Just add lemon

Explore the home of the World’s Largest Iced Tea. | Photo by @visitsummerville

Welcome to the sweetest week ever. Celebrate Summerville and its history with free-to-attend events this week including the Sweet Tea Festival this Sat., Sept. 17. We’re spilling the tea on all the sweet deets.

🍋 Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest & Hold My Tea Bar Crawl

Now through Saturday, get in the game by sipping on local sweet tea cocktails from these nine participating bars. Vote for your favorite on Instagram at @visitsummerville by liking the post featuring your favorite drink — earning the middle space on this bingo card.

Get seven spaces in a row or diagonal this week and redeem at the Summerville Visitor Center at 402 N. Main St. for a Summerville swag prize, while supplies last.

Pick up an official bingo punch card at a participating bar, the Summerville Visitor Center, or download and print your own.

🍋 Sweet Tea Festival

Head to Hutchinson Square on Saturday for the annual Sweet Tea Festival celebrating Summerville as the birthplace of sweet tea. Downtown will be transformed into an open house + street fair with food trucks, local musicians, and unique vendors.

Of course, there will be plenty of sweet tea — aka the “Champagne of the South.” Help select the Tea of the Year by sampling + voting for your favorite.

Find out why it’s sweeter in Summerville this week. Before you go, read our Q+A with Tina Zimmerman, Director of Tourism for Greater Summerville, for an inside look at this charming small town.

Share this story with sweet tea lovers in the Lowcountry.

EVENTS

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Today

National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition | Tue., Sep. 13 | 10 a.m.-10 p.m. | North Charleston Riverfront Park, 1001 Everglades Ave., North Charleston | Free | Explore the 16th annual event now through March 19, 2023.
Mount Pleasant Town Council Meeting | Tue., Sep. 13 | 6 p.m. | Mount Pleasant Council Chambers, 100 Ann Edwards Ln., Mount Pleasant | Free | Review the meeting agenda + engage with the community at tonight’s town council meeting. 🗣️

Thursday

North Charleston Farmers Market | Thu., Sep. 15 | 3-7 p.m. | Exchange Park, 5025 Lackawanna Blvd., North Charleston | Free | Swing by to shop vendors every Thursday now through Oct. 27 at Exchange Park. 🍅
Concurrent Solo Exhibits – Richard Hagerty and Chilly Waters | Thu., Sep. 15 - Fri., Sep. 16 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Park Circle Gallery, 4820 Jenkins Ave., North Charleston | Free | Explore oil works by surrealist artist Richard Hagerty and clay works by sculpture artist Chilly Waters.

Friday

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience | Fri., Sep. 16 | 1-8 p.m. | Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr, North Charleston | $21.99 - $93.99 | Imagine being immersed in more than 300 pieces by post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. 🖼️

Saturday

Bark in the Park | Sat., Sep. 17 | 3-6 p.m. | Magnolia Park and Community Garden, 720 Magnolia Rd. | Free | Calling all pups, pooches, and pals — enjoy entertainment, vendors, food trucks, and music. 🐕
Dancing on the Cooper | Sat., Sep. 17 | 7-10:30 p.m. | Mount Pleasant Pier, 71 Harry Hallman Blvd., Mount Pleasant | $7.62 - $10 | Dance the night away as local band The Louie D. Project performs funk, jazz, and blues.

Plan Ahead

Charleston Literary Festival | Fri., Nov. 4-Sun., Nov. 13 | Times vary | Dock Street Theatre + Circular Congregational Church | Prices vary | See your favorite writers in person and explore a mix of themes, ideas, and books at this annual festival. 📚

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*

100+ MORE EVENTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

88º | Partly cloudy | 13% chance of rain

Sunrise + sunset

Rise: 7:01 a.m.
Set: 7:30 p.m.

Tide

High: 10:58 a.m. + 11:19 p.m.
Low: 4:38 a.m. + 5:04 p.m.

