Roofer in Sullivan's Island, SC

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The Battle of Sullivan’s Island was a key victory in South Carolina history that took place just days before the country declared its independence from Great Britain.

Fort Moultrie sits on the shore of Sullivan’s Island, and before it was retired from military service in 1960, the half-built, palmetto-log and sand fort stood up to a British invasion. That was on June 28, 1776.

As a park ranger at the Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter National Historical Park, Cristopher Reid explains the significance of the historic site.

“Fort Moultrie is, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, not Fort Moultrie yet, at least not by name,” he says. “It’s this little half-built fort. It’s made out of Palmetto logs and sand. And you’ve got the Royal Navy showing up with nine warships, a whole fleet of supply ships, at least 260 cannons. The guy in charge of the Army is second in command of all the colonies. So, they’re well prepared to show up and take this place.”

“What they find out instead is that Breach Inlet at low tide is at least seven feet deep. They’re going to have to cross it by boat, and as they attempt that, Col. Thompson and his men are going to open fire with cannons and muskets and sharpshooters,” Reid says. “So that advance will be halted. (On one end of) the island, you’ve got that palmetto log and sand fort with only about 450 soldiers and only about 30 cannons, versus about nine Royal Navy warships and 260 cannons, and the battle that day is brutal.“

After that full-day battle, the Royal Navy fails, he says, unable to make it into Charleston Harbor or past Fort Moultrie.

“And so, the fort is largely unharmed. At the end of the battle, the Royal Navy retreats. That flag becomes pretty well recognized as a symbol of victory, as a symbol of pride, so much so that when South Carolina is declaring secession on the eve of the Civil War, they’re trying to set themselves apart and form their own identity,” Reid says.

“They add that palmetto tree in the middle of it, and we’ve been using it ever since as our state flag. So, even our state flag is tied right here to Fort Moultrie and the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.”

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - If you love Fourth of July fireworks, several events across the Tri-County area will help you boost your patriotic pride.

Here are just a few of the events you and your family can enjoy:

Goose Creek: Fabulous Fourth in the Creek

The city of Goose Creek will welcome visitors to celebrate with its Fabulous Fourth in the Creek celebration.

The event will take place at the Goose Creek Municipal Center at 519 North Goose Creek Blvd., from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

It will showcase live music, food vendors and free activities for children, including balloon animals, bubbles, face painting and crafts.

Admission and parking is free. On-site parking will be available at the Recreation Complex and event parking fields. Accessible parking is available with a valid placard.

Golf cart transport is available once attendees have parked, but golf cart transport is not available after the event or in the dark.

Parking is limited so carpooling is encouraged.

Shuttles will be running from Westview Elementary School and Westview Middle School, located at 100 Westview Blvd., starting at 5 p.m.

The walking path around the Municipal Pond will close at 7 a.m. on Friday.

The fireworks show is expected to begin at around 9 p.m.

Isle of Palms: 4th of July Fireworks Show

The city of Isle of Palms hosts its annual Independence Day show on Front Beach, at 1118 Ocean Blvd. It is free and open to the public.

Beachgoers are required to leave the beach and remove their belongings by 6:30 p.m. to allow preparation for the event. The area of the beach between 21st Avenue to Coconut Joe’s will close at that time.

Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.

Guests may remain inside the Isle of Palms County Park area or behind the public restroom facilities to watch the show.

Fireworks are not permitted in the City of Isle of Palms and must be operated by professionals only.

Click here, for more information.

Mount Pleasant: 4th of July Fireworks Blast

The Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum hosts its annual Independence Day celebration, the 4th of July Fireworks Blast.

The event begins at 7 p.m. at the museum aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown for ticketed guests.

Tickets give access to the ship, live music, a view of the fireworks show over Charleston Harbor and family-friendly fun throughout the night.

Guests can purchase from a selection of food and drinks from Charleston vendors.

Fireworks are set to begin at around 9:30 p.m. or when it is dark.

The Yorktown will close at 10 p.m.

Click here to purchase tickets for the event.

