<em>Photo above: by Captured Moments Photography.</em>

Main Street Beaufort, USA is hosting a weekend full of wonderful holiday events you won’t want to miss. Starting this Friday, December 5th, <em>A Night on the Town</em> kicks off our holiday celebrations with a perfect evening to get in the mood while you stroll down Bay Street, stopping in stores to wander and wish. Downtown businesses will stay open from 6-9 p.m. so that you can enjoy a little nosh and nibble while you stroll around downtown. Entertainment by local choirs, dance groups, and clubs will be happening all evening. And don’t be late to see the Christmas Tree lighting with Santa himself at the Beaufort Downtown Marina!

On Saturday, the first ever Holiday Shrimp Festival is scheduled to take place in the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. This one day event will feature eight or more local restaurants who will offer their best shrimp dishes and compete for the coveted Silver Cup award. Purchase tickets for $1 each and use them at food &amp; beverage booths throughout the park. Food items usually cost 2-8 tickets. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite restaurant in the People’s Choice Award when you have tried all the delicious shrimp dishes.

There will also be live entertainment all day on Saturday. Enjoy listening to Nicholas Brandon Wright entertain between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Rose Family Band will play between 3 to 5 p.m. followed by a special performance by the Parris Island Marine Corps Brass Band at 7 p.m.

And in the middle of all this festivity, join the Beaufort Sail and Power Squadron as they present the magical display of decorated boats ambling up the Beaufort River in the Light Up the Night Boat Parade in front of the Waterfront Park. This long standing tradition is the perfect event to bring the whole family. Watching this enchanted display of decorated boats with cookies and a cup of hot chocolate are what holiday memories are made of. The parade runs from approximately 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. but come early to get a spot along the seawall to see these inspiring boats in all of their holiday spender.

After a night of dreaming about the Sugar Plum Fairies, make your way downtown once again on Sunday. Dec. 6th for the traditional Beaufort Christmas Parade which starts at 3:00 p.m. You will see friends and acquaintances marching through the streets of downtown Beaufort on floats, performing in bands, and just being holiday merrymakers in personal cars and trucks.

And if this isn’t enough, stop by the Festival of Trees which has moved this year to Tabby House on New Republic Street. The festival runs from Friday December 4th – Tuesday, December 8th and is a benefit to support the Friends of Caroline Hospice.

So work on your HO HO HO’s and find that red hat in the back of the closet before you head out to begin the holiday celebrations as only Beaufort knows how to do! See you downtown!