The annual Daufuskie Day festival in South Carolina was organized by islanders to preserve the gullah heritage. Taste authentic Gullah cuisine & learn more about the culture.

You can take a boat from Savannah or from Hilton Head Island.

Hilton Head & Savannah Ferry Schedules
Hilton Head Ferry Departure: $25 per ticket
Holiday leaving Shelter Cove Harbor, Dock C at 8:30 a.m.
Return from Daufuskie: 4:00 p.m.
Savannah Ferry Departure: $25 per ticket
Spirit of Harbour Town leaving River Street (near Spanky’s Restaurant) at 9:00 a.m.
Return from Daufuskie at 3:00 p.m.

For more information visit www.daufuskieislandfoundation.com

Water Fun Day in the Park is back on Hilton Head Is.!

This popular event has grown every summer. The first year there was only 3 water fun days then last year there was 5 and now 6 this year. Water Fun days are 4-7 PM Thursdays starting June 28 and concluding August 2. So come to Shelter Cove Park this summer for a fun-filled, festive atmosphere where kids can enjoy inflatable water bounce houses and slides while 103.1 The Drive’s morning personality Scott Keith will be playing the tunes.

Admission: $5 per child with adults getting in free.

Barbecue from the Smokehouse, hot dogs from Street Meet, Giuseppi’s pizza, Coca-Cola, Bud and Bud Light will be sold. All proceeds benefit our children’s scholarship fund which helps guarantee that “no child is denied” recreation opportunities.

For more info, contact the Island Recreation Association at (843) 681-7273 or go to www.islandreccenter.org

The 17th Annual Savannah Asian Festival – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. June 23 – brings an entire continent of unique cultures, cuisines, performances and fun to the Savannah Civic Center. Parking at the Civic Center is free for the day.

Festival attendees can enjoy free, live, stage performances including – thunderous drumming by the Matsuriza Taiko, dancing by Indo American’s of Savannah, and as seen on the hit TV show America’s Got Talent Liang Acrobatic & Comedy Show. This year, the Savannah Asian Festival is featuring celebrity food correspondent Chef, Host, and Restaurateur, Orchid Paulmeier, finalist of the Next Food Network Star Season 7 2011, Orchid will be sampling exotic cuisines from across the continent. Several local restaurants, will be presenting a selection of regional favorites from Korea, China, Japan, the Philippines, India, Thailand and many more!

The festival will feature martial arts demonstrations, and dance performances from groups representing Korea, China, Indonesia, Pacific Islands, and Thailand.
All are welcome to browse the Cultural Marketplace to learn more about each country and discover the traditional arts, crafts, fashions and treasures unique to each nation. A continent’s worth of treasures that can be found in the marketplace from calligraphy sets to paper, original paintings, hand-beaded clothing, and exotic accessories and henna body painting. Also enjoy a workshop on Asian & Middle Eastern Tea and martial’s arts workshop by Martial Arts Hall of Famer and 10 degree black belt, Grandmaster Dr. Ronald Frazier Sr. and Ata’s Black Belt Academy Jim Richards.

Children can be entertained as they can learn more about Asian cultures through hands-on activities like crafting origami, Diwali treasure boxes, and marking various Asian flags.

The Savannah Asian Festival is free courtesy of the City of Savannah. There is a charge for food and purchases from the Cultural Marketplace.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
(times are approximate)

11:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony and Parade of Flags
11:30 a.m. Lee’s Taekwondo Martial Arts Demonstrations (Korea)
11:55 a.m. Indo Americans of Savannah
12:20 p.m. Matsuriza Taiko Drummers (Japan)
12:45 p.m. Sanggar Lestari Indonesian Performing Group
1:10 p.m. Liang Acrobatic & Comedy Show (China)
1:45 p.m. Sampaguita Dance Troupe (Philippines)
2:10 p.m. Children of Polynesia
2:35 p.m. Chien Hong School of Kung Fu (China)
3:00 p.m. Thailand Dance Group
3:25 p.m. Matsuriza Taiko Drummers (Japan)
4:00 p.m. Liang Acrobatic & Comedy Show (China)

Interpretive Center hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10 AM-5 PM
Come see the display of the Giant Ground Sloth replica, wildlife exhibits, live reptiles and birding station. Programs listed below meet promptly at the Interpretive Center unless otherwise noted.

