The Annual Beaufort Water Festival features water sports, golf tournament, art expo, parade, and so much more! Attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually to downtown Beaufort and surrounding areas, the Beaufort Water Festival celebrates the Lowcountry's bond with the sea, featuring water-oriented activities along with many recreational and entertaining events like kids day, an antique show, Lowcountry Supper, an air show and crafts.

In the early days of the Festival, it cost fifty cents to attend the Beauty Pageant, one dollar per couple to attend the Water Festival Ball (which was later changed to the Commodore's Ball) and two dollars to attend the Regatta Ball. The first weekend featured two days of sailboat races and the Regatta Ball. The following weekend begin with the Beauty Pageant on Friday where the Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands was crowned. The parade and ski show put on by the Beaufort Water Ski Club and an air show was the second weekend highlight in addition to the Water Festival Ball. All events were held on or adjacent to the municipal parking lot, and in case of inclement weather (we never use the word "rain" when speaking of the Festival), the pageant would move indoors to the Beaufort Elementary School and the Balls would be held in the Community Club.

As the years went by, the Festival began to draw more and more people to Beaufort from other parts of the State and on a national level. Events such as fishing and golf tournaments as well as a craft market, antique show, and art show were added to the line up so that the Festival had something to offer for every age and interest.

Please join us as we celebrate the 54th anniversary of the Beaufort Water Festival, July 10-19, 2009.