Beaufort Water Festival

2025-2026 Bill 5493: Beaufort Water Festival - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5493
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Erickson, Herbkersman, Bradley, Hager, M.M. Smith, W. Newton, Rivers, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0368HA-RM26.docx
Introduced in the House on April 2, 2026
Adopted by the House on April 2, 2026
Summary: Beaufort Water Festival
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

4/2/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 23
)

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legislative information
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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/02/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

TO CELEBRATE THE SEVENTIETH BEAUFORT WATER FESTIVAL,
TO BE HELD JULY 17-26, 2026; TO THANK DUSTY VICKERS FOR SERVING AS COMMODORE
FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL; AND TO HONOR THOSE WHO ORGANIZE, SPONSOR, VOLUNTEER
FOR, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE FESTIVAL.

W
hereas, the South
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the Beaufort Water
Festival will hold its seventieth annual festival extravaganza from July 17-26,
2026, and that Dusty Vickers will serve as commodore for the 2026 festival
under this year's theme, "Sunny Days & Friendship Waves." Dusty will be
joined by his lovely wife, Jessica, and their two children, Rylee and Wyatt, at
this platinum anniversary celebration of the festival; and

W
hereas, once a year in
midsummer, the sea island that holds Beaufort sets the stage for one of the
South's largest outdoor events, which consistently has been successful and has
grown more significant since its inauguration in July 1956. In spite of its
growth, the Beaufort Water Festival is still a community-wide nonprofit
venture, and the Lions Club has taken responsibility every year for organizing
the festival's parade; and

W
hereas, the festival
is never complete without those two festival favorites, the Lowcountry Supper
and Commodore's Ball, which Commodore and Mrs. Vickers, along with their
children, will host this year. From the festival's early days, when it cost
fifty cents to attend the beauty pageant and a dollar per couple to attend what
was then called the Water Festival Ball, the festival has drawn increasing
numbers of participants to Beaufort from other parts of the State and nation;
and

W
hereas, the
coordinators for the 2026 festival include Cori Talbert, program coordinator;
John Hazel, administrative coordinator; Shelley Kolb, marketing and public
relations coordinator; Kyle Gentry, parks coordinator; Greg Godfrey,
productions coordinator; Katie Jindrich, sales and merchandise coordinator;
John Turbeville, sponsors coordinator; Samantha Aimar, sports coordinator;
Meredith Keene, treasurer; and Cely Johnson, water and air coordinator; and

W
hereas, hundreds of
volunteers work long hours, as well, to bring outstanding events to the
festival, including reasonably priced first-class entertainment, thanks to the
generosity of local sponsors. The festival arts and crafts market opens on the
Promenade at Waterfront Park every day during the festival, offering a
selection of artisanship from craftsmen of the Lowcountry and beyond and
providing a visual feast for the eyes; and

W
hereas, on Friday,
July 17, the opening ceremony is expected to provide fabulous entertainment
from the Parris Island Marine Band, as well as fireworks. Events during the
week offer activities for children, teens, couples, and families, including a
raft race and a bed race; tournaments for bocce, badminton, and children's toad
fishing; an air show with stunt planes and a talent show; a teen dance; and the
Water Festival Grand Parade. Concert in the Park will present headliner Joe
Nichols with special guest Tyler Reese Tritt, while Motown Monday will have
entertainment from Deas-Guyz, and Rockin' the River will feature Hot Red Chili
Peppers; and

W
hereas, every year,
the day after the Commodore's Ball, the festival ends with the graceful
Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats, sponsored by the past commodores of
the Beaufort Water Festival and held on the Beaufort River; and

W
hereas, the House of
Representatives commends the efforts of the many people who, working together,
make the Beaufort Water Festival a success. The members appreciate the
significant impact the beautiful shores of Beaufort have in attracting tourists
to the Palmetto State. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, celebrate the seventieth Beaufort Water Festival, to be
held July 17-26, 2026; thank Dusty Vickers for serving as commodore for this
year's festival; and honor those who organize, sponsor, volunteer for, and
participate in the festival.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Commodore Dusty Vickers.

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This web page was last updated on April 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM