CALENDAR:  Community Day is Oct. 5 at Dill Sanctuary

Staff reports  | Dill Sanctuary will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 5 for a free look at the protected land protected through the Charleston Museum.

The largest area of privately-protected land on James Island, the Dill Sanctuary is a 580-acre wildlife preserve on the Stono River, rich in historic and natural features. Guests are invited to tour the property (which is normally only open for select programs) to learn more about its significance. 

Museum staff members will be on hand to discuss major accomplishments at the property in the last several decades, including extensive archaeological research, preservation of the Civil War batteries at the site as well as natural resource management. Attendees can take a guided tour to Battery Pringle, hike to the wildlife pond where a state wildlife biologist will discuss the important wading bird colony, hear about archaeology projects and see artifacts recovered at the Sanctuary, or speak to museum representatives about the protection of the property.

Craft activities will be available for children to enjoy and guests are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch with a beautiful view of the Stono River.  Location: 1163 Riverland Drive on James Island. No pets. More info: visit CharlestonMuseum.org. 

Also on the calendar:

At the Gaillard.  Check out these awesome coming events at the Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St., Charleston:

Peppa Pig’s Adventure:  6 p.m., Sept. 24.  Peppa Pig Live! is a new action-packed live show featuring your favorite characters as life-size puppets and costume characters. With lunch boxes packed and Daddy Pig driving the bus, Peppa and friends are excited about their outdoor adventure, full of singing, dancing, games and surprises!  Tickets are $21 to $66.

The Most Reluctant Convert: 4 p.m., Oct. 6, Charleston Gaillard Center.  Award-winning actor Max McLean will bring to life author C.S. Lewis in his own words in this “hugely moving” and “highly-entertaining” drama.  To learn more and get tickets, visit CSLewisOnStage.com or phone 843.242.3099.

Tribute to Aretha Franklin: 5 p.m., Sept. 28,  Citadel Square Baptist Church, 328 Meeting St., Charleston.  The Charleston Gospel Choir will present an encore performance of its sold-out April event, Queen of Soul and Gospel: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, under the musical direction of guest conductor Dr. Jason A. Dungee.  Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. More: www.charlestongospelchoir.org or (866) 811-4111

Footloose, the musical: Through Sept. 28, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston. Charleston Stage will present the 1980s movie-turned-rock-and-roll musical for the first time in a month of performances sponsored by the Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation.  Tickets are $29 to $71 for any of the 16 performances of the show. Buy tickets.

North Charleston art show:  Through Sept. 30, North Charleston City Gallery, Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston.  The show will feature mixed media works by Vik Hart of Charleston, and abstract paintings by Pascale Bilgis of Lexington.  

Blue Jamboree: Day-long event, Oct. 5, The Bend, Azalea Drive, North Charleston.  More than 2,000 tickets have been sold for this all-day event that will feature a broad array of Democratic presidential candidates.  Sponsors of the event include these presidential candidates:  Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Tom Steyer, Cory Booker, Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Bennet, Tulsi Gabbard and Julian Castro. Learn more and find out about tickets.

Black Ink:  11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 5, Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St., Charleston.  Black Ink, Charleston’s African-American book festival, will feature world-renowned poet and educator Nikki Giovanni as keynote speaker at 2 p.m. It is an exciting program of Charleston Friends of the LIbrary and a part of the MOJA Arts Festival. Cost:  More info.

Wild Side celebration:  5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Oct. 12, Kaminski House,  1003 Front St, Georgetown, S.C.  The S.C. Environmental Law Project will pay homage in its 10th annual Wild Side to the state’s Watersheds, Ocean, Wetlands — the WOW of South Carolina — as well as other milestones.  Cost: $100 per adult. Learn more.

Free Verse Festival: Oct. 13-20 in locations around Charleston with a special event Oct. 28.  The third year of the Free Verse Festival, Charleston’s first poetry festival, seeks “to uplift the community by providing eclectic poetry events and workshops at multiple venues in downtown and West Ashley.”  Learn more online.

Latin American Festival:  Oct. 13, Wannamaker County Park, North Charleston.  The 28th annual festival will allow friends and family members to relish authentic Latin American music, art, food and children’s activities, all inspired by cultures from around the globe.  Non-stop music will include everything from the beats of merengue, to reggaeton, bachata and salsa. All ages are invited to salsa to Latin rhythms by six-piece band Furia Tropikal from 1 – 2 p.m. Dance along with the Charlotte-based 12-piece band Orquesta Mayor from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., and end the day with the Dominican merengue phenomenon El Rey Tulile from 4:30 – 6 p.m.  Cost: $10. No outside food, alcohol or coolers permitted. No dogs allowed. For more information, call (843) 795-4386 or visit CharlestonCountyParks.com. 

AFFA Gala 2019: 6 p.m., Nov. 1, The Cedar Room, 701 East Bay St., Charleston.  You can have one of the best nights of the year with this annual fund-raiser for AFFA that is replete with a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner, live auction and entertainment by the Emerald Empire Band.  Tickets: $180. Learn more now.

Early morning bird walks at Caw Caw:  8:30 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel.  You can learn about habitats and birds, butterflies and other organisms in this two-hour session.  Registration is not required, but participants are to be 15 and up. $10 per person or free to Gold Pass holders.  More:  http://www.CharlestonCountyParks.com.

AREA MARKETS

TUESDAYS.  The Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the market pavillion at Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Free parking.  Lots of activities. More info.

WEDNESDAYS.  The West Ashley Farmers Market is every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Ackerman Park off Sycamore Avenue in West Ashley.  The last week of the market will be the first week of October. More.

FRIDAYS/SATURDAYS:  Night Market.  Every Friday and Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for the rest of the year, you can shop with 108 vendors, including artists and craftsmen, at the night market on Market Street between East Bay and Church streets.  It’s more than four blocks of local shopping and fun. Free.

SATURDAYS:  Johns Island Farmers Market operates each Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. year-round with more than 50 local farmers and vendors, food trucks, music and more.  The market is located on the campus of Charleston Collegiate School, 2024 Academy Road, Johns Island

SATURDAYS: The Charleston Farmers Market is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Marion Square each Saturday through Nov. 30.  More info.

• If you have an event to list on our calendar, please send it to feedback@charlestoncurrents.com for consideration. The calendar is updated weekly on Mondays.