OnGoing:
Hunting Island State Park is located just 16 miles east of the historic town of Beaufort and is one of the most popular and beautiful beaches in South Carolina. This 5,000 acre park and it’s 3 miles of natural beach hosts more than a million visitors a year. It’s a place where you can truly find yourself again. It’s a place where humans and nature have always seem to co-exist. Park Hours: Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. (extended to 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time). Park Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Park Admissions Fee – cost per person: Adults: $5, SC Seniors, $3.25, Children 6-15, $3, Children 5 & Under, Free. huntingisland.com.

OnGoing:
Artists learn, teach, share and create at ARTworks. Classes registering for all ages and a compelling variety of media. ARTworks Community Art Center, Theatre & Gallery, 2127 Boundary St. (843-379-2787 or beaufortcountyarts.com.

OnGoing:
The Parris Island Museum is open daily from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Family and Graduation Days. Explore the long, rich legacy of the Marine Corps, as well as the exciting history of the Port Royal region. Admission is free. The public is welcome to visit Parris Island, access may be dependent upon current security needs. A driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance and registration are required. Boulevard de France. (843) 228-3650 or mcrdpi.usmc.mil.

OnGoing:
The Historic Hunting Island Llighthouse was originally constructed in 1859 and is the only lighthouse in the state of South Carolina that is open to the public. From the top platform, for those who are adventurous enough to climb the 167 step spiral staircase, one truly can get a birds eye view of the Atlantic Ocean, the park and surrounding marshes from about 132 feet above the ground. Lighthouse Fees & Hours: $2 per person, from 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. daily March-October, and until 3:45 p.m. November-February. During inclement weather, it may be closed. huntingisland.com/lighthouse.htm.

OnGoing:
The Verdier House Museum in Beaufort’s National Historic Landmark District is open for tours, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Guided tours are available by appointment. 801 Bay St. (843) 379-6335 or historicbeaufort.org.

OnGoing:
Daily tours of Bluffton’s Rose Hill Mansion, a Gothic Revival-style home built circa 1858 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Reservations required. 199 Rose Hill Way. (843) 757-6046 or rosehillmansion.com.

OnGoing:
Gullah Heritage Trail Tours depart from the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn on Hilton Head Island, Tuesday-Sunday. Experience the Gullah culture of Hilton Head Island on a two-hour tour of 10 neighborhoods established during the Civil War. Reservations required. 70 Honey Horn Dr. (843) 681-7066 or gullaheritage.com.

OnGoing:
Self-Guided Tours of the Hunting Island Lighthouse, South Carolina’s only publicly accessible historic lighthouse dating from the 1870s, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Lighthouse admission is $2. Hunting Island State Park also offers a variety of Barrier Island educational programs for all ages throughout the year, such as “Beach Explorations,” “A Walk in the Woods“ and “Salt Marsh Kayaking.” Call the Nature Center for details and reservations. 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. (843) 838-7437 or southcarolinaparks.com.

Mondays:
Beaufort Belles Women’s Chorus, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Sea Island Presbyterian Church choir room, 81 Lady’s Island Dr. New members welcome. (843) 838-2643.

Mondays:
Beaufort Harbormasters, 6:45 p.m., Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Dr. beaufortharbormasters.org.

Tuesdays:
Classic Car & Truck Club of Beaufort official monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at Lady’s Island Country Club on Lady’s Island. info@classicsofbeaufort.org.

Second Tuesday:
Beaufort Writers meeting, 4:30-6 p.m. Lady’s Island Airport. (843) 524-9119.

Wednesdays & Saturdays:
Beaufort Shag Club, 6-9 p.m. on Wednesdays and 8-11 p.m. on Saturdays. Amvets Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Rd. $25 and must register for lessons. (843) 812-3486 or beaufortshagclub.com.

Wednesdays:
Time for Tots, Story Time and Crafts! Come enjoy some special time with your child(ren) ages 3-5 as we do a wide variety of things. We may read a book, watch a movie, do some seasonal related arts and crafts or maybe go out on the boardwalk to catch a view of a dragonfly or a turtle. 10–11:30 a.m. $5 per child (adults are free). Old Santee Canal Park, off of U. S. 52 By-pass (R. C. Dennis Blvd.) in Moncks Corner. (843) 899-5200 or oldsanteecanalpark.org.

Wednesdays:
Downtown Beaufort Farmers Market! 3-7 p.m. West Street. Join us each week and visit Area Farmers & Growers. Live Entertainment. Cooking Demonstrations by local Chefs. Each week, a local non-profit organization will be selling soft drinks and water. (843) 525-6644 or downtownbeaufort.com/farmers-market.

Fridays:
Jasper County Farmers Market! 1–6 p.m. 9935 Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. Everyone welcome! (843) 717-3690 or jaspercountysc.org.

Fridays:
Habersham Properties presents a Music on Market with live music, outdoor dining, raw oyster bar, and plenty of seating! (877) 542-2377 or HabershamSC.com or HabershamMarketplace.com.

Fridays:
Farmers Market at Habersham Marketplace! 4–7 p.m. The Farmer’s Market complete with local and regional growers, as well as arts, crafts and specialty food vendors. Family friendly and children’s activities will also be offered. Everyone welcome! HabershamMarketplace.com.

Saturdays:
Pick Pocket Plantation Farmers Market! 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Located in Beaufort across from Regions Bank on Route 170 (Robert Smalls Parkway). Look for the big red antique tractor! (203) 417-7512 or pickpocketplantation.com/farmersmarket.

