Archived News
- Charleston Harbor Fest—Excitement for Viewers and Doers
- Buccaneers and Boaters Swarm for Charleston Harbor Fest
- Charleston Harbor Fest Unveils Winning Poster Design for 2008 Event
Charleston Harbor Fest—Excitement for Viewers and Doers
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (May, 14, 2008)—Charleston Harbor will be awash with activity this weekend, May 16-18, when Charleston Harbor Fest takes place. From pirates on parade at Ansonborough Field to the Rail Jam demonstrations at Patriots Point, the ongoing action on both sides of the harbor will be exciting as well as spectacular. And Harbor Fest isn’t just for viewers. Anyone so inclined can join in. The action begins on Thursday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. with a parade of sail. Three traditional tall ships (The Spirit of South Carolina, The Schooner Virginia and the Corwith Cramer) will greet The Amistad near Sullivan’s Island and accompany it to the Maritime Center with a close visit sailing past Waterfront Park.
On Friday, May 16, Harbor Fest moves into full gear. If you love action-oriented watersports, the Water Action Village Expo (WAVE) at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant is perfect for you (and your children)! The young ones can try out the inflatable surfer beach slide, or endure a round of jousting with inflatable jousting sticks, while you go for a helicopter tour of the harbor. You can also watch kayaking demonstrations, or take in the aerial acrobatic show in the skies above on Saturday and Sunday. A certain highlight will be the Rail Jam, where experienced riders demonstrate amazing jumps and tricks as they’re pulled along a specially built pool on waterboards by ultra-high-speed winches. Rail Jam shows start at 12:00, 1:00, 3:00 and 4:00pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also on display at Patriots Point will be some of the latest toys for watersports enthusiasts. And, if you don’t fancy getting wet, don’t worry. There’s a climbing wall, treasure hunts, and a children’s village with numerous arts and crafts activities, including model plane building.
Just across the harbor, the stage will be set for a full slate of viewer or doer-friendly activities and exhibitions in and around the Charleston Maritime Center. Kids can participate in treasure hunts, witness pirate parades, or watch other families build a traditional 12-foot Charleston bateau. Attendees at Charleston Harbor Fest can also take sailing lessons, tour traditional tall ships, listen to live music (including sea chanteys), view classic wooden boats, or row a traditional Mosquito Fleet gig. There will also be an Education Village and a Children’s Village, together offering dozens of entertaining and educational activities.
A unique extension of Harbor Fest will take place on Thursday when leaders from the Gullah-Geechee Nation welcome The Amistad on Sullivan’s Island. They’ll also conduct a special ceremony to commemorate their ancestors who arrived in the Lowcountry aboard similar ships. Beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Fort Moultrie, a sacred libation ceremony will include a drum call by various African dance troupes and speeches. Throughout the weekend, both venues for Charleston Harbor Fest (Patriots Point and the downtown) will be served by shuttle bus and water taxis.
Charleston Harbor Fest offers free general admission to the festival grounds and docks, but to board the ships for tours and ride the shuttle buses between event locations you must buy a wristband. Wristbands are good for all 3 days of the event. The cost is $12 in advance online at charlestonharborfest.org or etix.com and $15 onsite. Children 6-11 years are $5 in advance or onsite. Children 5 years and under are free. The Corwith Cramer ship will be closed on Sunday. For additional details and event and activity schedules, log on to www.charlestonharborfest.org.
Charleston Harbor Fest is an event of the South Carolina Maritime Foundation. Proceeds from this festival support educational programs for South Carolina youth aboard the Spirit of South Carolina tall ship. Sponsors of Charleston Harbor Fest include The Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Carolina MasterCraft, NOAA, Clear Channel Radio, The Drive 100.5, The Post & Courier, Bauer International, Step Up Productions, Rising High Café and partners include The Gibbes Museum, Patriots Point, SpiritLine Cruises, the SC Aquarium, Charleston Water Taxi and Charleston Harbor Tours. For additional information, event updates, and tickets visit www.charlestonharborfest.org or call (843) 722-1030.
