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Ridgeville, S.C. – Event organizers from the Edisto Blackwater Boogie, an outdoor music festival created to celebrate and preserve the Edisto River, presented Givhans Ferry State Park with an $8,000 donation on Tuesday.

The donation represents half of the proceeds from the 2021 festival, which was hosted at the park last October. The other half of event proceeds will go toward planning the 2022 festival, scheduled for October 7-9, 2022.

The first Edisto Blackwater Boogie was held in 2019 and generated enough revenue to provide a $5,000 donation to the park.

“We’re thrilled with how much the Blackwater Boogie grew in 2021 after having to skip hosting a festival in 2020,” said Givhans Ferry State Park Manger, Kaley Foley. “The Edisto River is a beloved part of this region and it is cherished by paddlers all over the southeast. The festival helps us share and celebrate this treasured natural resource with new visitors and old friends during a family-friendly weekend of music, food, and fun. The park uses the donated funds from festival proceeds for improvements and park projects to enhance future visitor experiences.”

Event partners and organizers who were onsite at the park’s Riverfront Hall on March 8 for the donation presentation included: Dan Riley - Edisto Blackwater Boogie Coordinator, Hugo Krispyn - Edisto River Keeper/Friends of the Edisto, Chris Rinken - Network of Open Instrument Studios (NOIS) America, and Brian Anderson and Jessica Toolin - Advyon Business Technologies.

“One of the main goals of the Edisto Blackwater Boogie is to create a safe environment where the community can come together in a spirit of unity to celebrate one of our area’s greatest natural resources, the Edisto River,” said event coordinator, Dan Riley. “As the Charleston area’s largest gathering of local musicians and bands, the Edisto Blackwater Boogie is the perfect opportunity for families and friends to enjoy beautiful Givhans Ferry State Park and all that it has to offer. We are so thankful to SC State Parks and to all of our partners for the opportunity to make this annual event something to look forward to for years to come!”

Edisto Blackwater Boogie attendees enjoy outdoor activities, performances from local musicians, food and beverage trucks, kid-friendly activities, bonfire jam sessions, guided tours, and more. Camping during the festival is encouraged to give attendees the best experience in the state park venue. To stay up-to-date on event news, and to purchase tickets when they become available, visit edistoblackwaterboogie.com.

Event partners who helped plan the 2021 Blackwater Boogie include: Dorchester County, Dan Riley Music, Givhans Ferry State Park, Edisto River Adventures, Awendaw Green, Advyon Business Technologies, NOIS, Gigglewoods, Public Works Art Center, and the Edisto Riverkeeper/Friends of the Edisto. Event sponsors for 2021 included: Showa Denko, Live Oak Capital, Rusty Bull Brewing Company, the Edisto Riverkeeper/Friends of the Edisto, Capital Service Group, Living Down South Realty, Soul Shine Studios, Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes P.A. Attorneys at Law, Coastal Coffee Roasters, State Farm - Tony Pope, and Wings Back Entertainment.

For more information, contact Sam Queen at sam@scprt.com or 803-767-3568. 

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