<b>Military appreciation </b><b>day set for Aug. 27</b>

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual military appreciation day on Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Atlantic Marine Corps Communities Tri Command Welcome Center at 600 Laurel Bay Road in Beaufort. This event allows the Beaufort community to show its appreciation for the local military and all they do for our country and community. This family event will feature children's games and activities, water fun, entertainment, volleyball and an abundance of food and drink. Sponsorships opportunities are available by contacting LaNelle Fabian at 843-525-8537 or LaNelle@BeaufortSC.org.

<b>Exercise-A-Thon coming to </b><b>Port Royal YMCA</b>

The YMCA of Beaufort County will hold a Back to the ‘80s Exercise-A-Thon from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Port Royal Y. This event is open to the public and will include four hours of group exercise classes including kick boxing, spinning and more. The fee is a $10 minimum to participate. All proceeds will benefit the Y Scholarship Program. Cyclers can reserve a bike by calling the YMCA at 843-522-9622. The Port Royal Y is at 1801 Richmond Ave.

<b>‘Abstract Imagination’ </b><b>coming to gallery</b>

The Beaufort River Glass Gallery is hosting an art show called “Abstract Imagination” by Becky Marshall from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, at 208 West St. in Beaufort. Refreshments will be served. Marshall worked with local pre-K and kindergarten students for 18 years, with most of those years spent at DODS schools at Laurel Bay.

“I fell in love with children's art because it was pure and innocent,” said Marshall. “Although the children were focusing on a project to paint it always came out almost in an abstract form. After retiring last year, I decided to do what I love. I have taken their abstract level up to an adult level and I am enjoying it to the fullest.”

<b>Arts Center to host </b><b>The Fifth Dimension</b>

The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island will present Florence LaRue and The Fifth Dimension for two performances on Saturday, Sept. 3. Show times are 4:30 and 8 p.m. The six-time Grammy Award winning group's repertoire includes pop, R&amp;B, soul, jazz and hits like “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.”

Tickets are $51 for adults and $34 for children ages 5-15 and can be purchased at the box office (843-842-2787) and online at www.tickets.artshhi.com.

<b>Gullah Geechee Bike Ride to be held on Labor Day</b>

The third Gullah Geechee Bike Ride will be held on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District. There will be a 25-mile ride on St. Helena Island and a 50-mile ride on St. Helena and Hunting Island. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the starting time will be at 8:30 a.m. Donations will be accepted and will support the annual fundraising campaign for the Penn Center. For more information, visit www.penncenter.com.

<b>Street Music is </b><b>back in Port Royal</b>

Street Music on Paris Avenue’s series continues on Saturday, Aug. 27, with the Gas House Gorillas. These rockers from New York put on an amazing, high-energy show featuring a bass player named "Crusher" who sets the tone for the group. The town of Port Royal’s Street Music on Paris Avenue is held in Old Town Port Royal. Guests are invited to bring their chairs and dancing shoes to this free concert. The rain location is The Shed on Paris Avenue, one block from the outdoor site.

<b>Tickets going on sale </b><b>for Boots &amp; Bling</b>

The 7th Annual Boots &amp; Bling Fundraiser &amp; Silent Auction presented by CBC National Bank will be Saturday, Oct. 22, at Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort. This event raises funds for the YMCA of Beaufort County capital campaign. Boots &amp; Bling is an evening of food, music, dancing, an enticing silent auction and new this year will be a live auction. Also, back again by popular demand is the golf cart raffle ($25 per ticket and five tickets for $100). Tickets will be on sale starting Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the YMCA and at the event. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn at Boots &amp; Bling, but ticket-holders do not need to be present to win. Event tickets are $50 per person and $90 per couple and can be purchased at the Y or online at ymcabeaufortcounty.com.

<b>Travel back in time </b><b>at Beaufort museum</b>

The Beaufort History Museum recently unveiled its special "Islands of Hope in a Sea of Distress" exhibit, featuring the Civil War Reconstruction Era in Beaufort. Experience how education, politics, industry and agriculture thrived in Beaufort while being surrounded by devastation. Learn more about the museum and its current exhibits at www.BeaufortHistoryMuseum.com.

<b>DragonBoat races </b><b>set for Sept. 2-3</b>

The 4th Annual Dragonboat Beaufort Race Day will be held Sept. 2-3 at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. There will be a free concert at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, with The Cluster Shucks and The Sweetgrass Angels. Guests should bring blankets or chairs. On Saturday, Sept. 3, the DragonBoat races will be held. Anyone can form a dragonboat team to compete at DragonBoat Race Day 2016. A team consists of 20 paddlers, two alternates (recommended) and one drummer. All teams will be trained how to safely and successfully paddle a dragonboat prior to DragonBoat Race Day with experienced coaches and boat steerers. On race day, teams will paddle in three races competing for medals. In the past, teams have included civic clubs, community neighborhoods, local businesses, cancer-survivors, schools and hospitals. Last year, teams raised over $65,000, which is used to support those impacted by cancer in Beaufort County. For more information or to register a team, visit www.DragonboatRaceDay.com or email info@DragonBoatRaceDay.com.

<b>Celebrity chef on menu at Callawassie club</b>

A four-course dinner event featuring celebrity chef Virginia Willis and other notable chefs and food authors will take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Callawassie Island Club. The evening, to benefit the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, will include a silent auction, live music, dancing and an opportunity to learn secrets of Lowcountry culinary traditions. The evening is dedicated to the celebration of Lowcountry cuisine, a concept echoed alongside the Morris Center’s ongoing exhibit, “Roots: The Lowdown on Lowcountry Cuisine.”

Virginia Willis, praised by the Chicago Tribune as one of “Seven Food Writers You Need to Know,” will reimagine a popular Lowcountry entree for the dinner and oversee its preparation. Chefs Sallie Ann Robinson, BJ Dennis and Jim Spratling will add their Lowcountry expertise by creating signature dishes to complement the main course. Tickets for the fundraiser can be purchased at www.morrisheritagecenter.org.