Buccaneers and Boaters Swarm for Charleston Harbor Fest
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (May 7, 2008) — Take a dock party and add four traditional tall ships. Then throw in over 50 pirates, several swashbuckling swordsmen, a few boatbuilding families, some sailing lessons, a classic boat exhibition, two dozen kid friendly activities, a handful of extreme water sports and even a living history exhibit. What do you get? Charleston Harbor Fest, which is set to rock the harbor—both in peninsular Charleston and Mt. Pleasant—beginning May 16.
Formerly known as The Charleston Maritime Festival/Tall Ships Charleston, Charleston Harbor Fest now celebrates the traditional aspects of this region’s maritime heritage as well as the more modern practices of those who love the water. Throughout this fun-filled weekend, a continuous series of events, exhibitions, and hands-on activities will entertain and enlighten at two venues on the harbor.
At the Charleston Maritime Center and surrounding areas, you can tour the tall ships, visit the authentic pirate camp, indulge in the exhibition of classic boats, learn about the Gullah/Geechee heritage of this region, try your hand at family boatbuilding, take a sailing lesson or row a traditional gig from the Mosquito Fleet. There will also be food and music, and dozens more activities for kids, both educational and entertaining.
At Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, you can be either a spectator or a participant at the Water Action Village Expo (WAVE). Take in the exhilarating MasterCraft Rail Jam where experienced riders pull off mesmerizing tricks. Or check out a tantalizing array of water sports equipment for boaters, surfers, and kayakers. You can also sample a helicopter tour of the harbor ($20 per person), climb a rock wall, or build and design a model plane. Don’t miss the aerobatic flight demos Saturday and Sunday over the harbor next to the USS Yorktown (11:15 am and 2:00 pm show times). There will also be a full spectrum of activities for children, including jump castles, face painting, and balloon art.
The two venues will be served by shuttle buses (included with purchase of a wristband) and water taxis ($4 each way or $3 for wristband holders) all three days of the event. Admission to Charleston Harbor Fest is free, but wristbands are required to board the tall ships and shuttle buses and some rides and exhibitions require payment. Wristbands offer a host of discounts at Charleston attractions including USS Yorktown, SpiritLine cruises, the SC Aquarium, The Gibbes Museum, The Charleston Water Taxi, and Charleston Harbor Tours. Wristbands are available before the event online through the event website at www.charlestonharborfest.org for $12 each for 12+ years, $5 each for children 6-11 years with advance purchase. Onsite tickets at the event entrance are $15 for 12+ years and $5 for children 6-11 years. Children five years and under are free.
The public is encouraged to park at Patriots Point and utilize the shuttle buses and water taxis for access to the downtown attractions. Additionally, the City of Charleston garages at the SC Aquarium and the Gaillard Auditorium are offering a daily flat rate of $5. The weekend’s highlights include:
• Festival grounds open Friday-Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm with free general admission
• Four traditional tall ships berthed at the Charleston Maritime Center, including The Spirit of South Carolina (141 feet), The Amistad (129 feet), The Schooner Virginia (122 Feet) and the Corwith Cramer (134 feet). (Friday-Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; boarding passes required – Corwith Cramer closed on Sunday)
• A band of marauding buccaneers will celebrate the 290th anniversary of Blackbeard the pirate’s siege of Charleston by marching to the Powder Magazine building (Cumberland and Church Streets) to overpower the guards and free fellow pirates. (9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17)
• The Harbor Fest Treasure Quest—a treasure hunt for teams of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade South Carolina students who will use their knowledge of history, math, science, and ship terminology to puzzle through clues and find the treasure. The winning team receives a free educational sail aboard the Spirit of South Carolina.
• Pirate Costume Contest and Parade, Friday and Saturday at 3:00 pm. and 1:00 pm on Sunday. Come dressed as a pirate and give your best “ARRRRGH!” All ages welcome!
