If you're coming into one of our rental homes South Carolina this weekend, you've picked a good time to come. This Sunday is a beloved local event that’s been taking place each spring for 30 years.
It’s the annual Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival, an age-old tradition when we bless our local ships (many of them decorated), our shrimpers and fisherman who are heading out to sea, praying for their safety and for a bountiful harvest to come.
If you’re here staying in one of our Isle of Palms luxury rentals or Folly Beach rentals Charleston and decide to go, you’re in for a real taste of the Lowcountry. It’s been ranked one of the top 20 events by the Southeast Tourism Society.
Come Bless of the Fleet near our rental homes South Carolina
Our local shrimpers are a hardy lot, but they’ve faced tough times, what with foreign competition, rising fuel and maintenance costs and other challenges. This is a chance for us in the community to express our appreciation and encourage them to keep on fishin.’
That’s the core of the festival, but it’s grown into a full-fledged celebration of all things shrimp and beyond. Admission is free. There will be tons of tents with vendors, seafood of all sorts, beverages for all ages, a huge arts and crafts area, kids’ activities and lots of live music. It’s a perfect way to feed and entertain everyone in your beach house Charleston.
When staying in rental homes South Carolina, you should do the state dance
There will also be the ever-popular shrimp eating contest (3:30 p.m.) as well as a Shag contest (4:00 p.m.). The Shag is, after all, the state dance of South Carolina.
It all takes place Sunday from 11:00 a.m. till 5:00, at Mount Pleasant Waterfront Memorial Park at 99 Harry M. Hallman Jr. Boulevard.
For years the event was held at Alhambra Hall in the Old Village in Mount Pleasant. But the festival grew to be too large - parking was a nightmare, and tents (and people) were squeezed in cheek-to-jowl. So when the new Waterfront Park and pier were completed near the Ravenel Bridge, it proved to be the ideal location for the event. Here you have ample room to watch the boats as they parade by the end of the pier, plenty of parking and green space for all the tents and booths.
Waterfront Memorial Park is a pleasant drive from all our SC vacation rentals, whether you’re staying in a luxury house on Isle of Palms or one of our beach house rentals Charleston SC that’s out on Folly Beach. Several parking areas will be available around the event, and it’s generally well-marked. There will be free golf cart shuttle service from area lots in case anyone in your Charleston beach house could use an extra lift.
This event is very popular with locals, so you might want to get there early. Folks bring coolers, beach chairs and blankets and make a real party out of it. Basically, it’s what you bring down to the beach from one of our Isle of Palms vacation rentals or a Folly beach house Charleston SC for an afternoon, except there will be less sand and more food, beverage and entertainment options.
Consider Park & Ride...
They are expecting a huge crowd, as usual. If you can’t break away from one of our rental homes South Carolina early to get parking close by, you may consider parking in an ancillary location. They with be offering “Park & Ride” shuttle bus service from these places in Mount Pleasant:
- East Cooper Medical Center, Mullis Building
851 Leonard Fulgham Boulevard (Handicapped accessible bus stops at ECMC only) - James B. Edwards Elementary School
855 Von Kolnitz Road - Moultrie Middle School/Farmers Market Pavilion
645 Coleman Boulevard - Cheryll Woods-Flowers Sports Complex
85 Patriots Point Boulevard - Town Hall/Mount Pleasant Municipal Complex (Ride CARTA Route 40 to the Houston Northcutt stop and skip driving entirely!)
100 Ann Edwards Lane
As an extra bonus, the event raises funds for great charities - this year it's East Cooper Meals on Wheels and the Charleston Port and Seafarers’ Society.
Here’s the website with more info: http://comeonovermp.com/index.aspx?NID=111 Also, they have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MountPleasantBOTF
And as always, remember to call EP for the best in luxury beach house rentals SC.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger