Looking for eclipse glasses? 9 awesome eclipse events around Beaufort County (glasses included)

Looking for a fun way to witness this month’s “Great American Eclipse”? There are several opportunities to take in the celestial event throughout Beaufort County and the Lowcountry.

Beaufort Academy

Beaufort Academy will be featuring guest speakers and presenting displays in association with The Kennedy Space Center starting at 1:30 p.m. the day of the eclipse, then hosting eclipse viewing from their football field. Free eclipse glasses will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

Beaufort County Libraries

Branches around the county will be hosting various events. Many branches will screen the NASA live feed of the eclipse as it makes its way across the country to the South Carolina Coast and the Bluffton branch will hold an “eclipse and salsa” party starting at 2 p.m. For a complete list of library eclipse events, which will be ongoing up to and including the day of the eclipse, visit the Beaufort County Library website.

Beaufort Inn

The historic hotel invites you to join them for a viewing party from the rooftop patio of the Old Bay Marketplace loft from 1 to 3:30 p.m., complete with free eclipse glasses while supplies last. That will be followed by an eclipse celebration from 8 to 10 p.m. in Tabby Garden featuring Michael Ponder and the Steel Rail Express. Both events are free and open to the public.

Hardeeville’s Eclipse Celebration

The city of Hardeeville will be ringing in the eclipse with a free event that will include themed games and bounce houses for the kids, free lunch and music. Free eclipse glasses will be provided for the first 150 in attendance. The event will be from 12 to 5 p.m. behind Hardeeville’s city hall at 205 Main Street.

Island Explorer Dolphin & Nature Tours

Island Explorer will be offering a special eclipse themed tour on Aug. 21 that will take guests on a journey down Broad Creek and through Calibogue Sound on their way to the large sandbar off Dafuskie Island, dubbed “Vanishing Island” by Island Explorer’s owner Jim Harkins. The eclipse will peak while on Vanishing Island, offering guests an unobstructed view. Tickets are $75 for adults and $65 for children 12 and under, and each ticket comes with a pair of eclipse glasses.

Outside Brands

Outside Brands will offer a three-hour solar eclipse excursion from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 21. The three-hour excursion will include a backwater boat trip with a naturalist captain and will make a stop on a remote sand bar to provide the group with an “incredible and unobstructed” position to view the eclipse. Participants will receive NASA-certified solar eclipse glasses to view the eclipse. For more information visit http://www.outsidehiltonhead.com/ or call 843-686-6996.

Sea Pines Beach Club

The Sea Pines Beach Club will host a Solar Eclipse Party with live entertainment by JoJo Squirrel and the Home Pickles and food and drink specials including “Ring of Fire” nachos and “Total Solar Eclipse” cocktail.. Complimentary eclipse glasses are included with any purchase; limited supply available. Call (843) 842-1888 for reservations. The event takes place Monday from 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. with live entertainment from 12-3 p.m.

Sonesta Resort

The resort will host an eclipse viewing party from noon to 4 p.m. at its outdoor restaurant and bar, Sandbar at Marker 72. Tickets to the event are $15.95 for those 13 or older and $7.95 for those aged six to 12, while children from three to five are $4.95. Children under three are free with a paying adult. Souls Harbor will be performing at the event, which will also feature Lowcountry barbecue. Eclipse glasses will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.

Tiki Hut

The Tiki Hut and Beach House Resort on Hilton Head will be hosting a Blackout Solar Eclipse Beach Party with live music and glasses for guests. The party will kick off at 1 p.m. with live music from local band Cranford Hollow and will continue through the evening with music from NAKD. Free admission. More info here.

Bonus! If you’re leaving Beaufort County.... here’s some awesome events in the Lowcountry

Here are a few of the standouts for eclipse events outside Beaufort County.

“Eclipse on a Warship”

Today Show co-host and weatherman Al Roker will be broadcasting live from this event, which takes place at Patriots Point in Charleston Harbor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. the day of the event and the first 3,000 in attendance will receive eclipse glasses with their admission. Tickets are $22 for adults 13 and older, $17 for seniors 62 and older and active military with military ID, and $14 for children aged six to 11. Military in uniform and children under six are free. Patriots Point is still deciding how to distribute tickets to the Roker appearance, which will require separate admission.

Charleston RiverDogs

The single A affiliate of the New York Yankees will open their gates at 1 p.m. the day of the eclipse, welcoming fans to watch the eclipse from the stands before first pitch against the Augusta GreenJackets at 4:05 p.m. Special guests from NASA will be on hand to talk about the eclipse.

Go Dark Charleston

If the events listed above are not to your liking, the city of Charleston will be taking full advantage of their position as the last stop for August’s eclipse, with over 40 events listed on the Go Dark Charleston website for the day of the event!

Santee State Park

Located roughly an hour and a half from Beaufort and two hours from Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, the drive to Santee State park is similar to the drive to Charleston, but Santee State Park offers nearly a full minute more totality. Plus, they are offering the unique opportunity to watch the eclipse from a flotilla on Lake Marion!

This list will be updated as more events become known. Do you know about a great eclipse event? Let us know!

This story was originally published August 12, 2017 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Looking for eclipse glasses? 9 awesome eclipse events around Beaufort County (glasses included)."