Talent shines through rain at Beaufort Water Fest
Sidewalks were flooded with puddles, the grass was muddy and lawn chairs were soaked after another afternoon thunderstorm erupted just a half hour before the gates opened for the 60th annual Water Festival Talent Show.
But that didn't keep the long lines of eager audience members away.
The dark clouds didn't manage to rain on the performers' parades either.
The nearly 50 eager performers were all stretching, yelling and cheering moments before the show started.
"I'm so excited!"
"Let's get this party started!"
"Are you nervous? Because I'm nervous!"
One young star was seemingly fearless as she opened the show singing an acappella version of "God Bless the USA".
Belle Elizabeth Wilson, 6, also dressed the part, wearing an American flag dress and red cowboy boots.
The petite blonde said she was excited that she was finally old enough to enter the competition this year.
After four years of hearing her daughter singing -- or screaming -- the patriotic song throughout the house, Amy Wilson decided it was time to enter the contest. Belle Wilson was so determined to get on the Water Festival stage that she even filled out the application and paid the entry fee with her birthday money.
"This is something she has been wanting to do for a long time," Amy Wilson said.
A somewhat older contestant, Kayla Turner, 11, said she has been dancing almost all of her life and was ready to show the people of Beaufort how she can move.
"Just getting to see the happy faces of the crowd and hearing the cheers by the audience is what I am really looking forward to," Turner said.
The young sassy dancer was joined on stage by four other dancers from the Low Country Dance Center, sporting their red shimmering tops, tooled shorts and bright lipstick.
The group was surely on fire, bringing the crowd into large eruptions of cheering as they leaped and turned across the stage to the upbeat song "Burnin' Up".
Another eager performer was accustomed to dancing on stage but this time was making her first appearance as a singer.
Jarany Palacio, 16, couldn't be missed with her bright yellow polka-dotted dress and big red bow on top of her curly hair.
"Singing is always something I've wanted to pursue," she said. "Today is the day I am going to show everyone what I am capable of."
This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 9:19 PM with the headline "Talent shines through rain at Beaufort Water Fest ."