Saturdays:
Port Royal Farmers Market! 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Located in Heritage Park on Ribaut Road by the Naval Hospital. South Carolina Produce, Seafood, Beef, Cheese, Honey, Flowers & Live Music. portroyalfarmersmarket.com.

Saturdays:
Lunch and Learn Series presented by the Lowcountry Master Gardeners Association, The Gazebo at the Farmer’s Market, Heritage Park, Port Royal. 12:00 noon-1 p.m. Free, just bring a folding chair. lowcountrymga.org/.

Sundays:
3 on 3 Basketball at Habersham Park Basketball Court, 13 Market! Lace up those high tops and bring your team! 5-7 p.m. Free! All ages and levels welcome! If you have a team or are you looking for teammates, email info@habershammarketplace.com.

April 1 – May 31:
A Beaufort family’s private collection of silhouettes of southern life and lands by early 20th century lowcountry artist Carew Rice will open at the Verdier House, 801 Bay St. Historic Beaufort Foundation is the exclusive venue for this personal collection which has never been shown in its entirety. In addition to featuring Rice’s work and a display of his scissors and family memorabilia, the exhibit will include a program and cutting demonstration by Clay Rice, Carew’s grandson, who inherited the skilled artistry of his grandfather. Admission is free for HBF members and children and $10 per non-member. Isabella Reeves, (843) 379-3331 or Sandy Patterson, (843) 379-6335.

April 1 – May 11:
Step Right Up! – The Sideshow in America will celebrate the work of Rebecca Davenport a Beaufort-based visual artist, who exhibited her work at the Beaufort Museum in the Arsenal in 2008. The Sideshow in America will celebrate her work in the larger context of carnival culture through an exploration of the sideshow as cultural phenomenon during the late 19th century and continuing through the 21st century at the McKissick Museum, 813 Bull Street on the University of South Carolina Columbia campus. The museum, is the largest university museum in the Southeast, and houses collections in material culture, decorative arts, natural sciences, history and fine arts. (803) 777-7251 for daily hours.

April 5 – May 31:
Modern Quilt Exhibition at ARTworks! The Modern quilt is simple, uncomplicated and contemporary. The Beaufort Modern Quilt Guild is 24 members who strive to achieve and build on this aesthetic. They are having their first exhibition in the gallery at ARTworks in Beaufort Town Center, 2015 Boundary St. (843) 379-2787 or ArtWorksInBeaufort.org.

April 6 – 7 & 12 – 14:
University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts presents “Noises Off” Beaufort Theatre Company is comprised of Lowcountry amateur and professional actors who share a love for the performing arts. Performances at USCB Center for the Arts Theatre, 801 Carteret St., on April 6, 12, 13, at 7:30 p.m, and at 3 p.m. on April 7 & 14. Reserve seats Adults, $20; Seniors, $18′ Students, $15. (843) 521-4145 or uscbcenterforthearts.com.

April 6:
The 18th Annual Kid Fest, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cross Creek Shopping Center, Robert Smalls Pkwy. Kid Fest is a large, free, one day event held each spring by Marine Corps Community Services to recognize and increase awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month and celebrate the Month of the Military Child. Now in its 18th year, Kid Fest is designed to provide lots of fun activities for children, and educational/awareness information for parents about many of the services available in the local community. There are normally 40 to 60 agencies on site to help entertain and educate the families about their services. All activities and entertainments are free and a wonderful opportunity for family program networking. mccs-sc.com/news/calendar.asp.

April 11 – 14:
Big Storytelling Festival! This festival honors the deeply fun tradition of storytelling and storylistening with performances, family activities, workshops, and diverse voices, including Bil Lepp, Doug Elliott, Natalie Daise and Judy Sima (from WVA, NC, SC and MI, respectively.) The BIG Story Fest is held in Beaufort Town Center, a leisure and shopping area, and is a project of ARTworks, the arts council of Beaufort, Port Royal and the Sea Islands. (843) 379-2787 or beaufortcountyarts.com/bigstoryfest.htm.

April 14:
Old Sheldon Sunday, 12:30 p.m. Each year a noonday prayer service is held at the Old Sheldon Church ruins, normally the second Sunday after Easter. Following the service is a bring-your-own-picnic. (843) 522-1712 or sthelenas1712.org.

April 19 – 20:
2013 Spring Tour of Homes! The 57th Annual Spring Tour of Homes will include houses, Lowcountry plantations, gardens, and historic churches. Historic Walking Tour, Friday, 19th, $40 per ticket until April 10, 2013 (after April 10, $45). Plantation Driving Tour, Saturday, 20th, $60 per ticket until April 10, 2013 (after April 10, $65). Receive a 10% discount if you purchase tickets for both tours before April 10, 2013! Discounted price for both tours is $90. (843) 524-0363 or purchase your tickets online, click HERE.

April 19 – 20:
3rd Annual SC-GA Border BBQ Cook-Off, Hilton Head Lakes (Hwy. 278, I-95 at Exit 8). This is an SC BBQ Association certified competition open to anyone wishing to participate. Trophies and other cash prizes will also be awarded to competing teams. (843) 784-3606 or hardeevillechamber.com.

April 20:
10th Annual Softshell Crab Festival in Port Royal. Noon – 5 p.m. Paris Avenue in the Old Village of Port Royal. Admission is FREE. We invite you to spend a day with us in the Village… you might not want to leave! (843) 470-1110 or oldvillageportroyal.com.