VIDEO: 59th Beaufort Water Festival comes to a close
About 25 boats circled in front of Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on Sunday, each one slowing as it passed the Rev. Paul MacNeil and received his blessing.
The 59th Annual Beaufort Water Festival culminated on the Beaufort River with the traditional Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats.
MacNeil, pastor of St. Peter's Catholic Church on Lady's Island, sprinkled the boats with holy water, then waved as they sailed off. Colorful flags and inflatable pool toys decked some of the boats, which competed for the honor of best decorated.
Hundreds of festival-goers gathered in the park to watch, waving and cheering as boats passed by.
The rest of the event's final day was low-key. Vendors at the arts and crafts market closed up shop about an hour after the parade ended, and the Water Festival shut down until 2015.
HOPE YOU DIDN'T MISS
An array of embellishments covered the boats parading in front of the park Sunday. The parade and Blessing of the Fleet, which traditionally close out the festival, is sponsored by past commodores.
SOCIALLY SPEAKING
“Getting in from the river at 9 is a great way to end water fest with baes,” Connor Gruel, @Cgruel26, on Twitter
Follow reporter Laura Oberle at twitter.com/IPBG_Laura.
Related content:
- Gallery: PHOTOS: 59th Beaufort Water Festival - Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats, July 27, 2014
- Beaufort Water Festival names Bill Damude its 60th commodore, July 26, 2014
- Beaufort Water Festival washed out, July 25, 2014
This story was originally published July 27, 2014 at 6:22 PM with the headline "VIDEO: 59th Beaufort Water Festival comes to a close."