Parking is available onsite at Patriots Point. Space is limited. Parking fees are not included in event tickets and must be paid separately through the Pay By Plate QR code system, based on posted rates. Only clear bags are allowed for safety purposes. Small non-clear clutches are permitted. Seating is limited. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and small tables. Bagged chairs must be removed from their bags before entry.

Coolers, outside food or beverages, and wagons are not permitted. Only strollers and wheelchairs are allowed on board.

North Charleston: 4th of July Festival

The city of North Charleston takes celebrating the Fourth of July seriously, touting its annual celebration as the Lowcountry’s largest fireworks display.

This year’s event will be held from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Riverfront Park. It will feature live music by Motown Throwdown and music from DJ Natty Heavy and DJ D-Nyce, all leading up to the fireworks show at 9 p.m. Numerous food vendors will be at the site.

No seating is provided, so visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, water and snacks.

Parking is free and visitors can enter from the north via Virginia Avenue or from the south by way of the Bainbridge Connector. Golf cart parking will be available. North Charleston officials recommend walking, biking, carpooling or ridesharing where available.

All bags will be searched. No grills, sparklers or outside fireworks will be allowed.

Sullivan’s Island: Fourth of July at Sullivan’s Island

Sullivan’s Island will kick off Independence Day with a golf cart and bike parade at 9 a.m., beginning at Sunrise Presbyterian Church and continuing to Sullivan’s Island Elementary School.

The parade route extends from Station 28 1/2 Street toward the beachfront and then right on Atlantic Avenue.

The town will then hold its Independence Day party at Stith Park, at 2056 Middle St., starting at 6 p.m. Visitors can bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy music provided by the Shem Creek Boogie Band.

Fireworks begin shortly after 9 p.m. Dogs are not allowed in the park and alcohol is prohibited.

Summerville: Fireworks & Freedom Festival

The town of Summerville will hold its annual Fireworks & Freedom Festival Friday night at Gahagan Park, located at 515 W. Boundary St.

The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Before the fireworks show, enjoy food trucks, vendors and other activities along the park. Shuttles will be available to take people to Gahagan Park from Hutchinson Square.

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We asked our readers to vote for their favorite spots for fresh catch and local shrimp in the Palmetto State—here are their picks.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in South Carolina, find the nearest seafood dive and tuck into a platter of fried shrimp—preferably one served with an ice-cold beer and an unobstructed view of the water. While you can take to Google or a guidebook to determine where to go for steamed oysters or shrimp and grits in the Lowcountry, we decided to consult the folks who care about good Southern seafood as much as we do: our readers.

When you’ve been around for more than 75 years, you’re bound to be doing something right. At this beloved institution in the fishing village of Murrells Inlet, try not to load up on the hot hush puppies they bring to the table on arrival—though it's awfully tempting. There's still so much more to savor, like the hand-peeled, cold-boiled shrimp pulled from the waters of nearby McClellanville or the thin and crispy onion rings—Lee’s is as famous for those as it is for the seafood.

Order: The Shrimp Salad ($28.95), made with boiled fantail shrimp and Duke's mayo, is another house specialty.

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

It doesn’t get much fresher than this Hilton Head Island mainstay, where 90% of the seafood served comes directly from the surrounding waters. Because of its enviable position on the edge of Port Royal Sound, guests can watch a local fishing fleet (one of only two on the island) unload the day’s loot, which could include anything from white shrimp to soft-shell crab.

Order: From September through April, opt for the steamed local cluster oysters in the shell ($12 for a half bucket); the restaurant farms and harvests them.

Should you find yourself in the Holy City, make the worthwhile dirt-road detour to this family-owned restaurant that’s been a rambling fixture along Folly Creek since 1946. With its graffitied walls and worn-in wood floors, it doesn’t beg for attention, and it doesn’t need to. Deemed an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation in 2006, the Lowcountry seafood joint shovels fresh-steamed oysters onto trays September through the first half of May and dishes fried shrimp and hush puppies year-round. It’s all delicious—and it's made even more so if you snag a seat on the waterside deck.

