Staff reports | Two of the Lowcountry’s most popular sports mascots will be the grand marshals July 21 during the fifth annual ladybug release at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
More than 200,000 ladybugs will be released after a parade of two red Volkswagen Beetles, resembling giant ladybugs, brings mascots Charlie T. RiverDog of the Charleston RiverDogs and Cool Ray of the Charleston Stingrays to the lawn in front of Magnolia’s Main House.
Hundreds of children then will scatter throughout the gardens to watch their ladybugs fly during the Lowcountry’s largest release of the environmentally friendly insect. This year’s release will be the largest number of ladybugs set free at Magnolia.
According to a press release, ladybugs help control other harmful insects such as aphids and scale insects. The release is designed to teach children how they can help preserve and protect the environment. This event will feature more than 20 exhibits including nature displays, interactive activities, environmental organizations and face painting.
The event starts at 9 a.m. The 10 a.m. distribution of ladybugs will be signaled by the arrival of the Volkswagen Beetles. Activities end at 2 p.m. Prizes will be awarded during a ladybug costume contest to children ages 3 and under, ages 4 to 6, ages 7 and up and family/group. Judging starts at 11:30 a.m.
Paid garden admission is required to attend the event and children must be accompanied by an adult. Garden admission is $20 for adults, $10 for children 6 to 12 years old and children 5 and under are free. Complimentary passes will not be accepted for this special event. More info.
Also in Good News:
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- (10) Market Pavilion Hotel
- (9) HarborView Inn
- (8) John Rutledge House Inn
- (7) The Vendue
- (6) Wentworth Mansion
- (5) The Dewberry
- (4) Zero George
- (3) French Quarter Inn
- (2) Planters Inn
- (1) Spectator Hotel
McMillan to headline Black Ink: Critically-acclaimed author Terry McMillan will headline the third annual Black Ink book festival, which will be held Sept. 8 at the main branch of the Charleston County Public Library. McMillan, author of Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, will join 60 other black authors and hundreds of readers for the event. “We are thrilled that Terry McMillian, one of the most inspiring authors in America today, will join us for our third festival,” said Brittany Mathis, director of the Charleston Friends of the Library, presenter of this year’s festival. “Having one of the most influential writers is truly a dream come true.”
PURE Theatre to start 16th season: When PURE Theatre opens its 16th season in October, the 21-member core ensemble will christen performances at the new Cannon Street Art Center, 134 Cannon St., Charleston. The first production, “Sweat,” will open at the Dock Street Theatre Oct. 4-7 as part of the city of Charleston’s MOJA Arts Festival, followed by two weeks at the Cannon Center. The company will also perform “A Doll’s House, Part 2” from Nov. 1 to 24. For other productions in 2019, check out this website: http://www.puretheatre.org.
Free tech college for poorer areas: High school graduates of some of the state’s poorest school districts now can acquire a technical certificate or two-year associate degree for free thanks to a provision in the state’s new budget, reports Lindsay Street in our sister publication, Statehouse Report. The expanded S.C. Promise Scholarship pilot program offers tuition assistance and book purchases up to $2,000 at any of the state’s technical colleges, after a student has already obtained any other scholarships available. This expanded scholarship aid is available to any students who have graduated in the last six years from one of 34 mostly rural, poor school districts in South Carolina. Read more.
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