• Rail Jam Presented by MasterCraft and The Drive 100.5—witness the exhilarating action as riders are towed by high-speed winches across the water and onto launching rails. (shows daily at 12:00, 1:00, 3:00, and 4:00 pm produced by Step Up Productions)
• Aerobatic Flight Show—watch the high-flying daredevils loop, spin and swirl (11:15 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Sat. and Sun. with best viewing from the USS Yorktown or Patriots Point festival grounds)
Charleston Harbor Fest is sure to be a fun extravaganza for the whole family. Charleston Harbor Fest is an event of the South Carolina Maritime Foundation. Proceeds from this festival support educational programs for South Carolina youth aboard the Spirit of South Carolina tall ship. Sponsors of Charleston Harbor Fest include The Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Carolina MasterCraft, NOAA, Clear Channel Radio, The Drive 100.5, The Post & Courier, Bauer International, Step Up Productions, Rising High and partners include The Gibbes Museum, Patriots Point, SpiritLine Cruises, the SC Aquarium, Charleston Water Taxi and Charleston Harbor Tours. For additional information, event updates, and tickets visit www.charlestonharborfest.org or call (843) 722-1030.
Charleston Harbor Fest Unveils Winning Poster Design for 2008 Event
CHARLESTON, South Carolina (March 20, 2008) — The cloak was lifted this evening revealing the winning artwork and Official Poster for Charleston Harbor Fest 2008. Jason Fletcher was introduced to an enthusiastic crowd at the Art Institute of Charleston as the winner of the Official Poster Competition for Charleston Harbor Fest 2008. Fletcher is a graphic artist at The Post and Courier and no stranger to receiving top honors for his designs. In fact, Fletcher was honored earlier this year as the winner of the Official Poster Competition for the BB&T Charleston Food & Wine Festival.
For this competition, artists were asked to submit original work that reflects Charleston's rich maritime history while incorporating Charleston’s modern harbor and highlights of the annual Harbor Fest event. Fletcher will receive a $1,000 check for his winning design, and his work will be featured in event advertisements, promotions, and on retail items for sale.
“I was going for sort of a classic look, and was inspired by old travel posters from the 20's and 30's – bright colors and big graphic shapes,” said Fletcher. “Since both the festival and Charleston are rooted in history, I wanted to create something that felt nostalgic.”
The judges of the Charleston Harbor Fest poster competition agreed unanimously that Fletcher’s design topped all others, after thorough review of thirty-two entries. Judges of the Charleston Harbor Fest contest included: Ann Long, John Duckworth, Ellen Dressler Moryl, Ann Silliman, Rick Jerue, and Brad Van Liew. The South Carolina Maritime Foundation would like to thank all of the artists that devoted their valuable time and talent to submit an entry in the contest.
Charleston Harbor Fest offers free general admission with opportunities to sail, row and peruse a large collection of classic wooden boats. The Palmetto state’s very own Spirit of South Carolina tall ship will be joined by the Freedom Schooner Amistad, Schooner Virginia and the Corwith Cramer, beautiful tall ships measuring more than 125 feet. Additionally, Harbor Fest’s authentic pirate camp will prompt children and adults alike to bellow their best “Argh!,” while those desiring a true hands-on experience can choose to spend the weekend building their own 12-foot Charleston Bateau as part of the family boat building program. The Education Village at Charleston Harbor Fest will provide interactive experiences for children to learn more about sail training, South Carolina’s maritime history, coastal conservation, and aquatic life. Great food, live music and the chance to walk the docks and admire the classic beauty of traditional boats—grand and petite—will draw a crowd from near and far.
Charleston Harbor Fest is an event of the South Carolina Maritime Foundation. Proceeds from this festival support educational programs for South Carolina youth aboard the Spirit of South Carolina tall ship. The foundation’s mission is to offer effective, unique educational opportunities for the students of South Carolina, focusing on history, science, math and literature within the context of our state's coastal region and encouraging personal responsibility, contribution to community and stewardship of environment.
