Charleston SUP Safaris and Flipper Finders Hosted a Halloween Themed Paddle Board Race to Benefit Youth 2 Ocean

On October 28th, Charleston SUP Safaris and Flipper Finders got into the spooky spirit and hosted a stand up paddle board race to raise money to benefit Youth 2 Ocean, an organization that provides environmental education and exploration of nature to local youth. Everyone who came out paddled for a cause while dressed in Halloween costumes and even brought their pups in costumes too! There were 20 participants total and 6 dogs. Congratulations to everyone that came out and everyone that placed!

Super sponsors for the event included Loggerheads, Surf Bar, My Ocean Rental, Lost Dog Café, Mex 1 Cantina, Rita’s Seaside Restaurant, Vapor Apparel, The Tides, and Water’s Edge Inn who helped raise an estimated $10000.

Below are the placements:
Men’s Elite 10k – 1st Place: Mike Hivett (59:34), 2nd Place: Chris Willey (62:53), 3rd Place: Phil Antman (73:10)

Women’s Elite 10k – 1st Place: Jenny Alderman (64:07), 2nd Place Danielle Goldstein Prone Board (66:47) 3rd Place: Martha Criscuolo (69:34)

Women’s Recreational 5k: 1st Place: Beth Lovett (43:05), 2nd Place: Katie Rowe (45:16), 3rd Place: Alice Freeman (48:40)

Men’s Surf 5k: 1st Place: Joe Calandra (47:16), 2nd Place: Brandon Barber (48:19), 3rd Place Norm Godley (49:25)

Women’s Surf 5k: 1st Place: Kristen Dixon (52:17), 2nd Place: Martha Sylvia (60:15), 3rd Place: Lauren (Goddess of the Sea) (63:52)

Kids Race: 1st Place: Jack Durkee

Dog Race: 1st Place: Chris Willey & Rafael, 2nd Place: Dan Yost & Sadie, 3rd Place: Jenni & Twister

Best Costume: Katie Rowe aka Mermaid

Hurricane Hugo, the Lowcountry’s most infamous storm, at one point had Folly Beach in a grasp of destruction. When Hurricane Hugo hit land as a Category 4 hurricane, Folly Beach sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 107 miles per hour. Many beach houses along the coast were torn apart and 35 deaths were reported in total. Due to the storm surge and rough tides, there was extensive damage all over the state of South Carolina as well as other parts of the country. It has been estimated that the damage from Hurricane Hugo cost over $5.9 billion dollars. Today, Hugo remains the strongest and most costly hurricane in the history of South Carolina.

On Monday, August 21st, 2017 a total solar eclipse will trace across the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic with it’s path crossing near Folly Beach. The last time most Americans observed a total solar eclipse was in 1991 and such an event will not happen on this scale again until 2045. On Monday, the moon will move to completely cover the sun for a total of 2 minutes and 40 seconds and parts of Folly Beach will be in the path of totality which in total is around 70 miles wide. It is unsafe to look directly at a solar eclipse so you must use the proper safely precautions when viewing. For more information about the eclipse, visit https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/

Rock On Over To Folly!

Shine On

Save the Light is hosting a small ceremony at the beach overlooking the Morris Island lighthouse on Saturday October 1^st at 7 pm, the 140^th anniversary of the first lighting October 1, 1876. Thanks to generous SCE&G engineers, lighthouse windows and the lantern room will be lit by remote control at 7:30 pm for four hours. The gates will be closed, but there may be a golf cart shuttle.  Plan to end your day at the East end at sunset to see our lighthouse sending light into the night sky like she did between 1876 and 1962. See www.savethelight.org for more information on the lighting, and on efforts to save the lighthouse.

Mark your calendars for the Taste of Folly 2016! Come out and celebrate Folly’s wonderful restaurants and bars on Saturday, January 16 from 11am-5pm! This year’s event will feature a cocktail contest, dozens of street vendors, kids activities, live music, a hot dog eating competition, chili cook-off, silent auction, date auction, raffle and MORE! This event is a fundraiser for Center Street Beautification.

Featured Folly Beach Restaurants include- Folly Beach Crab Shack, BLU Restaurant & Bar, The Drop In Bar & Deli, Loggerhead’s Beach Grill, Planet Follywood, Jack of Cups Saloon, Woody’s PizzaBeach City Grill, Rita’s Seaside Grille, St. James Gate Irish Pub, Taco Boy, The Grill and Island Bar, Chico Feo and more!

On Friday, January 15 the 4th Annual Bartender Mix-Off will be held at the Ballroom at Tides Hotel on the 2nd Floor from 7pm-10pm! This event is a Cocktail competition for local bartenders on Folly Beach and from the Charleston Area, benefiting Surfers Healing. Admission to the tasting will be $20 and will allow attendees to taste all of the participating bartender cocktails and vote on their top choices.

AND that’s a wrap! The 3rd Annual Bill Murray Look-a-Like Polar Plunge was a BLAST! Thanks to all who came out and to our sponsors!  Check out all of these awesome photos below. We’ll see you next year!

Join us on New Year’s Eve on Folly Beach for our annual Flip Flop Drop! Gather with other revelers on Center Street to watch the giant pair of flip-flops descending from the top of Tides beachfront hotel at midnight! It’s the perfect way to ring in 2016.

The next morning, a little hair of the dog AND a dip in the ocean should get your head back in good shape.

The Bill Murray Look-A-Like Polar Plunge will take place on New Year’s Day right on Folly Beach! Dress as your favorite Bill Murray character and celebrate New Year’s Day by taking a plunge into Folly’s frigid ocean water with lots of other Bill Murray wannabes! Registration starts at 12 pm and the plunge will take place at 2 pm. Awards will be given out to the Best Girl, Best Guy, Best Team and Best Overall Bill Murray! A portion of the proceeds will benefit Folly Beach local charities.