July 17, 2025

Beaufort Water Festival Opening Night Canceled Due to Weather

News Summary

The opening night of the 69th annual Beaufort Water Festival was canceled due to thunderstorms and rain, prioritizing the safety of attendees. The much-anticipated Opening Ceremony featuring the Parris Island Marine Band has been rescheduled to Tuesday, along with Caribbean Night. While some events proceeded, safety concerns prompted changes, including the relocation of the Children’s Toad Fishing Tournament. The festival aims for about 70,000 attendees, despite a slight decrease in expected turnout due to venue constraints.

Beaufort, SC – The opening night of the 69th annual Beaufort Water Festival was canceled on Friday, July 11, due to inclement weather conditions, specifically late afternoon thunderstorms and persistent rain. The decision, announced via the festival’s Facebook page, prioritized the safety of guests, performers, and volunteers. The anticipated Opening Ceremony, originally slated to start at 7 p.m., was supposed to feature a concert by the Parris Island Marine Band followed by a fireworks display.

While the fireworks were rescheduled for Saturday evening, the Opening Ceremony has been moved to Tuesday night and will now take place without the planned aerial flyover. Additionally, Caribbean Night has been shifted to the same Tuesday evening slot. Despite the ongoing rain, the festival continued with selected events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, experiencing only mild inconveniences.

Saturday kicked off with various activities, including the Bocce Tournament and Badminton Tournament at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. However, the Children’s Toad Fishing Tournament had to be relocated due to promenade closures, leading to safety concerns. In an adjustment to the usual program, the Raft Race took place at Sands Beach in Port Royal rather than its customary location.

Event Highlights

The Lowcountry Supper is scheduled for Thursday, July 17, and tickets for all ticketed events are available online. Festival organizers anticipate around 70,000 attendees throughout the ten-day festival period, marking a slight decrease from normal turnout levels. The events this year are indirectly impacted by the closure of the promenade due to structural concerns at Waterfront Park, which has necessitated several location changes.

In terms of attendance, the Saturday evening concert featuring Chris Janson saw approximately 3,600 attendees, which is close to typical turnout for the opening night show. Children’s Day also saw a significant turnout, offering various activities such as bounce houses, inflatables, and dunk tanks. Local sports star and USC running back Oscar Adaway III made a guest appearance during the festivities geared toward families.

About the Beaufort Water Festival

The Beaufort Water Festival is recognized as the longest-running festival on the East Coast, proudly managed solely by volunteers since its inception in 1956. Over the years, the festival has grown from 15 initial volunteers to more than 400 individuals managing the diverse array of events each year. A unique feature of the festival is the annual commemorative t-shirt, designed by local artists.

Significant logistical efforts are required to organize events such as the Lowcountry Supper, which aims to serve thousands of attendees with substantial food supplies, including 1,250 pounds of shrimp, 3,000 ears of corn, and 100 watermelons. As conditions allow, the raft race may return to Sands Beach, continuing to adapt to the ongoing promenade closure.

Historical Context

This year’s festival was notably impacted by the weather but has a long history of overcoming challenges. Remarkably, the Water Festival has only been canceled once before, in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival has featuring notable performances in the past, including acts like Foghat, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Aaron Lewis from Staind. The Water Festival is set to wrap up with an air show and a parade of boats during the final weekend, marking a cherished tradition for the community.

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Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE BEAUFORT

The HERE Beaufort Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Beaufort community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Beaufort : Our team includes lifelong Beaufort residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Beaufort’s equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., BeaufortTechnical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.

STAFF HERE BEAUFORT

The HERE Beaufort Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Beaufort community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Beaufort : Our team includes lifelong Beaufort residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Beaufort’s equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., BeaufortTechnical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.

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