Skidaway Island State Park
52 Diamond Causeway
Savannah, GA 31411

Sunday, July 1: 11:00AM Fire Building: Can you start a fire with a 9-volt battery or a piece of glass? Come learn some interesting fire starting techniques you can use the next time you camp.

1:00PM Munchin’ Critters: Watch as lizards leap at their lunch and toads lick their chops during our animal feeding show. You can also see a snake unhinge their jaws!

PLEASE CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM THESE PLANNED ACTIVITIES ARE STILL HAPPENING. Call (912) 598-2300

Savannah Children’s Theatre presents, Meredith Wilson’s THE MUSIC MAN! This MAINSTAGE production of the classic musical – featuring adult and children performers plus a live orchestra – will be will be presented for three weekends in June. Tickets are available online as well as at the box office, children, senior and military discounts available. Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. Sat.& Sun., 3 p.m. (912) 238-9015. http://www.savannahchildrenstheatre.org/

Discover the Dinosaurs – a traveling dinosaur show – is coming to Savannah Aug. 3-5 2012.

Discover the Dinosaurs is for the entire family, and especially kids, to explore the mystery of pre-historic life by creating an environment of learning, discovery, and fun.

The hands on exhibit – which will be at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center on Hutchinson Island across from River Street – includes more than 60 animatronic and
museum quality dinosaur replicas. The exhibit showcases museum quality pieces along with several moving animatronic dinosaurs, all in a fun and educational environment.

Kids and families are encouraged to get up close and touch some of the dinosaurs on display, an opportunity which isn’t usually available in museum exhibits and other dinosaur events. This is the cornerstone of Discover the Dinosaurs. In addition to the exhibit, other activities included in admission price are the Dino Dig, Dino Den play area, Dino coloring area, scavenger hunt, and Dino theater.

*Several other attractions including gem & fossil panning, face painting, dinosaur inflatables, mini golf, and Dino rides are available for additional charge.

Discover the Dinosaurs engages the imaginations of kids to learn, gives them the hands on opportunity to touch a dinosaur, actually ride on the back of a T-Rex, and experience other fun activities & attractions that make spending the day with dinosaurs fun for all ages.

Exhibit runs Friday August 3rd 12 PM to 9 PM, Saturday August 4th 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday August 5th 10 AM to 7 PM [*Admission: Adults $15, Over 65+ $10, Children 2-12 $10, Under 2 FREE]

Water Fun Day in the Park is back on Hilton Head Is.!

This popular event has grown every summer. The first year there was only 3 water fun days then last year there was 5 and now 6 this year. Water Fun days are 4-7 PM Thursdays starting June 28 and concluding August 2. So come to Shelter Cove Park (@ 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Is. 29926) this summer for a fun-filled, festive atmosphere where kids can enjoy inflatable water bounce houses and slides while 103.1 The Drive’s morning personality Scott Keith will be playing the tunes.

Admission: $5 per child with adults getting in free.

Barbecue from the Smokehouse, hot dogs from Street Meet, Giuseppi’s pizza, Coca-Cola, Bud and Bud Light will be sold. All proceeds benefit our children’s scholarship fund which helps guarantee that “no child is denied” recreation opportunities.

For more info, contact the Island Recreation Association at (843) 681-7273 or go to www.islandreccenter.org

Win two free tickets to see the Savannah Derby Devils’ two teams take on Myrtle Beach’s All-Stars and B teams for an evening packed with full-contact sports excitement on Sat. June 16 @ Savannah Civic Center.

We’re going to make it easy for you to win this one. To enter to win, answer this question on either Savannah Derby Devils Facebook page here or the SouthernMamas.com Facebook page here. (Be sure to like the page to comment). What is your favorite summer activity? Deadline is 9 PM Wed. June 13. We’ll pick a name on Wednesday, contact the winner via FB & your tickets will be waiting at Will Call.

This family-friendly roller derby event offers two back-to-back bouts, live music, activities for kids, raffles and roller derby merchandise. Kids love to come up and hug the skaters at the end of the night.

