inside of the Wyndham Ocean Ridge Resort at 1 King Cotton Road. For more information, visit www.edisto.org or www.theplantationcourseatedisto.com
The Marina at Edisto Beach Billfish Tournament will take place from July 20 – July 23 at 3702 Docksite Rd. This annual tournament is part of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series. For more information, visit www.themarinaeb.com.
Dates are being finalized for additional fishing tournaments during the spring and early summer. Information will be available at www.themarinaeb.cm soon.
In addition to an array of scheduled events bringing more guests to the island and the beaches, nature lovers may enjoy 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.
About Edisto
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.
