Inaugural North Charleston Harvest Festival & Block Party Set for October 26

The City of North Charleston announces the inaugural Harvest Festival and Block Party featuring live musical performances, art and craft booths, costume contests and children’s activities. The fall festivities will take place in the Olde Village of North Charleston, located on East Montague Avenue near Park Circle, on Saturday, October 26, 2013, from 6:00-10:00pm. Admission and parking are free. East Montague Avenue will close to vehicular traffic from Jenkins Avenue to Virginia Avenue at 4:00pm and remain closed for the duration of the event.

The celebration features music by The Local Honeys and performances by other local arts groups from 6:00-7:30pm; a Kid’s Zone with ghost stories by the Backporch Storytellers, a student art exhibit, craft activities, carnival games, face painting and inflatables from 6:00-8:00pm; a street market showcasing fine art and crafts by members of the North Charleston Artist Guild from 6:00-9:00pm; and a street dance with festive tunes by The V-Tones from 8:00-10:00pm. Many of the restaurants in the Olde Village will offer additional programming and food and drink specials.

Other highlights include costume contests for children, adults and pets with prizes in several categories. The contests for children and adults are free to enter and prizes will be furnished by the City of North Charleston and the Olde North Charleston Merchants Association. The pet costume contest, sponsored by The Flats at Mixson, carries a $5 entry fee. Proceeds benefit the Charleston Animal Society, who will be on hand with pets available for adoption. Participants for all contests should be prepared to line up for judging at 7:30pm.

Check out information on Park Circle Films’ line-up of events taking place the same evening at parkcirclefilms.org. Artists interested in participating in the street market can do so by becoming a member of the North Charleston Artist Guild. Visit northcharlestonartistguild.org for more information.

The inaugural North Charleston Harvest Festival and Block Party is sponsored by the Olde North Charleston Merchants Association, the North Charleston Artist Guild and the City of North Charleston. For more information, visit northcharleston.org.

Sponsored Fall Decorations on East Montague to Benefit Needy Families

The Olde North Charleston Merchants Association and the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department are collaborating once again to decorate the Olde Village section of East Montague Avenue with decorative grapevine wreaths for Fall. Schools, community groups, churches, businesses and individuals are invited to participate in this third annual beautification effort by sponsoring a wreath. Proceeds from wreath sponsorships will go toward the City of North Charleston’s Christmas Charity benefiting needy families.

Wreath sponsors may purchase a 24” grapevine wreath with two sided orange ribbon for $25 and personalize it with decorations of their choosing, or purchase a pre-decorated wreath for $50. Past participants have the option of redecorating last year’s wreath for $15. Wreaths with sponsor signage will be displayed on light poles lining the Olde Village section of East Montague Avenue throughout October and November.

Sponsorship commitments should be made by 5:00pm on Friday, September 20, 2013, and wreaths must be decorated and ready to hang by Tuesday, October 1. To sponsor a wreath or for more information contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740-5854 or culturalarts@northcharleston.org.

Adult fall sports now open for registration

The North Charleston Recreation Department is accepting teams for the upcoming 2012 fall adult season.

Sunday Co-Ed Flag Football - $475 team entry
Accepting the first 8 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapston Park

Sunday Co-Ed Softball - $475 team entry
Accepting the first 16 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapstone Park

Women’s Recreation Softball Weeknight League - $600 team entry
Accepting the first 9 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapstone Park on Monday and Thursday evenings

Men’s Over 40- 3 on 3 Basketball - $250 team entry
Accepting the first 12 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at the Sterett Hall Gymnasium on the Old Naval Base.

The managers’ meetings for the leagues will be held August 15, 2012 at Felix C. Davis Community Center in Park Circle.
7:00 p.m. for Softball
7:45 pm for Flag Football
8:30 pm for Basketball
All interested teams are urged to have a representative present at this meeting.

For more information call Cindy Dambaugh at 843-740-5801, or e-mail cdambaugh@northcharleston.org.  For information on all North Charleston Recreation Department Programs visit our website at www.northcharleston.org or for a monthly update of programs and events offered, call our 24-Hour Information Line at 843-740-2699.