Saturday June 16
5pm – Hellions vs. Myrtle Beach
7pm – Savannah Derby Devils All Stars vs. Myrtle Beach
Savannah Civic Center
To purchase tickets call (912) 651-6556 or visit the Savannah Civic Center website at http://savannahcivic.com  and box office. Cost ranges from $2 to $16 per ticket.

Discount tickets are available for children, seniors, students, military and groups of 10 or more. Those who bring at least one canned good item for donation to America’s Second Harvest will also receive $1 off their ticket. The event includes live music from Portman’s New Horizon’s Band, an appearance by the Savannah Junior Roller Derby, activities for kids, games, prizes, raffles and merchandise. Family seating is available. Raffle proceeds will go to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Beer and wine will be available.

For more information, visit www.savannahderby.com  or at http://www.facebook.com/savannahderbydevils. For more information (912) 220-9744.

TUBBY’S TANK HOUSE TO HOST SPECIAL MOM’S LEMONADE FUNDRAISER

SPLASHDOWN – THROWDOWN Event on Thursday, June 14th

Tubby’s Tank House in Thunderbolt will join the fight against Ovarian Cancer by hosting a special fundraiser for Mom’s Lemonade Fund during its weekly Sunset Celebration on Thursday, June 14th.

In addition to live music, specialty drinks, and surprises, the event will feature a dunking booth contest. Proceeds from sales of Mom’s Special Lemonade drinks and the dunking booth will benefit the local charity.

Mom’s Lemonade Fund is a Savannah-based, not-for-profit organization that raises funds and awareness for ovarian cancer, assists with local patients’ emotional and medical needs by providing medical equipment, funds for research and programming services, education, as well as comfort care items to patients, their families and caregivers battling the disease.

The organization was created in 2009 by the families of Mary Anne Feist Mahfet and Ellen McAlpin Hogan, both victims of ovarian cancer, and both well known for their positive, uplifting outlook on life. Their mutual attribute of looking on the brighter side, or “taking lemons and making lemonade,” lent itself to the most appropriate name to honor their memory: Mom’s Lemonade Fund.

The event serves as a prelude to the organization’s principal fundraiser, Laughs for Lemonade, an evening of standup comedy to be held Saturday, June 23rd at Savannah’s Lucas Theatre.

Nationally recognized stand-up comic Greg Warren, recently seen on “Comedy Central Presents,” “The Late Late Show” and “Last Comic Standing,” will headline the organization’s third annual fundraising event which promises to be a great night of laughter and fun for a great local cause.

Tickets to Laughs for Lemonade range in price from $20 to $100. VIP tickets ($100) include meet and greet access to the post-performance party. Additional tickets are available at $50 for reserved front orchestra seating, $35 for rear orchestra seating and $20 for balcony seating.

Admission to Tubby’s Tank House’s Special Splashdown-Throwdown event is free. Tickets to the June 23rd comedy show are available at the Lucas Theatre / SCAD Box office or online at scadboxoffice.com.

June 16 – Savannah vs. Myrtle Beach
Saturday
5pm – Hellions vs. Myrtle Beach
7pm – Savannah Derby Devils All Stars vs. Myrtle Beach
Savannah Civic Center
This family-friendly event offers two back-to-back bouts, live music, activities for kids, raffles and roller derby merchandise. Kids love to come up and hug the skaters at the end of the night.
To purchase tickets call (912) 651-6556 or visit the Savannah Civic Center website at http://savannahcivic.com and box office. Cost ranges from $2 to $16 per ticket.

Discount tickets are available for children, seniors, students, military and groups of 10 or more. Those who bring at least one canned good item for donation to America’s Second Harvest will also receive $1 off their ticket. The event includes live music from Portman’s New Horizon’s Band, an appearance by the Savannah Junior Roller Derby, activities for kids, games, prizes, raffles and merchandise. Family seating is available. Raffle proceeds will go to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Beer and wine will be available.

For more information, visit savannahderby.com or at facebook.com/savannahderbydevils. For more information (912) 220-9744.

To register or for more info, call 912-665-4199 or click here.

