Tickets are available now (or soon will be) for several prominent festivals and events coming up in the next few months, and it pays to shop early - just like it does when searching for a Charleston beach house.
Late winter and spring see an increasing number of big doings filling up the calendar.
As I blogged about recently, coming up next Sunday, January 25th is the Lowcountry Oyster Festival - the largest of its kind in the world, where they’ll serve up 80,000 pounds of fresh oysters to about 10,000 people on the grounds of Boone Hall Plantation, just over the IOP Connector from our Isle of Palms vacation rentals. Check that previous blog for how to obtain tickets.
Also, the esteemed Spoleto Festival has announced its 2015 schedule, and tickets go on sale to the public this coming Tuesday, January 20th (although they are available for purchase now for donors).
Tickets are on sale now for the 33rd installment of SEWE - the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, which draws more people to the Lowcountry than any other single event. It’s set for February 13th through the 15th, so you can spend your Valentine’s weekend enjoying some of the best wildlife art, crafts, demos and activities known to man or beast.
Here’s the official website, with the full schedule as well as online ticket purchasing: http://sewe.com/
As a special bonus, if you order day tickets now through January 31st, you’ll save 15% off the ticket price by using this code during checkout: SEWEPC
The good thing about coming to the Lowcountry in the so-called offseason is that temps are generally moderate to downright delightful, the beach is less crowded, and you’ll get the best rates on all our SC vacation rentals, be they Isle of Palms luxury rentals or a Folly Beach house Charleston. You’ll also get the best selection from among our portfolio of luxury beach house rentals SC.
Several other events are coming up, but one has been in the sporting news lately. It’s the 43rd annual Family Circle Cup - the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in the world. It’s based on Daniel Island and lasts for nine days, and this year it will take place April 4th through the 12th. Daniel Island is a convenient drive from all of our beach rentals Charleston. If you’re in a luxury house on Isle of Palms, just take I-526 in Mount Pleasant and take the Daniel Island exit; you can’t miss the huge tennis stadium on your left.
This is the tournament’s 15th year in the Charleston area, after relocating from Hilton Head in 2001.
There will be 70 world-class players, 92 different matches, and it will attract 90,000 attendees over the course of the tournament.
Tickets for the tournament can be purchased several ways - online with Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com/Family-Circle-Cup-tickets/artist/1098083 . You can also obtain tickets by calling the Family Circle Cup Box Office - (800) 677-2293 or you can purchase them at any Lowcountry Publix supermarket.
Here are some dates to consider when planning your ticket purchases:
April 4 – 5, Family Weekend at the Family Circle Cup: The fun starts on Saturday, April 4 and continues through Easter Sunday, April 5, during Family Weekend. There will be two fun-filled days of activities geared for kids, plus a special visit from the Easter Bunny. Admission for children 12 and under is free, and adults tickets are $10. This is also known as qualifying weekend, when players give it their all for a chance to enter the Family Circle Cup's main draw.
April 6, Ladies Day Out: Join the family Circle Cup on Monday, April 6 for the second Ladies Day Out. A single session day ticket includes action-packed tennis plus a wide range of on-site activities geared towards women.
April 6 – 9, Flex Pass: Redeem the Flex Pass and save 20 percent on your general admission tickets. This package is good for any three of seven sessions Monday, April 6 – Thursday, April 9. Tickets, dates and times all determined by the attendee, giving patrons the flexibility to choose the matches they want to watch, at the reduced ticket package rate.
Returning champion Andrea Petkovic, No. 13 in the world, has already confirmed she will be returning to the 2015 tournament. As she explains, “I am very excited to return to Charleston to play the Family Circle Cup for the third time… South Carolina holds a special place in my heart. My father played tennis at University of South Carolina and it's now the place where I won my first Premier tournament title. I'm already looking forward to April.”
Also two other top ten players in the world have also confirmed they’ll be coming to Daniel Island. They’re Ekaterina Makarova (World No. 10) and Angelique Kerber (World No. 9). As the latter exclaimed, “I'm very much looking forward to my return to Charleston for the Family Circle Cup this spring. Charleston is a beautiful city with great tennis fans.”
No word yet on the Williams sisters, but they have made no secret of their love for the Lowcountry and of Family Circle Cup. Venus won in 2004 and Serena won in 2008, 2012 and 2013.
Here’s a full list of past champions:
2014 Andrea Petkovic
2013 Serena Williams
2012 Serena Williams
2011 Caroline Wozniacki
2010 Samantha Stosur
2009 Sabine Lisicki
2008 Serena Williams
2007 Jelena Jankovic
2006 Nadia Petrova
2005 Justine Henin
2004 Venus Williams
2003 Justine Henin
2002 Iva Majoli
2001 Jennifer Capriati
2000 Mary Pierce
1999 Martina Hingis
1998 Amanda Coetzer
1997 Martina Hingis
1996 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario
1995 Conchita Martinez
1994 Conchita Martinez
1993 Steffi Graf
1992 Gabriela Sabatini
1991 Gabriela Sabatini
1990 Martina Navratilova
1989 Steffi Graf
1988 Martina Navratilova
1987 Steffi Graf
1986 Steffi Graf
1985 Chris Evert
1984 Chris Evert
1983 Martina Navratilova
1982 Martina Navratilova
1981 Chris Evert
1980 Tracy Austin
1979 Tracy Austin
1978 Chris Evert
1977 Chris Evert
1976 Chris Evert
1975 Chris Evert
1974 Chris Evert
1973 Rosie Casals
So lock down those tickets ASAP, and likewise rental homes South Carolina - namely beach house rentals Charleston SC. They go especially fast during the big events.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger