It’s another busy weekend out here on the Sea Islands.

FRIDAY (the 11th)

On Folly, it’s the Sea and Sand Festival starting today. This event benefits Folly Beach Parks & Recreation. Saturday, there’s the Coffin Island 5K. Click links for event information.

1pm: On Kiawah, its the Gibbes Museum Kiawah Art & House tour until 5pm. $55 admission includes the tour, refreshments, and future admission to the Gibbes Museum of Art. Click the link to purchase tickets.

4pm: On James, Charleston Pour House, it’s  Jimmy Landry on the deck. This is a free show. Check out the new deck bar.

7pm: Sol Driven Train is performing at the James Island County Park as part of the East Coast Paddlesports Festival all weekend long. Show is $10 per person (ages 13+) or FREE for all ECPO festival registrants and kids 12 and under.

8pm: On Johns, at Seanachai, folk tribal and fiddle band Contraforce are playing. This bar doesn’t serve food, but you can order Southern General food from your barstool. The General also has two happy hours: one you might expect from 4-7pm, and a second one at 10.

9pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s sci-fi and Middle Eastern fusion band Consider the Source and Bubonik Funk. The doors open at 9pm. It’s $8 in advance.

10pm: On James, the Bohemian Bull has New Galaxy playing. PS-Don’t forget, Bohemian Bull serves food late into the evening. The Charleston City Paper made this late night menu a Critics Pick in the most recent Best Of Charleston issue.

SATURDAY (the 12th)

8am: On Johns, at Legare Farms, it’s the Mega Mud Run Challenge for ages 16 and up. Per their website, its destination is Insanity Island. This is a true test of balance and stability!!! The tight rope walk is a 70′ trek over the infamous Turtle Creek with only an overhead rope to hold on to for stability. Click the link for more information.

9am: On Folly, it’s racetime for The Coffin Island 5K, part of the Sea and Sand Festival. Click links for event information.

9am: On Johns (Main Road heading to Savannah Highway), the Main Road Farmers Market brought to you by Charleston Petal Pushers is back. Fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, frozen prepared food, wreaths, plants, local grits, local honey, Amish jams, and boiled peanuts are just some of the goodies you will find here.

10am: On Johns, The Johns Island Farmers Market is held near the Main and Maybank intersection next to Dr. Anthony Ross’ Island Chiropractic. It has over 50 vendors, including local farms, artisans, specialty food products. There are also food trucks and live music. If you wanted to put together a basket of homemade goodies for yourself or someone else, you could easily do all your shopping here.

11am: On James, Bohemian Bull is serving brunch specials until 3. Brunch isn’t always easy to find on the islands, but you’ll definitely want to check out Johns Island spots like Wild Olive, Fat Hen, Sweeneys, Angel Oak Restaurant, and James and Folly spots like Heart Woodfire Kitchen, La Tabella, and Blu Restaurant (Folly). Three Little Birds is a good pick in West Ashley just over the Wappoo bridge. The Sunday Brunch Farmers Market will let you create your own brunch via food truck.

12pm: On James, the Brickhouse Kitchen is holding an all-day Reggae jam called Treefest. Live music by TreeHouse, South Street, Sun-Dried Vibes, Ben Fagan & The Holy City Hooligans, and Jahman Brahman.

12pm: On Wadmalaw, it’s Sippin’ Saturday at Irvin House Vineyards, featuring food by Autobahn (sandwiches with pan-Asian and global flair) and live music by Gracious Day. Please bring lawn chairs, blankets, and cash for food. No coolers, please.

12pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s a Food Truck Court with the Trainwrecks, Bret Mosley, and Guilt Ridden Troubadour playing until 6:30 p.m.

1pm: On James, at the James Island Christian Church (JICC), rain or shine, it’s the Taste of James Island Churches. All are welcome. The JICC is behind the McDonalds on Folly Road, which is just a couple blocks from the Maybank Hwy. and Folly Rd. intersection.

8pm: On Johns, at Seanachai, the bluegrass/folk ensemble South Carolina Broadcasters are playing. This bar doesn’t serve food, but you can order handcrafted sandwiches, homemade soup, or a hearty plate of poutine (Canada’s cheese and gravy fries) from your barstool. At the Southern General, there are two happy hours: one you might expect from 4-7pm, the second one starts at 10pm.

10pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s Dumpstahunk with Stankface featuring Elise Testone, David Grimm, Stuart White, Alan Brinsendine, Adam Fallen, and Kanika Moore. This show is $17 in advance and $20 at the door. See website for tickets and more information.

10pm: On James, the Bohemian Bull has Yellowknife playing. Don’t forget, the Bohemian Bull serves food late into the evening. Their late night menu was a Critic’s Pick in the latest Best of Charleston awards in the Charleston City Paper.

SUNDAY (the 13th)

8-11am: On James, the Coastal Cyclists will be cycling from James, to Kiawah and back, about 40 miles total. Please drive and pass carefully.

11am: On James, the Sunday Brunch Farmers Market features food trucks, local farmers, and local vendors. Live music is also on site.

1:30pm: In West Ashley at Magnolia Plantation, there’s a French Tea today. The azaleas will be blooming, live classical music will be playing, and gourmet delicacies will be served at this event reviving a Charleston Renaissance tradition. Proceeds benefit a Garden project named for André Michaux, a botanist who collected samples here for the French government in the colonial era. See link for more information. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

2pm: On Johns, Freshfields Village is having Blues By the Sea. This is a free show. Acts include Beverly Guitar Watkins, Tinsley Ellis, Shelly Waters, and Spider John Koerner. Bring a beach chair. Click the link for ticket information, or call (843) 762-9125.

4pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s Sunday Phunday with Runaway Gin playing Phish covers on the deck. Roti Rolls food truck will be in attendance. This show is free. Check out the new deck bar. There is no later act scheduled at this time. 

