Adoption Attorney in Beaufort, SC

It’s time for some food, music and fun on Paris Avenue in Port Royal with this weekend’s 2026 Bands Brews and BBQ festival. The event, in its 15th year now, is bringing two days of food, music and fun with wings, barbecue, beers and live music on Friday and Saturday, February 13th & 14th.

The official South Carolina Barbecue Association sanctioned event benefits The Zonta Club of Beaufort and is always a fun time for foodies of all ages.

Friday night, February 13th is the Wing Throw Down from 6 to 9pm where you can sample wing recipes from participating cookers while enjoying live music from the Parris Island Marine Band, and Rick Rudd.

Saturday is all about the BBQ as BBQ tasting day runs from 11am to 4pm with cook teams from across the Southeast serving their award-winning butts. Flat Silly and another local band will be providing the entertainment for the day and there will also be food trucks on site serving up other fare.

The sampling of wings Friday night and BBQ Saturday will be available by purchasing tickets for $1. Beer, soda and wine will also be available for purchase and the event always takes place rain or shine.

There’s also over $5000 in cash prizes on the table for the cooking teams.

One of the highlights of the cooking event is the Hometown Heroes Award, which recognizes local cooking teams. These teams compete for a $500 prize and local bragging rights.

Cash prizes for the BBQ and Wing Competitions will be awarded on Saturday at 330pm, and they include $1500 for 1st place BBQ butts, and $500 for 1st place wings.

For more information about Bands Brews & BBQ in Port Royal, and its many volunteer opportunities, go to ZontaClubofBeaufort.org.

There’s plenty of parking and the weather will be perfect. Make sure you come hungry, because there is a lot of eating going on at this amazing festival of food!

Find more local Beaufort, SC events

Spring is nearly here in Beaufort and soon we’ll be starting to see temperatures warm up, flowers sprouting up, and the pollen starting to stick to our cars and just about everything else in sight.

And, actually, the pollen will be here before spring actually starts.

This is the time of year in the Lowcountry that we start to get excited about everything that leaving winter in our rear view mirrors brings: outdoor festivals, shorts, flip flops, walks at the beach and the sun on our faces. There are just so many things to look forward to.

So many, that we put together 9 reasons we can’t wait until spring arrives in Beaufort.

9. A much more colorful Beaufort The marsh grass starts to turn from brown to a nice green and the Confederate jasmine, azaleas and other flowers start to show off their colors.

8. Warmer weather means less clothing (and more flip flops) We get rid of our hoodies and shove them back into the closet until November rolls around, and replace them with flip flops, shorts and t-shirts….the usual Beaufort-attire.

7. Sea Turtle Season Later in the spring, Mama sea turtles visit Beaufort’s local beaches to build their nests. Fripp, Hunting, St. Helena and Pritchard’s Islands each have turtle teams that walk the beaches every morning to help a mama out. A 300 pound loggerhead sea turtle emerging from the ocean and slogging its way through the sand to dig a hole….what a sight to see.

6. Beaufort’s wildlife comes alive Spring brings more active wildlife in Beaufort. The great egrets come to nest and mate in the Cypress Wetlands in Port Royal, gators are on the move all over the area and dolphins are more frequently seen frolicking in the warmer local waters. Beaufort comes alive in the springtime.

5. Outdoor dining Beaufort has so many options for outdoor dining…many with fantastic waterfront views.

4. The wave of tourists in the area You can’t beat warm weather and sidewalks filled with tourists mingling with locals. Taking a walk just about anywhere in the area and seeing everyone in the sun (in flip flops?) is always a welcome sight after the weather warms up.

3. Festivals, festivals…and festivals Springtime brings Beaufort’s outdoor festival season with several held in Port Royal starting in mid-February and leading up to May’s Taste of Beaufort Festival at the downtown Waterfront. With so much history, culture and tradition here in Beaufort, we have lots of reasons to celebrate. Take a look at some of the Beaufort area’s larger festivals here…and make sure to attend so you can make memories that will last a lifetime.

2. Strawberry season One of our favorite local pastimes returns along with the upcoming spring season. The strawberry patches at our local farms are the stuff of legend and visiting them is a part of our lives. A visit to Dempsey or Barefoot Farms to pick a bucket of fresh local strawberries is a springtime tradition here in Beaufort. Find area farms and farm stands.

1. We’re closer to spending days in the sun at Hunting Island Spring’s impending arrival means that we aren’t far away from being able to enjoy a lazy afternoon strolling the beach, looking for shells or sitting in the sand and relaxing with a good book. Spending our warm-weather days at Hunting Island is one of the most popular pastimes here in Beaufort. Simply put…it’s what we do. Beaufort area beaches.

Spring is indeed one of the best times of the year in the Lowcountry.

Beaufort County may have dodged the ice and snow from Winter Storm Fern, but the cold weather is far from finished with the Lowcountry.

An arctic air mass has settled into the region, ushering in a stretch of bitterly cold nights that will linger through the week and into the weekend. While skies will often be sunny during the day, overnight temperatures will plunge well below freezing, creating cold conditions across the area.

Week-long forecast for Beaufort County

The National Weather Service says a cold weather advisory is in effect for southeast South Carolina from 10 p.m. Monday through 9 a.m. Tuesday, with additional advisories likely as the prolonged cold pattern continues.

Forecasters say overnight apparent temperatures are expected to drop into the upper teens to low 20s each night — unusually cold for the Lowcountry.

Monday will remain sunny in Beaufort County, with afternoon highs reaching the low 50s, though gusty west winds will make it feel cooler. Clear skies Monday night will allow temperatures to fall quickly, with lows dipping into the mid-20s.

