It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Beaufort and the much anticipated holiday weekend in downtown is finally upon us with three consecutive days of festive fun on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Don’t worry…it’ll live up to all the hype.
First off is the community Christmas celebration at the annual Night on the Town, taking place on Friday evening. A long standing tradition here in Beaufort, A Night on the Town is filled with holiday entertainment on a closed off Bay Street. Enjoy live music, carolers, puppet shows, dancers, choral performances, a holiday performance by the Parris Island Marine Band…and lots of good cheer. It’s basically a huge Christmas street party. The event starts at 6pm.
Capping off Friday evening is the lighting of the City of Beaufort’s Christmas tree and a visit by Santa himself.
Saturday brings something very special to downtown. First, it’s the Gullah Taste of Christmas celebration from noon to 5pm at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, with food vendors, arts & craft vendors, a Gullah Rice Cook-off, live entertainment, kids games and more family fun. The competition gathers professional Gullah Geechee chefs, caterers, restaurateurs, and home cooks from the Gullah Geechee Corridor, from Florida to North Carolina, to participate in this event.
After the event concludes, it’ll be time for the annual Christmas Boat Parade, bringing dozens of beautifully decorated boats passing by the downtown waterfront in a parade of inventive Christmas decorations and twinkling lights.
A marvel to witness, the Christmas Boat Parade is one of the things that makes the holidays so special here in the Lowcountry. The parade starts around 530pm.
Then, on Sunday, half of Beaufort turns out to enjoy the annual Beaufort Christmas Parade as it makes its way through the streets of historic downtown Beaufort at 3pm. Come see the holiday-themed floats, marching bands, fire trucks…and even a visit from Santa himself.
It’s fun to enjoy the whole weekend, but if you attend one, two, or all three of the celebrations, you’ll be certain to get into the Christmas spirit. The holidays in Beaufort are amazing, and it’s events like these that help make them so special.