Order: The shrimp (served boiled or fried) and fried fish platter is served with the seafood-dive-side-dish trifecta: french fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw.

Situated on the main drag of the freewheeling beach town just 12 miles from buttoned-up Charleston, The Crab Shack is as family-friendly and flip-flop casual as its surrounds. Start with the the she-crab soup, but save room: The value seafood baskets—which you can order with flounder, shrimp, or scallops (or a combination of all three)—are generously portioned. Catch them at another location in Charleston as well.

Order: The marquee offering, The Charleston Steamed Seafood Bucket, includes two snow crab clusters, large domestic shrimp, and steamed oysters (market price).

Housed in a reimagined garage on Upper King Street, the Brooks Reitz-helmed restaurant turned 10 in 2024, but it’s been a neighborhood favorite from the start, thanks to a menu of mouthwatering fried chicken, expectedly fresh oysters, and surprisingly craveable salads. Add to the clever mix soft-serve ice cream and buckets of Miller High Life ponies, and you’ve found yourself one of the best meals in this restaurant-proud town.

Order: Even the bivalve-averse crowd may develop a taste for oysters after sampling Leon's char-grilled take, which swim in a melty swirl of lemon and butter and are topped with a generous sprinkle of parmesan. The "old-school" scalloped potatoes are also not to be missed.

Don’t let inevitable line out the door during summertime scare you off. This treasured counter-service spot with just 40 seats is an area favorite thanks to its wide array of offerings, from conch fritters to flounder sandwiches. It’s all made to order and to your liking—fried, grilled, or blackened. Wash it down with a glass of what they declare to be the best sweet tea on the island, and finish with a slice of strawberry Key Lime pie (when it’s seasonally available) or a cup of banana pudding.

Order: Hearty appetites should try the Shack Attack Combo ($17.95 for lunch, $19.95 for dinner), which combines a crab cake, fish, shrimp, scallops, and oysters on a giant paper platter. Homemade tartar sauce is the traditional accompaniment, but we think the brandy-infused gator sauce makes an even better platter slather.

With its lofted ceilings, lacquered-wood booths, and commitment to retro branding, this Sullivan’s Island joint feels like it’s been there forever. In reality, it’s a newcomer—a spring 2022 top-to-bottom overhaul of a restaurant that had called the same spot home for 30 years. And while the nostalgically striped, umbrella-shaded patio is painfully charming, the takeaway window makes a strong case for a to-go lobster roll savored on the beach just a few blocks away.

Order: The shrimp fried rice ($24) puts a fresh coastal twist on a takeout mainstay. We also love the Key lime pie.

The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene

So named for the trawler that was tossed ashore on the same spot during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, this dinner-only, no-reservations establishment on Shem Creek shrugs off formalities in favor of its dynamite views and deliciously simple seafood. The best seat in the house belongs to the wooden dockside bar, where sunset views and local craft beers are just an arm’s length away.

Order: Complete with red rice, coleslaw, a hush puppy, and a fried hominy square, the shrimp platter (from $17.95) is a true taste of the Lowcountry. The deviled crab is also worth a try.

This family-owned lunch spot has been an island institution since it first opened its doors in 1978, and its magic belongs to its simplicity. They're only open for lunch, and you order through a carry-out window—though you don't have to take your food home. Snag one of the picnic tables on the porch for an especially satisfying alfresco dining experience.

Order: Given the restaurant's name, it's obvious you can't go wrong with shrimp here, but the shrimp burger ($9.30), served on a bun with tartar sauce and mayo, is a true crowd favorite.

There’s something for everyone on the extensive menu at this landmark Grand Strand restaurant and seafood market owned by a fisherman father and his culinary school-trained daughter. Choose a South Carolina classic, like the Lowcountry boil, or make the most of the raw bar and order a sushi roll or two. Stretch mealtime into a full-fledged Mr. Fish experience by reserving a ride to and from dinner in the Mr. Fishmobile, a bright blue school bus that hits all the nostalgic high notes.

Order: The seafood tacos ($15) are made with your choice of mahi, tuna, or shrimp and are topped with chipotle-lime sauce.