Mount Pleasant Magazine March April 2026

105 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com BY COLIN MCCANDLESS Winds of Fortune Blessing of the Fleets along the Carolina coast MOUNT PLEASANT BLESSING OF THE FLEET & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Here in the Lowcountry, we take our seafood seriously, which is why our vehicles sport bumper stickers adamantly declaring that “friends don’t let friends eat imported shrimp.” If you want to come celebrate the captains and crews who labor to catch that fresh local seafood while enjoying a wonderful time with your community in a beautiful setting, the Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival returns to Mount Pleasant on April 26 at Memorial Waterfront Park from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Launched in 1988 by the Magwood family, who have worked for more than a century in the Shem Creek fishing industry, this annual festival pays tribute to Mount Pleasant’s local shrimping and fishing heritage. The event features a host of family-friendly activities including a boat parade and ceremonial blessing of the shrimp/fishing fleet, savory seafood samplings sold by some of Mount Pleasant’s best chefs, live music, a craft show, Mount Pleasant Artists Guild juried art exhibit, shag dance and shrimp-eating contests and more. The best part: admission and activities are free. Local restaurants and caterers will be serving seafood and other festival-favorite menu items to sample. Stroll through the craft show and enjoy a variety of handmade wares. The central message of the event is to encourage people to “shop local” and “support local,” said Town of Mount Pleasant Events Coordinator Tracy Richter. Event T-shirts will feature a photograph of Shem Creek taken by the late TJ Phillips, radio personality and former coIn April, Mount Pleasant hosts its annual Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival which honors the town’s local fishing and shrimping heritage. Photo credit: Town of Mount Pleasant Communications Office. Photo by Town of Mount Pleasant Communications Office.

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