6pm: On Folly, at the Grill and Island Bar, it’s Jazz on the Edge. Food and drink specials, and an open jazz jam by 22+ local jazz talents. Click link for details.

ALL WEEKEND LONG AND BEYOND 

On James, at the Terrace Theater the following films are playing: Bad Words (Jason Bateman, Allison Janney), The Unknown Known, a documentary focusing on former Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld career. The title derives from the quote “There are known knowns and unknown knowns, the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.” Its director, Errol Morris, previously created The Fog of War, focusing on another former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara who got the U.S. into the Vietnam conflict. Other films playing include Lego Movie (numerous celeb voices), Le Week-end (Jim Broadbent,  Jeff Goldblum, Lindsey Duncan) is about a mature couple returning to their honeymoon spot, Paris, to rekindle their spark, and The Grand Budapest Hotel  (too many actors to name). Click title links for the trailers.

For a bite to eat before or after, Zia Taqueria, Crust WoodFired Pizza (check out my interview here), and How Art Thou Café are just steps away. If you take a quick sprint across the street, you’ll find Charleston’s best indie music spot, The Pour House, and its excellent farm to table restaurant, The Lot. The Lot’s Chef Lira has really made a name for himself in our area since relocating from New York in 2012. He recently showcased his talents at last month’s Wine and Food Festival Downtown.

WEEKLY: On James, the Brick House Kitchen has all you can eat oysters for $14 Tuesdays, and Thursdays-Saturdays. Monday and Wednesdays, it’s just $12. Tuesdays are also a drum circle followed by a Graham Whorley show and an artist’s market.

WEEKLY: On James, ChaCha’s Bar and Grill holds Get Weird Wednesdays, feat. $2 Vodka, trivia, then DJ United mixing it up until late night. Every week they give away a $50 gift certificate to Roses & Ruins Tattoo Shop.

WEEKLY: On James, at Smoky Oak Taproom, Mexi-Mondays mean margarita pitchers and steak and shrimp fajitas. There are budget friendly dinner specials all week long, see @SeaIslands101 on twitter for updates.

WEEKLY: On Johns, Red’s Ice House at Bohicket has all you can eat crab legs on Mondays for $29, Happy hour 4-7pm, and Dave Landeo Band performing live. Every Tuesday is food and beverage (F&B) workers night, with late night appetizer specials, happy hour 4-7pm, $2 vodkas, and Hank Futch & Friends playing live acoustic music. Oyster roasts are on Thursdays, it’s just $12 for a bucket of oysters and two Buds.

WEEKLY: Melvin’s Barbeque on James Island has half-price burgers on Tuesdays. One free kids meal per purchased adult meal on Wednesdays.

On April 19th: Disney’s live action Bears movie premieres at the Terrace at 1pm. Magnolia Plantation’s Chris Smith will be in the lobby with some creatures from Magnolia’s zoo a half-hour before this show and the one at 2:30pm. The animal demonstration is free with the purchase of a ticket to the movie that will benefit the Goodall Institute that helps protect wild chimpanzees. Keep the movie ticket to receive $1 off Magnolia’s $15 garden admission price. The redemption expires April 30.

April 19th: In West Ashley, Magnolia Plantation is holding an Easter Egg Hunt.

April 24th: All over town, it’s Dine Out for Life to benefit AIDS research.

April 26th: In West Ashley, at the Caw Caw Interpretive Center & County Park, there’s a run starting at 8:30am. It’s $34 for entry, just $28 for Charleston County residents. Registration is available until the day before. Activities for children ages 6-12 keeps the kids busy while parents run.

April 27th: On Johns, close to Seabrook, Bohicket Marina is holding 5 and 10k races. Click link for more information.

May 1st: In West Ashley, Charlestowne Landing is holding the first of several 5ks throughout May and into June. Click the link for more information.

May 3rd: On Johns, at Legare Farms, it’s Foam Fest 5k. Click link for more information.

May 8th: On James, at the Terrace, there is a special screening of the acclaimed documentary Dancing in Jaffa.

May 10th: On James and Folly, it’s the sixth annual Leslie McCravy 5k Run and Walk benefitting James Island’s Pet Helpers.

May 11th: It’s Mother’s Day weekend. Downtown, the College of Charleston and the Citadel are holding their graduations, and Greekfest at the Greek Orthodox Church all weekend long, offering church tours, jump castles for this kids, delicious gyros and other Greek food, Greek dancing, and arts and crafts sales.

May 15th: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in West Ashley is giving away a Sharing the Romance wedding package. Today is the deadline to enter your 3-5 minute video to be in the running for a wedding in February 2015.

May 24th: The Charleston Tea Plantation will be holding its First Flush Festeaval. The Avett Bros. are headlining, other acts include Stoplight Observations, The Luke Cunningham Band, Atlas Road Crew, Uncle Mingo, Tyler Boone Band, Ben Fagan and the Holy City Hooligans, and The Executives. Tickets are $37.50 in advance and $45 day of show. VIP tickets are $100.

May 31st: Keep Charleston Beautiful’s Green and Lean 5k is happening at Brittlebank Park. Right now they are reaching out for auction donations. Click the link for more info. Keep Charleston Beautiful is an anti-litter organization, hosting cleanups all over town, all year long.

As always, whatever you get into, have fun and please be safe. Spring is the most beautiful season we have in this area–the trees are covered in seed pods and blooms, the bushes are covered in blooms. If this season tends to aggravate your allergies, don’t forget the tissues, allergy meds, and eye drops. For dawn and dusk hours, bring bug spray as the “no-see-ums”  (a.k.a sand flies, midgies) are already back and spring rains mean the mosquitos aren’t far behind.

If I see other events happening, I will update this post.