What’s an ‘off-season?’ Folly Beach has no shortage of things to do year-round and the city’s 2023 calendar is already packed with festivals, beach cleanups, fishing tournaments, new amenities coming online and even a vote on an important issue on short-term rentals. Below is a list of things to look forward to in this new year.
1.) The new Folly Pier opens
The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) have opened the reconstructed Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier. After being closed for a complete rebuild in October 2020, the new pier was finished ahead of schedule and opened the day after Christmas 2022. The Charleston County Parks Foundation will host a special fundraising event called Folly Pier Fest on March 11.
The new Folly Beach Pier is 1,049 feet in length on 228 concrete pilings sitting 22 feet above sea level, with many shade structures and benches for unobstructed ocean views. While most of the pier is 25 feet wide, two locations of the pier were widened to 33 feet across, allowing additional space for fishing. Like the previous pier (which was built in 1995), it contains a diamond shaped platform at the end. Modern improvements include wooden walkway panels designed to break away in the event of a large storm and a 65+ year lifespan. Pier operating hours are 8 a.m. to sunset (times may vary throughout the year). Amenities include restrooms, Pier 101 Restaurant and Bar, beach access, showers and the Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop, which offers tackle/bait and rod rentals. The pier’s special events calendar includes Cast-Off Fishing Tournaments on May 27, June 24, Aug. 26 and Sept. 23 and a Moonlight Mixer dance series on May 5, June 16 and July 7. For more information, visit www.ccprc.com/follypier.
2.) Folly Festivals
Folly’s annual street festivals will again take over Center Street for a one-of-a-kind beach block party. The Taste of Folly—an annual food-oriented festival—is slated for Jan. 14 with a Cocktail Competition on Friday, Jan. 13 at the Tides in the Pavilion Ballroom from 7-10 p.m. The Saturday event, dubbed “Savory Saturday” will feature a hot dog eating contest, oyster shucking contests and the “Server Olympics.” The festival will also offer a spin on a Chili Cook-Off by introducing the “One Pot Showdown!” Live music, kids areas, more than 50 vendors selling art, crafts and clothing and Folly restaurants setting up food tents along Center Street and holding cooking demonstrations, there will be something for everyone. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the door; free for Folly residents (must show valid drivers license). Kids 12 and under are free. The following month, the annual family-friendly Sea & Sand Festival is set to return on Feb. 25 with another Center Street closure and sandcastle building competition. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/FABFollyEvents/.
3.) Short-term rentals vote
On Feb. 7, Folly residents will be able to cast their vote in a special election on whether to cap short-term rental licenses to 800 total island-wide for non-primary residences. The vote comes after a citizen-led petition to cap short-term rentals to 800 licenses on non-primary residences garnered 495 signatures—well over 15 percent of voters on Folly Beach. Per state law, if 15 percent of valid registered voter-residents sign a petition, the council can send it to a referendum for voters to decide at the polls. The council decided to put the issue to a vote. Those able to vote on the issue are registered voters in Folly Beach 1, Folly Beach 2, James Island 1A, and James Island 1B districts. The election will be at-large, non-partisan and by majority vote. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the Baptist Fellowship Hall, 61 West Indian Avenue, Folly Beach. Anyone wishing to vote in the special election must be registered no later than Sunday, Jan. 8. Voter registration by mail forms will be accepted if postmarked by Monday, Jan. 9. For more information, visit www.scvotes.gov.
4.) Beach Litter Sweeps
Join beloved “Toby the Turtle” and pitch in to help clean Folly Beach with two litter sweeps planned for this year—one in the spring and one in the fall that’s spooky Halloween themed.
The sweep was inspired by the cartoon sea turtle who “awards” businesses each month for picking up litter around their property. Called “Toby’s Folly Island Wide Spring Clean,” the 2nd Annual Spring Clean Island Wide Litter Sweep hosted by Folly Association of Business (FAB) Litter Committee and partners is set for April 2 from 1- 3 p.m. The second annual Toby’s Spooktacular Costume Litter Sweep, hosted by FAB Litter Committee is set for Oct. 29 from 1 – 3 p.m. While many beach sweeps focus on picking up litter on the shoreline, these sweeps expand beyond the sand to clean up the streets. Last year, hundreds of volunteers canvassed the entire span of Ashley Avenue from the Lighthouse Inlet to the Folly Beach County Park and on the streets from the Folly River to beach accesses. Volunteers recorded the amount and type of trash collected in a digital journal for insight and to possibly inspire legislation in the future. For more information on how to sign up and to see pictures of previous sweeps, visit the “Toby the Turtle” Facebook page.
5.) Folly’s 50th Birthday Celebration
A Folly’s 50th Birthday Celebration is set to be held on Saturday Sept. 23 and Saturday Sept. 30, 2023, with a rain date Saturday Oct. 7. According to documents provided to the City of Folly Beach, the vision for this event hosted by FAB is a week-long “birthday” celebration between two larger weekend events to celebrate the 50 years Folly Beach has officially been a city. The vision for the first weekend includes a “Folly Through the Decades” theme with each block of Center Street assigned a different decade between 1970 – 2020. All restaurants and businesses will be encouraged to match the decade they are assigned with clothing, food selections, music and pricing. For the second weekend, planners envision a boardwalk/amusement park feel to Center Street as a throwback to the Folly Pier of yesteryear, with an arcade gaming area, live music, arts, crafts and food vendors serving fair-type food. Planners are even considering bringing in a larger ride like a Ferris wheel. Other events submitted to the city include a black tie 50th Gala at the Tides, a special Shagging on the Pier dance event, a brunch and celebration with longtime residents to tell stories of Folly’s past with historical artifacts and photos and a reception with a 50th birthday cake, to be cut by the mayor. Visit www.facebook.com/FABFollyEvents/ for updates.
6.) Kayak Launch at the boat landing
While this improvement project doesn’t have an exact opening date, Aaron Pope, City Administrator of Folly Beach, said residents and visitors can look forward to Charleston County Parks installing a kayak launch at the Folly Boat Landing between the existing boat launch and the Folly River bridge, likely this winter.
“(The project) will turn the grassy area right by Center Street into a parking lot for kayak users,” Pope said. Stay tuned for more updates.
