Daniel Island Holiday Festival A Big Hit

Thousands of Daniel Island residents and visitors kicked off the holiday shopping season in style on December 3rd at the annual Holiday Festival at Family Circle Stadium. Like magic, this world-class sports venue was transformed into a winter wonderland with over 100 local vendors selling crafts, gifts, delicious treats and more to eager holiday shoppers.  A big hit this year was the ice skating rink that was enjoyed by kids (and adults!) of all ages.  A visit with Santa himself – and a line-up of spectacular performances from singers and dancers from around the Lowcountry kept everyone entertained. This island tradition has become one of Charleston’s biggest holiday events. Check out these photos from the official festival photographer, Spring Dyer. The complete gallery of image can be viewed here.

Daniel Island Soccer Academy Invites You to “Shuck for Soccer” at Pierce Park

Calling all oyster shuckers!  Grab your knife and gloves and come to the pavilion at Pierce Park on Saturday, December 3rd for the annual Oyster Roast Fundraiser for Daniel Island Soccer Academy. Enjoy all the oysters you can eat, plus hotdogs, chicken and more while listening to live music in this scenic setting overlooking the marsh and Wando River. The festivities take place from 5-9 pm.

The cost to attend is $25 for adults and $10 for children (7 years old and up).  All proceeds go towards player scholarships, equipment and travel assistance for tournament teams. It’s easy to purchase tickets in advance – just click here!

Daniel Island Soccer Academy is a family-oriented, grassroots program founded by Bishop England High School head varsity coach Ed Khouri. The Academy currently has 170 players and 12 teams that practice on Daniel Island. Teams compete both locally and regionally in spring and fall soccer leagues. For more information on this growing Daniel Island soccer program, visit www.disacademy.org

Golf and Good Times at the 2011 Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island

The Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island wrapped up on Sunday, October 30 following an exciting week of special events and fierce competition as the season’s top 60 money-winners battled it out to be one of 25 to leave Daniel Island with their PGA TOUR cards for 2012. The picture-perfect fall weather brought residents and visitors out to the Daniel Island Club to experience PGA-sanctioned golf and catch a glimpse of some of the sport’s future stars. In the end, Ken Duke of Hope, Arkansas captured the Championship title and took home the $180,000 grand prize along with his PGA card.

Check out these highlights from the 2011 Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island:

Park Day Returns to Daniel Island This Weekend

Looking for something fun to do with family and friends this weekend? Look no further as Park Day, one of the Daniel Island’s most anticipated annual events, returns to the banks of the Wando River this Saturday, October 22 from 11 am – 5 pm. This is a fall festival not to be missed! If you’ve attended Park Day in the past, you know all about the wide offering of food, entertainment and fun for the entire family. But this “day of giving” also incorporates a significant mission to help generate funds and awareness for some of Charleston’s most important charitable organizations.

“Since its inception 11 years ago, Park Day has raised more than $250,000 for more than 50 local non-profits,” says Jimmy Bailey, Vice President of Community Services. “It’s a great opportunity to come out and enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities while giving back to the community.”

On tap this year are live musical performances, arts and crafts activities, a custom playhome raffle, sailing on the Wando River, garden clinics, an oyster roast, educational wildlife exhibitions, dog activities and more. Also returning is the popular Pie Baking contest presented by the Daniel Island News. The creator of the winning entry will receive $250 cash + $250 to donate to the charity of their choice.

All events take place on the banks of the Wando River in front of Daniel Island’s Sales and Information Center on River Landing Drive. Park Day admission and parking are free. Some events require a nominal fee in order to raise money for participating non-profit organizations. For complete details about the day’s lineup of events and activities, visit danielislandparkday.com

Daniel Island Paints The Town Pink!

Last weekend marked the 18th anniversary of the Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure, and the tenth year this popular event was held on Daniel Island. The race is the largest annual fundraising effort for the Komen Foundation’s Lowcountry affiliate. There was record-breaking participation this year, with 11,000 people registered. The affiliate is expected to reach its lofty fundraising goal by the end of October: $1 million to support breast cancer prevention, research and support programs.

In an effort to support the race and its mission, many Daniel Island businesses got into the spirit earlier this month by participating in the annual “Paint the Town Pink” window painting contest. Dozens of festive windows, combined with pink ribbons tied on the street trees along the race route and pink memorial banners lining Seven Farms Drive in the island’s downtown, set the scene for a very successful race day celebration.

