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Charleston, S.C. – Edisto Blackwater Boogie Festival organizers presented Givhans Ferry State Park with a $2,000 donation on Thursday, July 13, using proceeds from their event last fall. The funds will support a long-term park project, the “Gateway to the Edisto,” which seeks to enhance access to North America’s longest free-flowing blackwater river for visitors of all abilities.

The Edisto Blackwater Boogie is an outdoor and music festival that first launched in 2019 and features local musicians, vendors, and fun for the whole family. It’s hosted every October in Givhans Ferry State Park in a weekend-long revelry celebrating the history and culture of one of South Carolina’s seven natural wonders, the Edisto River.

Since the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built Givhans Ferry State Park in the 1930s, visitors have enjoyed the beauty, adventure, and tranquility the park offers on the high bluffs of the Edisto River. A kayaker’s paradise, the natural retreat in the Lowcountry woods is the ideal setting for camping, fishing, and hiking – and for an outdoor festival that encourages attendees to camp under the stars after a day full of live music, guided tours, and bonfire jam sessions.

The park’s “Gateway to the Edisto” project includes enhancements that make the park’s amenities more comfortable, inviting, and easier to access. The overall goal is to create more opportunities for visitors of all mobility types to enjoy the park’s scenery and learn about the Edisto River’s natural and historical significance.

“Supporting Givhans Ferry State Park in a project that will make the park more accessible for those with restricted mobility is directly in line with our mission to create a community where all are welcome,” said event organizer, Dan Riley. “The Edisto Blackwater Boogie is all about building community through a shared love of music. We are able to give local artists an opportunity to share their hearts with a diverse audience, and we are able to introduce people to artists they may not have otherwise heard about. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to work with South Carolina State Parks and support such an impactful project.” 

“Our Park mission is to connect visitors to the cultural history and ecosystem of the Edisto River basin, and the festival supports that mission in more ways than one,” said Givhans Ferry State Park Manager, Kaley Foley. “The Boogie combines a love for the outdoors with a passion for supporting local musicians, artisans, culture, and community. It’s a model for our mission, and we’re honored to host it every year. Annual proceeds from the Boogie help us improve our visitor experience and continue the legacy of stewardship and service cultivated here by the CCC so many years ago.” 

Festival tickets and weekend camping reservations are now available for the 2023 Boogie, scheduled for October 27-29.

The Edisto Blackwater Boogie is made possible thanks to the support of many sponsors, including Resonac Graphite (formerly known as Showa Denko), the premier title sponsor. “Resonac Graphite has been proud to be an active part of Ridgeville and the surrounding communities for 35 years,” said President of Resonac Graphite Ridgeville, Brad Canaday. “As a progressive community partner and environmental steward, it is our honor to sponsor the Edisto Blackwater Boogie in support of our local Givhans Ferry State Park and SCPRT. We are committed to not only providing robust employment to the area, but also curating a sustainable, healthy, and thriving environment for the future in the place that we call home.”

The festival is also made possible thanks to the support of:

• 3 Ohm Radio
• Accent on Wine
• Advyon
• Awendaw Green
• Capital Service Group
• Coastal Coffee Roasters
• Coastal Home Servicing
• Craft Conversations
• Dan Riley Music
• Dorchester County
• Dorchester County Parks and Recreation
• Dorchester County Recycling
• Dorchester Heritage Center
• Eadies Services
• Edisto Natchez Kusso Tribe
• Edisto River Adventures
• Edisto's Best Rentals
• Friends of the Edisto
• Edisto River Keeper
• Friends of Dorchester County Parks
• Giggle Woods
• Givhans Ferry State Park
• Homeland Exterminating Protection
• Lowcountry Local First
• Lumber Jills
• My First Million In MultiFamily
• Network of Open Instrument Studios
• Public Works Art Center
• Resonac
• Rusty Bull
• Soulshine Studios
• Summerville Pediatric Dentistry
• Summerville Outreach And Referral Group
• Sunbelt Rentals
• Sweetgrass Pediatrics
• Tony Pope State Farm

Buy tickets and learn more about the Edisto Blackwater Boogie at edistoblackwaterboogie.com. Learn more about Givhans Ferry State Park at southcarolinaparks.com.

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Photo credit: Edisto Blackwater Boogie Festival

View the festival’s 2022 promotional video here: https://youtu.be/oCgGEELHeTE