Civic

A historic home in Harleston Village is set to be restored. The National Park Service recently announced $24.25 million in Save America’s Treasures Grants to fund 80 projects in 32 states. In SC, $274,215 was granted to CofC to fund the rehabilitation of the William Blacklock House. Find this circa-1800 home at 18 Bull St. 💸

Concert

Summerville Orchestra launched the new free concert series “A Musical SPARK.” The series includes four free live music + art experiences featuring the Summerville Orchestra String Quartet at the Public Works Arts Center. The first “PWAC Stroll” will be held on Sat., Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m. at 135 W. Richardson Ave. Register here. 🎶

Plan Ahead

Mark your calendars. The second annual Holiday Market is set to be held on Sat., Nov. 12 at the new Daniel Island Recreation Center — featuring 16 vendors and a charitable auction. Get a jump on holiday shopping from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 160 Fairbanks Dr. Bonus: There will be free entry + plenty of free parking. ✨ (Holy City Sinner)
Military Appreciation Day Charleston 2022 will be held on Oct. 8 to thank active duty service members. Volunteers will take the troops out for a full day of free inshore and offshore fishing. Service members, their families, and boat volunteers will then be treated to a free Southern-style cookout. Learn more + register.

Drink

Cheers, Charleston. Wild Dunes Resort teamed up with Holy City Brewing to launch a specialty beer with a custom design. Seven Mile Pilsner, named for IOP’s seven-mile stretch of beachfront, will soon be available for purchase at Holy City Brewing, Harris Teeter, Publix, and Total Wine. In the meantime, try one at the resort. 🍻

Community

The Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center in Awendaw is calling for volunteers. Opportunities include gardening, maintenance, and teaching. Participants will learn more about the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge + contribute to the conservation efforts. Interested? Reach out to volunteer coordinator Patricia Midgett.

Active

Charleston County Parks’ Chili 5K Trail Run and Walk is set for Sat., Nov. 5 at Laurel Hill County Park. Register now through Oct. 31. New this year, Charleston County Parks will announce the winners of its 5K Trail Race Series at the Chili 5K’s awards ceremony. Enter via the special event entrance at 1400 Hwy. 41 in Mt. Pleasant. 🏃

Theater

Calling all theater lovers. PURE Theatre recently announced the regional premiere of “Clyde’s” by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage. The show will run from Thurs., Oct. 27-Sat., Nov. 19 at the Cannon Street Arts Center. Tickets range from $30-45. Heads up: There will be two Pay What You Will Performances on Thurs., Oct. 27 and Wed., Nov. 2. Get your tickets. 🎭

Ranked

No. 5. That’s the ranking Bob Jones University earned on U.S. News & World Report’s recent list of “Best Value Regional University in the South.” It also debuted at at No. 8 in the “Least Debt among Regional Universities in the South” category, making it the only university in the Carolinas within that category’s top 10. Congrats, Bruins. 🏅 *

Learn

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Business

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CEO Ryan Johnston with City Editors and Branded Content Studio Editors during the 2022 6AM City company retreat in Nashville, TN. | Photo by Ash Photography

Good morning, CHS — new voice here. My name is Ryan Johnston and I am the CEO of 6AM City, the parent company and publisher of CHStoday. First, thank you for waking up with us every morning and looking to our City Editors, Tatum and Alexandra, to help you start your day and get excited about everything CHS has to offer.

We launched CHStoday on Feb. 15, 2018 (fun fact: our first story was What do you want us to cover?) and we couldn’t be more thrilled at how this city has taken to us. We now wake up with 50,929 readers and reach 109,582 people via social media — a big step up from day one.

We built this product based on both reader and advertiser demand. Readers like you were looking for a quick and convenient way to find everything in one place — focused on all things positive and written in a way that is digestible — and (in an effort to keep our product 100% free to readers) we work with advertisers who want to connect with readers like you.

We have a number of different opportunities to advertise directly in this newsletter — find out more by clicking on the link below.

HOW BRANDS CAN WORK WITH US

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Tatum.

Editor’s pick: I heard Laura Linney and Woody Harrelson will star in the movie “Suncoast” — which will be filmed in the Lowcountry from Wed., Sept. 21-Tues., Nov. 1.

Here’s the best part: According to Holy City Sinner, the movie is now seeking extras in Charleston and this is totally on my bucket list. Learn how to apply and check out upcoming extra and stand-in opportunities.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Learn the cost of living in Charleston, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Alexandra Garian, Tatum Jacaruso, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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