The sunny, cool weather served as the perfect backdrop for the race and hundreds of breast cancer survivors were honored as racers dressed in their finest “pink.”  It was truly a special day for the race against breast cancer.

Celebrity Athletes and Musicians Unite for a Great Cause on Daniel Island

Not only will there be exciting golf to watch on the island next month, but there will also be some fantastic music to listen to as Mark Bryan, Branford Marsalis, Pat Green, Colt Ford and others will perform at the Nationwide Tour Championship Pro-Am Jam on Tuesday, October 25 at the Daniel Island Club. This special concert will benefit Carolina Studios, a non-profit youth music and media arts program spearheaded by Mark Bryan of Hootie & The Blowfish.

Prior to the concert, Mark Bryan and 23 additional celebrities will participate in a special Pro-Am tournament on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course. Island residents and friends are invited to watch the tournament, free of charge. Each Pro-Am grouping will include a Nationwide Tour professional, one celebrity golfer and three amateur players.

Following is a sampling of celebrities that will be participating in the festivities:

• Mark Bryan (Musician – Hootie & the Blowfish)
• Patrick Davis (Musician – Southern Rock)
• Todd Ellis (Former South Carolina Quarterback Standout, “Voice of the Gamecocks”)
• Colt Ford (Musician – Country)
• Ralph Friedgen (Former Maryland University football coach)
• Harold Green (Former NFL Running Back for the Bengals) (College: South Carolina)
• Pat Green (Musician – Country)
• Branford Marsalis (Musician – Saxophonist, Composer, Band leader)
• George Rogers (Former NFL Running Back – Saints & Redskins, 1981 NFL Rookie of the Year, 1980 Heisman Trophy Winner) (College: South Carolina)
  

  Branford Marsalis

• Charlie Rymer (Golf Channel announcer, co-host on Big Break PrinceEdward Island)
• Justin Smoak (Former MLB First Baseman – Rangers & Mariners) (College: South Carolina)
• Mickey Tettleton (Former MLB 2-Time All-Star Catcher – A’s, Orioles, Tigers, Rangers)

This first annual Pro-Am Jam is an event that you will not want to miss! General admission concert tickets can be purchased for $25 at nationwidetourchampionship.com, or by calling the Box Office at (800) 677-2293, ext. 3 between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Mark Your Calendar for an Exciting Lineup of Lowcountry Events This Fall

Fall is here, and that means three things: Amazing weather, football and a non-stop lineup of special events of all kinds throughout the Lowcountry. From outdoor concerts and 5K races, to festivals of all kinds, Charleston offers a full lineup of fun activities for all interests this fall! And best of all, you don’t even have to leave Daniel Island to experience some of the season’s best and most popular events. Take a look at what’s happening on Daniel Island in September and October, and make plans to come out and join in the fun:

Daniel Island Harvest Tour of Homes
Saturday, October 1
This event, now in its fourth year, will feature tours of four private homes on Daniel Island in a variety of styles. Each home will also host a local author who will be signing copies of his or her books. The homes will be open from 1-4pm and may be visited in any order. Advance tickets cost $20 or they can be purchased on the day of the event for $25. All proceeds benefit the Daniel Island Library. www.harvesthometour.com

Oktoberfest at Blackbaud Stadium
Sunday, October 2
Oktoberfest returns to Blackbaud Stadium with a German-style celebration featuring live oompah music, dancing, a wide selection of German beers and a variety of delicious Oktoberfest-themed food options. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit Live 5 News’ Debi’s Kids. Oktoberfest will also include a 64 team Corn Hole tournament to benefit Meals on Wheels. Be among the first 1,000 to enter the gates and receive a free beer stein! www.charlestonbattery.com

Lowcountry Buddy Walk at Etiwan Park
Sunday, October 2
The 8th annual Buddy Walk will be held at Etiwan Park on Daniel Island. Come out and participate in a 1-mile walk and enjoy a great day of inclusion and acceptance for all those living with Down Syndrome. Music, jump castles and other activities will follow the walk. All proceeds benefit the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry. www.dsalowcountry.org

Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure
Saturday, October 15 | 7:00 AM
Each year, thousands descend upon the streets of Daniel Island to support the Susan G. Komen For the Cure’s mission of eradicating breast cancer through advancing research, education, screening and treatment. Through events like the Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure, the foundation has invested more than $3 million in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in 13 counties in the Lowcountry region. www.komenlowcountry.org

