The Beaufort Water Festival

More information should be available soon concerning the 50th Annual Beaufort Water Festival that will be held in July 2005. For now, enjoy a brief history concerning the Beaufort Water Festival.

From its inception of afternoon races on the river, the festival has grown into a 10-day event that provides many wonderful things for each family member to enjoy including a golf tournament, antique shows, crafts and art, concerts, an air show, dances, and parades.

Beaufort Water Festival History

The first festival was held in July 1956 with John Bigbee serving as the first President and Gladys Thompson in charge of the visiting queens. The Lions Club took on the job of putting on the first parade and have been doing this every year since then with each year's parade bigger, better and more exciting than the one before as more units, bands and floats were added.

In the early years of the Beaufort Water Festival it cost $.50 to attend the Beauty Pageant, $1.00 per couple for the Regatta Ball and $2.00 a couple to attend the Water Festival Ball which was later renamed the Commodore's Ball. The first weekend featured two days of sailboat races and the Regatta Ball. The following weekend began with the Beauty Pageant on Friday to select the Queen of the Carolina Sea islands who was chosen from the visiting queens from cities and towns throughout the state. The parade, a water ski show and competition put on by the Beaufort Water Ski Club, an air show, swimming races and the Water Festival Ball were held on Saturday during which the Queen of the Carolina Sea islands was crowned. Sunday saw the motor boat races and a drawing for a boat, motor and trailer donated by members of the Rod and Gun Club. All the events were held on or adjacent to the municipal parking lot and in case of inclement weather plans were made to move the pageant indoors to the Beaufort Elementary School and the ball to the Community Club.

As the years went by and the festival drew more and more people to the area tennis and golf tournaments, an antique show, bingo, fishing contests, croquet, a merchants market and many other events were added to offer something for every age and interest. In the early '70's Jimmy Thomas changed the name of the head honcho from "President" to "Commodore" during his year to better fit the festival theme.

Many, many volunteers have worked long hours each year to bring new and exciting events to the festival which has now grown to include ten days of a "Low Country Celebration" and a chance for everyone who attends to soak up the ambiance of our lovely and historic city and to come back again and again.

This information was taken from www.bftwaterfestival.com.