The traditional downtown Beaufort Christmas events have been canceled due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Beaufort announced on Monday.
“Because we want to ensure our residents’ and visitors’ safety, and because a State of Emergency continues to exist in South Carolina that prohibits gatherings of 250 or more people, the city will not be holding Night on the Town, the Christmas Parade, or the Boat Parade,” said a release from the city.
In their place, the release included activities that the city will be sponsoring or helping to organize.
They include:
FREE holiday parking at the downtown marina parking lot. Free parking will begin on Thanksgiving Day and extend through New Year’s Day. Downtown merchants will be open until 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays Dec. 3-24. See participating merchants here.
USCB Center for the Arts and the City are sponsoring “Celebrate the Season,” a free outdoor exhibit of holiday traditions and practices from around the globe. It will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 and run through Dec. 13. Community members, students, and faith groups will share their insights and talents to create beautiful and informative interpretations of customs and practices central to their holiday traditions. See more about it here.
First Friday will be held on Dec. 4. The Downtown Beaufort Merchants Association is celebrating “Hometown Christmas,” with shops open until 9 p.m.
The “Light Up the Town” neighborhood challenge urges local neighborhoods to grab their lights and get to work on decorating to see who gets the bragging rights as the best-decorated neighborhood in Beaufort. This also encourages families with children to take a family outing and drive from neighborhood to neighborhood to check out the displays.
The city is planning scavenger hunts in local parks to search for decorated sea animal ornaments. Take a picture of the ornaments (but leave them there, please!) and tag the city on Facebook with #bftHolidayUnderTheSea. This will begin Dec. 16 and run through New Year’s Day.
Also, Santa Mail with special mailboxes will be set up throughout the city from November 30 through December 18. You can find one on the lawn of City Hall (1911 Boundary St.), at the downtown Waterfront Park playground, and at City of Beaufort fire stations including Headquarters: 135 Ribaut Road; Station 2: 1120 Ribaut Road; Station 3: 1750 Ribaut Road; and at Station 4: 571 Robert Smalls Parkway.
Kids can drop their letters off at these mailboxes, or they can email letters to Santa at events@cityofbeaufort.org. Make sure clear return addresses are on the envelope or the email. The city plans to have video of Santa reading the letters posted to Facebook beginning on December 19th.
Then there’s also a Zoom with Santa event. Santa will be zooming with Beaufort kids from 2-3 p.m. on Dec. 19th and they can talk to him and even tell him what’s on their lists. Look for the City of Beaufort to post a Facebook link for the ZOOM event as the 19th gets nearer.
Visit the City of Beaufort on Facebook for more information as it’s made available.
We’re sorry to see the traditional Beaufort Christmas events canceled, but we’re glad that the city has come up with some creative COVID-safe ideas to help residents to still enjoy some holiday fun.
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