The cold trend continues Tuesday, with sunshine and highs in the upper 40s, followed by another freezing night. Similar conditions are expected through midweek, as daytime temperatures hover near 50 degrees, but overnight lows remain at or below freezing.

By the end of the week, clouds will increase slightly, and a 20% chance of showers will arrive late Friday night.

NWS forecasters are currently watching the potential for rain and snow showers on Saturday, though chances remain low, around 20%. Saturday’s high is expected to struggle to reach the low 40s, with another freezing night to follow.

Conditions improve slightly on Sunday with sunshine returning, but temperatures will remain below seasonal norms, topping out in the mid-40s.

Warming shelters available

With these sub-freezing temperatures lasting all week, warming shelters are opening across Beaufort County for those in need.

Each shelter will operate nightly from Jan. 26 to Jan. 29, opening at 5:30 p.m. and closing at 8 a.m. the following morning.

For the latest forecast and updates for your area, visit the NWS webpage.

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) — At least nine burglaries in three days have left Beaufort County residents shaken as the sheriff’s office searches for multiple suspects.

The break-ins occurred between January 31 and February 2 on Lady’s Island and Saint Helena Island. Homes were targeted overnight, with several residences hit within blocks of each other.

“I go to get out of my car and I’m looking around getting paranoid, in the summer time I do that because of alligators, now I have to do that because of people,” said Kandace Palmer, a Saint Helena Island resident.

Suspects stole liquor, firearms, power tools and other valuables from homes. Deputies also found damage to the homes in question.

Palmer lives next to two homes that were broken into. The houses are part-time residences, and she says neighbors believe they are being targeted.

“They’ll see that that houses are sometimes vacant and then they’ll come back, seeing that the people aren’t here at the time,” Palmer said.

One victim told WTOC his back door was broken into and his house was ransacked. While the burglars didn’t take any valuables, they took several bottles of alcohol and left a mess.

Neighbors have a clear message to the suspects.

“Get a job, leave us alone, you know, we work hard for what we have, its not yours,” Palmer said.

The sheriff’s office is turning to the community for help. They released security footage showing the suspects in hopes someone may recognize them. Investigators are also asking residents to look back at any security footage they may have of the area.

While neighbors are on high alert, they say they are pleased with the sheriff’s office’s response. They have noticed ramped up patrols nearby while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information is asked to reach out to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

11 Beaufort County food businesses and one Jasper County location received B and C grades in January health inspections conducted by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Here is a rundown of the restaurants that received the lowest ratings for the month and why they scored poorly:

Bojangles had a routine inspection on Jan. 7 and scored an 84% (B). Issues noted by inspectors included:

It was reinspected on Jan. 15 and scored an 87% with a C letter grade, and again on Jan. 23 and scored a 93% with a C letter grade, both for repeated infractions.

Bojangles was last inspected on Jan. 28 and scored a 99% (A).

Johnson Creek Tavern & Restaurant had a routine inspection on Jan. 21 and scored a 71% (C). Issues noted by inspectors included:

Johnson Creek Tavern & Restaurant was reinspected on Jan. 28 and scored a 100% (A).

Basil & Bourbon, formerly Nonna Rosa, held a routine inspection on Jan. 6 and scored a 70% (C). Issues noted included:

Basil & Bourbon was reinspected on Jan. 13 and scored a 100% (A).

OKKO was inspected on Jan. 6 and scored a 70% (C). Issues noted by inspectors included:

OKKO was reinspected on Jan. 14 and scored a 99% (A).

New York City Pizza held a routine inspection on Jan. 14 and scored an 82% (B). Issues noted by inspectors included:

New York City Pizza was reinspected on Jan. 23 and scored a 97% (A).

Antojitos Agustin was inspected on Jan. 13 and scored a 91% with a B letter grade for repeated infractions from a Jan. 7 inspection. Issues included:

Antojitos Agustin was reinspected on Jan. 20 and scored a 98% (A).

Bluffton Elementary School was inspected on Jan. 30 and scored a 97% with a B letter grade for a repeated infraction:

Bluffton Elementary School has not been reinspected as of Feb. 2, but one is required within 10 days.

Centro Mex Deluxe had a routine inspection on Jan. 30 and scored an 80% (B). Issues included:

Centro Mex Deluxe has not been reinspected as of Feb. 2, but one is required within 10 days.

House of Tang had a routine inspection on Jan. 12 and scored an 82% (B). Issues included:

House of Tang was reinspected on Jan. 21 and scored a 100% (A).

La Familia had a routine inspection on Jan. 13 and scored a 78% (B). Issues noted by inspectors included:

La Familia was reinspected on Jan. 14 and scored a 96% (A).

Miramare Italian had a routine inspection on Jan. 13 and scored an 82% (B). Issues included:

Miramare Italian was reinspected on Jan. 21 and scored a 100% (A).

Agave Azul Tacos and Tequila had a routine inspection on Jan. 12 and scored an 85% (B). Issues included:

Agave Azul Tacos and Tequila was reinspected on Jan. 20 and scored a 100% (A).

What the grades mean

Inspectors give restaurants a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for various infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score in a reinspection.

The grade scale is as follows:

In January, the SCDA recorded 247 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores, and other food establishments in Beaufort County and 34 in Jasper County.

The agency publishes the results of these health inspections on its website.

Newer food-grade decals include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see a food establishment’s latest report.

How to request an inspection

If there is an establishment for which you wish to request an inspection, you can submit a concern to the SCDA by filling out the Food Safety Complaint Form.

To learn more about how the grading system and inspections work, click here.