Ganesha’s Place, at the corner of Barnard & 40th St. @ 2323 Barnard St., 912-665-4199, http://ganeshasplace.com/ Ganesha’s Place is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

When you buy tickets for the June 13 Savannah Sand Gnats game from local Goodwill retail locations, Goodwill gets funds to help local programs that serve our area. Goodwill retail locations in Savannah, Pooler and Richmond Hill will be selling discounted tickets to the June 13 Savannah Sand Gnats game for $5 to generate funding for local programs that serve our area. No limits on number of tickets purchased. To purchase tickets for Goodwill’s Pack the Park Night, please call (912) 354-6611 ext. 107.

The first 200 children ages 12 and under only at Grayson Stadium will get a free Webkinz. The park opens at 6 p.m. and game time is 7:05 p.m. The Sand Gnats will play the Charleston, S.C. RiverDogs. In addition, the Sand Gnats will donate 50 cents for every person who enters Grayson Stadium June 13 with a ticket purchased through Goodwill. If Goodwill sells 1,000 tickets and those 1,000 people come to the game, the Sand Gnats will donate an additional $500.

Pack the Park for Charity is the Sand Gnats’ way of helping organizations generate revenue through the purchase and sale of discounted tickets.

www.goodwillsavannah.org .

Ganesha’s Place, Savannah’s new therapeutic yoga studio offers the following June workshops:

Dream Circle Workshop
Come and learn to by-pass the chatter around core issues which occur in your dreams.
Understand the language of your dreams.
Discover what recurring dreams mean.
Join Kate Jacobson RYT, LISW-CP
Ganesha’s Place
2323 Barnard St. Savannah
Saturday, June 23, 2012 – 1-3:30pm
$25
Kate@ganeshasplace.com to register

Crabbing with kids to catch Carolina Blue Crabs can be comical and tends to require less skill than fishing.

What you need:

a bucket, a crab net (available at any hardware store or bait shop), 10- to 12-feet of sturdy string with a chicken neck attached above a two-ounce sinker.

What to do:

Cut the line about ten to twelve feet, add a sinker, then a chicken neck for bait. Leave the end with the chicken in the water, and patiently wait. You’ll see the crab nibbling on your line. Once the crab grabs, pull the line in with the crab on it and scoop it into the bucket

Where to crab

A pier, sea wall, sea shore, or dock. Crabs will be closer to shore in murky water and a bit farther out in clear water. You can crab from shore if there is no wave action. Our suggestions include:

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Harris Neck Road (Highway 131)
Off U.S. Highway 17 between Eulonia and Darien in McIntosh County, GA (From I-95, take Exit 67)
www.fws.gov/harrisneck/

South Beach, Hilton Head Is.
Located at the “toe” of the island near the South Beach marina, is the Calibogue beach. There is no public parking, so it’s best to walk or bike from South Beach Marina parking lot.

Rules

There is a minimum size for “keepers”: five inches wide point to point to keep. You may not keep a female carrying eggs (an orange spongy mass on their underside).

Pint-Size Polkas
Accordian player and children’s polka musician Mike Schneider presents this educational program filled with music, dancing, audience participation and sing-alongs. All ages.

Pooler Library, Monday, June 18, 10:30 a.m.
Bull Street Library, Monday, June 18, 1 p.m.
W. W. Law Library, Monday, June 18, 3 p.m.
Oglethorpe Mall Library, Monday, June 18, 6 p.m.
Thunderbolt Library, Tuesday, June 19, 11 a.m.
Tybee Library, Tuesday, June 19, 1 p.m.
Islands Library, Tuesday, June 19, 3 p.m.
Southwest Chatham Library, Tuesday, June 19, 6 p.m.
West Broad Library, Wednesday, June 20, 10:30 a.m.
Carnegie Library, Wednesday, June 20, 1 p.m.
Rincon Library, Wednesday, June 20, 4 p.m.
Hinesville Library, Thursday, June 21, 10 a.m.

Bunny Lune Dreams of the Moon
In Japan they don’t see a Man in the Moon. They see Bunnies in the Moon! Children will hear the story “Bunny Lune” by Kae Nishimura, learn about Japan, sing songs, and participate in a bunny moon dance. Ages 4-9.
Pooler Library, Tuesday, July 31, 2 p.m.
Port City Library, Tuesday, July 31, 10:30 a.m.
Carnegie Library, Tuesday, August 7, 10:30 a.m.