Southern Ground Music & Food Festival
October 21 – 23
Hosted by the Zac Brown Band, this three-day extravaganza promises to engage and awe all five senses by offering concertgoers some of their favorite handpicked musicians as well as taste bud-seducing fare from the culinary world. In addition to daily performances by the Zac Brown Band, the bill will feature My Morning Jacket, Train, Eric Church and many other popular bands. The event will take place at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island. www.southerngroundfestival.com

Park Day on Daniel Island
Saturday, October 22 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
A fall tradition in Charleston for ten years and counting, Daniel Island’s Park Day is an entertaining day of events, games, food and live music for the entire family. This popular festival has evolved into one of Charleston’s broadest scope charitable events, raising money and awareness for more than 20 area non-profit organizations. The day features a line-up of entertainment and events in a waterfront setting overlooking the Wando River.

Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island
October 24 – 30
The Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course is again serving as the host site of the PGA Tour’s Nationwide Tour Championship. The tournament is the Nationwide Tour’s final event each year, concluding the season-long competition to identify the 25 players who earn PGA Tour cards for the following season based on the Tour’s final money list. www.nationwidetourchampionship.com

For a complete list of the Charleston area’s top events this fall, click here.

Nationwide Tour Alumni Winning Big On This Year’s PGA TOUR

Five rookie players who received their PGA TOUR cards at last year’s Nationwide Tour Championship right here on Daniel Island are producing impressive wins on the PGA TOUR this year, including rookie Keegan Bradley, who captured the year’s final “major” at last week’s PGA Championship. This is certainly good news for the Nationwide Tour, which is producing some very competitive players:

• Last year’s Nationwide Tour Champion, Brendon Steele, broke through with a win at the Valero Texas Open in April, holding off Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman with a strong par on the 72nd hole.  Brendon also shared the leader board last Sunday.

• Fresh off his first first career victory in May at the HP Byron Nelson Championship (following a playoff with Ryan Palmer), Keegan Bradley won his first major title this month in a two-way playoff with fellow American Jason Dufner at the 93rd PGA Championship.

• Scott Stallings won the Greenbrier Classic in July, sinking a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Bob Estes and Bill Haas.

• Also in July, 26-year old player Chris Kirk took on the Viking Classic, shooting a 4-under 68 to beat Tom Pernice Jr. and George McNeill by one stroke.

• In January, Venezuela native Jhonattan Vegas won the Bob Hope Classic after hitting into the water on the second playoff and making a 13-foot shot for par to beat Gary Woodland.

Watching these five young rookies win big makes this year’s Nationwide Tour line-up even more exciting. Be sure to keep your eye on rising star players such as Mathew Goggin, Matt Davidson, Danny Lee, Kyle Thompson and Scott Brown as they prepare to compete in the 22nd Nationwide Tour Championship on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course October 24 – October 30.

The Nationwide Tour’s 22nd season got underway last spring at the Panama Claro Championship in Panama City, Panama. More than 200 players from the United States and 18 other countries are competing in this season-long quest to win one of 25 PGA TOUR cards for 2012. Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage. Two out of three PGA TOUR members are Nationwide Tour alumni.

Golf fans can follow the Nationwide Tour on its exclusive television home, The Golf Channel. For further information about the Tour, visit www.pgatour.com, and stay tuned to My Island Town for updates on this Fall’s Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island.

America’s Best Tennis Town Welcomes WTT!

Come watch some of the biggest tennis names in the world battle it out against each other during the World Team Tennis Finals Weekend at the Family Circle Stadium July 22 – 24.  WTT is tennis like you’ve never seen it, featuring the biggest names in the world playing together in an innovative co-ed team format that offers exciting possibilities for players and fans!

Marquis players such as Serena Williams, Pete Sampras, John Isner, Melanie Oudin and John McEnroe will be hitting the courts for some non-stop, loud and exciting competition.  Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at www.familycirclecup.com or by calling (800) 677-2293.   For more information about World Team Tennis, click on www.wtt.com

O.A.R. to Rock the Family Circle Stadium this Weekend

The Family Circle Stadium will host the popular band, O.A.R., on Saturday night. The band’s music, a rock/reggae fusion, has sold over 1.2 million albums and is known to attract fans from across the country. Their latest album, “All Sides”, is expected out this week and critics say it is certain to be yet another milestone in O.A.R’s career.

The Family Circle Stadium Gates open at 6:00 pm and the concert will begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $34 and can be purchased at www.livenation.com. For more information click on www.familycirclecup.com

Next Page »