Saddle Up: The Edisto Beach Shag Festival returns

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By HEATHER RUPPE

The Edisto Beach Music and Shag Fest is returning this year and will feature five bands and several performances by the Junior Shaggers.
The festival will be held Sept. 3 – 5 at Bay Creek Park, next to the Marina at Edisto. Daily admission is free for anyone 12 years and under, and three-day passes are available at the Edisto Beach Shagfest on Facebook.
Everyone is encouraged to bring lawn chairs, but no coolers or pets will be allowed in the park.
On Friday, Sept. 3, the festival will be held from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will feature arts, crafts and food vendors. Shag lessons will be taught at 5 p.m., followed by live music from “The Entertainers” who will take the stage from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 4th, the festival opens at noon and lasts until 11 p.m. During this time, there will be arts, crafts, food vendors and a DJ. “Sea Cruz” will perform from noon to 4 p.m., with a non-professional shag competition held at 5 p.m. The Junior Shaggers Exhibition begins at 7 p.m. and “Blackwater” will play from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Then, on Sunday, Sept. 5th, the festival ends with performances by Edisto Gumbo and the Shem Creek Boogie Band. The festival lasts on Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
This year’s festival is also featuring Junior Shaggers. “These young shaggers vary in age and experience and are extremely excited to perform exhibitions and entertain the crowd,” said Ellen Taylor, who oversees the Junior Shaggers part of the festival. There is also the Ellen Taylor Foundation for Junior Shaggers, which is a non-profit organization that was formed in 2008. This non-profit helps families who need financial assistance to participate in shag lessons. The non-profit also is committed to the preservation and promotion of the shag as the official South Carolina state dance.
The Shag was designated as such in 1984 by the S.C. Legislature, but the dance originated in the 1930s in Myrtle Beach. From it, “beach music” was born, with the shag originally relying on smooth moves from the sounds of rhythm and blues. It is frequently referred to as “the swing dance of the South.”
“As a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle who loves the shag, the music, the lifestyle … how wonderful it is as a family to add this to the time you spend together! What wonderful memories for you and for them,” said Taylor, in a written statement.
For more information on this year’s Edisto Beach Shag Festival, email darrinrmoore@gmail.com.