Campout at the Library

Gather around the “campfire” to sing some classic camp songs, hear a few stories, and learn how to tie a few knots. Ages 6-9.
Carnegie Library, Monday, July 30, 10:30 a.m.
Bull Street Library, Monday, July 30, 2:30 p.m.
Port City Library, Tuesday, August 7, 10:30 a.m.

Big Dreams and Moon Beams” Puppet Show
The moon is a magical place! Journey there and back on a rocketship full of adventure with this imaginative puppet show. Ages 3 and up.

Thunderbolt Library, Thursday, June 28, 11 a.m.
Islands Library, Thursday, June 28, 3 p.m.
Springfield, Thursday, July 5, 2:30 p.m.
Southwest Chatham Library, Thursday, July 12, 2 p.m.
Pooler Library, Wednesday, July 18, 10:30 a.m.
W. W. Law Library, Friday, July 27, 10:30 a.m.
Rincon, Wednesday, August 1, 2:30 p.m.
Oglethorpe Mall Library, Thursday, August 2, 10:30 a.m.

Juneteenth is the celebration of the commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Considered to be June 19, Juneteenth is the oldest celebrated remembrance of African American Emanicipation day and is often celebrated with acknowledgements, speakers and events. Telfair Museums’ 5th annual JUNETEENTH Celebration will include acclaimed author Beverly Jenkins, a concert of traditional music and percussion by David Pleasant and a Gullah Geechee day with programs and demonstrations by local artists.

JUNETEENTH Celebrations include:

Saturday, June 23 – Juneteenth at the Jepson featuring performers, storytellers and art activities
12 – 3pm / Jepson Center
Area performers, storytellers and art activities related to the Geechee-Gullah culture and inviting the participation of neighborhood associations including Cuyler-Brownsville, Tatemville and the communities of Sandfly and Pinpoint.
Jamal Toure, a griot or living historian, is founder of The African Spirits of Day Clean -an organization dedicated to preserving the history and culture of African Americans. Toure will present a living history exhibit based on the Geechee-Gullah culture.

Louise Cohen , a fifth generation native Hilton Head Islander, is a captivating storyteller and speaker of Gullah—a language she grew up speaking. As rooted as she always was on this history-rich sea isle, with its gentle beaches and sanctuaries of oak forest that echo with the praise of her ancestors, Louise found that something was missing. It has become Louise’s mission to tell the stories of her people.
Culture Music by DJ Shaka Zulu, a Reggae DJ heard weekly on WHCJ Radio.

All Juneteenth events are FREE and open to the public, sponsored by the City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs.

Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 W York St, Savannah, 31401, http://telfair.org/jepson/ Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

A big thank you to Savannah Children’s Theatre  for presenting yet another fun musical – Meredith Wilson’s THE MUSIC MAN!

We attended Opening Night on Friday of this MAINSTAGE production of the classic musical – featuring adult and children performers plus a live orchestra –  and loved it. My 5-year-old son & his 5-year-old friend sat through the roughly 2-hour performance (which includes an intermission when you can visit the theatre’s concessions stand to help support the non-profit theatre) and were sorry to see it end.  

THE MUSIC MAN will be presented for three weekends in June.
JUNE 8-10, 15-17, 22-24 2012: Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. Sat.& Sun., 3 p.m.

Tickets are available online by clicking here as well as at the box office. Children, senior and military discounts available.

Savannah Children’s Theatre announced their upcoming Mainstage productions for Fall 2012 & Summer 2013 – ‘Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory’ and ‘A Year with Frog and Toad.’ Check their Website for auditions info. coming soon.

Savannah Children’s Theatre offers a variety of summer camps. More info here.  

Savannah Childrens Theatre, (912) 238-9015, 2160 E. Victory Dr. in the Piggly Wiggly shopping center, Savannah, 31404 www.savannahchildrenstheatre.org/

Summer Kids Movies 2012 at Royal Cinemas, Pooler
ALL TICKETS: $1.00
Shows start at 10:00am
Doors open at 9:15am

5 Towne Center Ct
Pooler, GA 31322
912-988-4025
(FOR MORE FREE – OR ALMOST FREE – LOCAL SUMMER 2012 KIDS’ ACTIVITIES, PLEASE CLICK HERE)