From concerts to beach sweeps, here are 5 ways to celebrate Earth Day in Beaufort County
Beaufort County residents will have plenty of options to celebrate the annual Earth Day on Saturday.
The first Earth Day began in 1970, and the holiday continues to annually mark the birth of the modern environmental movement.
For the last several years, Beaufort County has hosted an annual Earth Day clean up event around the county where community members can get involved to help keep the environment clean and litter-free. Although registration has closed, volunteers will be meeting on Friday to help clean up the area.
If you are wanting to get in on the fun and celebrate this important holiday, here are five Earth Day events to attend in Beaufort County in the coming days.
The 2023 Bluffton Sunset Party Kick Off Event and Earth Day Celebration will take place on Friday from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Oyster Factory Park, which is located at 63 Wharf Street. This 4-hour event will feature live music from two different bands, including Jupiter Coyote and Special Guest - The Minks, as well as a beer garden, wine bar and food court under the venue’s Live Oak trees while overlooking the May River. Leashed pets are permitted at this event and guests may bring their own lawn chairs. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bluffton-sunset-2023-kick-off-event-earth-day-celebration-tickets-546381500777.
The Hilton Head Island Earth Day Festival and 5k will be held on Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon at Coligny Beach Park, which is located on the south end of the island at 1 Coligny Circle. This free nonprofit event invites guests of all ages to come and learn about how they can help make a difference in the Lowcountry. Featured organizations at the festival will focus on environmental efforts, conservation and learning programs in the area as well as a trash clean up event, which will supply materials for an opportunity for guests to make recycled art from what is found. Information and registration for the additional 5k can be found online at https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/HiltonHeadIsland/HiltonHeadEarthDay5K.
The Bluffton Branch Library will host an Earth Day Storytime for children on Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the library, which is located at 120 Palmetto Way in Bluffton. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear stories, sing songs and create a take-home craft in celebration of Earth Day.
If you’re looking for other events that celebrate the Lowcountry’s environment this weekend, there are a couple others that may better suit your lifestyle.
Join a refuge volunteer for a free, guided, 5-mile scenic bike tour throughout Pinckney National Wildlife Refuge at 9 a.m. on Friday. Attendees may use the provided adult size bikes to see local flora and fauna within the refuge. This bike tour is open to adult bikers of all skill levels and cyclists are recommended to bring water, snacks and sun screen for the tour. Interested parties may sign up online at https://allevents.in/bluffton/guided-bike-ride-at-pinckney-national-wildlife-refuge-5-miles/10000565596573577.
- The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) Gallery’s featured artist of the month, Karen Richards, will have her work displayed in the gallery until May 1. The exhibit, titled “Bring Nature Home,” features a collection of art depicting different floral works, birds and local landscapes, which reflect Richards’ passion for the environment. Coastal scenes, shorebirds and florals can all be seen in her displayed work at the gallery. In addition, 30% of sales from the show will go to the Hilton Head Audubon Society and the South Coast Region of the Coastal Conservation League, Richards detailed in her featured page on SOBA’s website. The SOBA Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays and is located at 6 Church Street in Bluffton.
