Water Festival Opening Ceremonies

Water Festival Opening Ceremonies

Opening Ceremonies kicks off the 10-day Beaufort Water Festival and is the favored event for many festival goers.  It’s a chance to have fellowship with friends, enjoy good music and fireworks.  And it doesn’t hurt that – as always – it’s a free event for the community.

The Parris Island Marine Band will perform at the Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 12th.  Gates open at 6pm.  Ceremony begins at 7pm.  Fireworks at dusk.  

You know the Beaufort Water Festival has officially started once you see the Parris Island Marine Band on the stage and this year will be no different.  The 64th Festival will once again feature the Parris Island Marine Band at the Opening Ceremonies on July 12th.  

The band was established on October 28th, 1915, not long after the breakout of World War I.  Musicians originally doubled as marksmanship instructors and close combat instructors provided support for various units on the depot.  Today, the Marines of the Parris Island Marine Band make up the concert band, marching/ceremonial band, brass band, brass quintet and a jazz combo.  The Parris Island Marine Band’s primary mission is to provide musical support for recruit graduations and other military ceremonies and events.  In addition to playing at approximately 40 recruit graduations each year, the band also performs concerts and parades across the United States.  The band was also a 2009 and 2013 recipient of the Col. George S. Howard Citation for Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands.  

In addition to the concert band of Friday night, the jazz ensemble will also perform.  Comprised of 15 – 20 Parris Island Marines, the ensemble performs Jazz, Swing, Rock and other various styles of contemporary music for public performances.  Most of the tunes are universally recognizable and always enjoyable.  

At dusk, fireworks over the Beaufort River will once again be provided by Munnerlyn Pyrotechnics, South Carolina’s premiere pyrotechnics company.  The fireworks display can be seen from the downtown Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, the Beaufort River, the bluff overlooking the river and various points in between.

 “We’re looking forward to another exciting start to festival week,” explained Josh Schott, Production Coordinator.  

Content & images courtesy of The Offical Guide to the 64th Annual Beaufort Water Festival