South Carolina H 4413: 69th Beaufort Water Festival

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4413 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 24, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4413

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO CELEBRATE THE SIXTY-ninth BEAUFORT WATER FESTIVAL 
TO BE HELD ON JULY 11 THROUGH 20, 2025, to thank todd stowe for serving as 
commodore for this year's festival, AND TO HONOR THOSE WHO ORGANIZE, SPONSOR, 
VOLUNTEER FOR, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE FESTIVAL.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the Beaufort Water 
Festival will hold its sixty-ninth annual festival extravaganza from July 11 
through 20, 2025, and that Todd Stowe will serve as the commodore for the 2025 
festival, who will be joined by his wife, Patsy, and their children, Christy 
and Jessie. A gifted artist, Patsy's original paintings will accompany the 
festival theme "Blue Skies & Starry Nights"; and

Whereas, once a year in 
midsummer, the sea island that holds Beaufort sets the stage for one of the 
South's largest outdoor events, which has consistently been successful and has 
grown more significant since its inauguration in July 1956. In spite of its growth, 
the Beaufort Water Festival is still a community-wide, nonprofit venture, and 
the Lions Club has taken responsibility every year for organizing the 
festival's parade; and

Whereas, the festival is 
never complete without festival favorites, the Lowcountry Supper and the 
Commodore's Ball, which Commodore and Mrs. Stowe will host, along with their 
children, Christy and Jessie, and which will feature the Swingin' Medallions. 
From its early days, when it cost fifty cents to attend the beauty pageant and 
a dollar per couple to attend the Water Festival Ball, now called the 
Commodore's Ball, the festival has drawn increasing numbers of participants to 
Beaufort from other parts of the State and nation; and

Whereas, the 
coordinators for the 2025 festival include Dusty Vickers, program coordinator; 
Samantha Aimar, administrative coordinator; Greg Godfrey, marketing and public relations 
coordinator; Cori Talbert, parks coordinator; Kyle Gentry, productions 
coordinator; Shelley Kolb, sales and marketing coordinator; Katie Jindrich, 
sponsors coordinator; Cely Johnson, sports coordinator; Meredith Keene, treasurer; 
John Tuberville, water and air coordinator; and

Whereas, hundreds of 
volunteers work long hours, as well, to bring outstanding events to the 
festival, including reasonably priced first-class entertainment, thanks to the 
generosity of local sponsors. The festival arts and crafts market opens on the 
Promenade at Waterfront Park every day during the festival, offering a 
selection of artisanship from craftsmen of the Lowcountry and beyond who 
provide a visual feast for the eyes; and

Whereas, on Friday, 
July 11, the opening ceremony is expected to provide fabulous entertainment 
from the Parris Island Marine Band, as well as fireworks. Events during the 
week offer activities for children, teens, couples, and families, including: a 
raft race and a bed race; tournaments for bocce, badminton, and children's toad 
fishing; an air show with stunt planes and a talent show; a teen dance; and the 
Water Festival Grand Parade. The Concert in the Park will present Chris Jones 
Band and Alli Walker, while Motown Monday will have entertainment from Deas 
Guyz and Rockin' the River will feature CRÜELigans, a tribute to Mötley Crüe; 
and

Whereas, the day after 
Commodore Stowe's ball, the festival ends every year with the graceful Blessing 
of the Fleet and Parade of Boats, sponsored by the past commodores of the 
Beaufort Water Festival on the Beaufort River in front of the Waterfront Park 
Seawall; and

Whereas, the House of 
Representatives of the State of South Carolina commends the efforts of the many 
people who, working together, make the 2025 Beaufort Water Festival a success. 
The members value the significant impact which the shores of Beaufort have in 
attracting tourists to the Palmetto State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, celebrate 
the sixty-ninth Beaufort Water Festival to be held on July 11 through 20, 2025, 
thank Todd Stowe for serving as commodore for this year's festival, and honor 
those who organize, sponsor, volunteer for, and participate in the festival.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this 
resolution be presented to Commodore Todd Stowe.

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This web page was last updated on April 24, 2025 at 11:12 AM