Beaufort Water Festival opens with a bang despite rain

By Delayna Earley and Amber Hewitt

The Island News

Th 68th annual Beaufort Water Festival drew a crowd to Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort despite a rain delay that lasted just over an hour.

A rain delay of just over an hour did not keep festival goers from enjoying the opening ceremony of the 68th Annual Beaufort Water on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

While the rain dampened the grass and the stage, spirits were high when the gates opened, and the program was able to continue as planned.

The announcement to postpone opening the event was made on Facebook, and many would-be-festivalgoers took to social media to joke about how it would not be a typical Water Festival without rain delays.

A rain delay of just over an hour did not keep festival goers from enjoying the opening ceremony of the 68th Annual Beaufort Water on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

The opening ceremony kicked off the annual 10-day festival by recognizing Commodore Josh Schott and introducing the head volunteers and people who have worked hard for the past year to organize and put on the festival.

Commodore Josh Schott speaks during the opening ceremony of the 68th Annual Beaufort Water on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Festival and event sponsors as well as local political leaders also speak to the crowd about the importance of this long-running Lowcountry festival.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace speaks during the opening ceremony of the 68th Annual Beaufort Water on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

The evening ended with music from the Parris Island Marine Corps Band a sparkling fireworks display.

Make sure to follow The Island News for photos of the upcoming Beaufort Water Festival events.

Festival goers dance to music from the Parris Island Marine Corps Band before the fireworks during the opening ceremony of the 68th Annual Beaufort Water on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Commodore Josh Schott and his wife Brooke stand on stage during the opening ceremony of the 68th Annual Beaufort Water on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Festival goers take photos before the opening ceremony of the 68th Annual Beaufort Water on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. A rain delay caused the event to be postponed by just over an hour. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Delayna Earley, joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.

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