🌴 Fireworks, Live History at Marion Square and BKeDSHop

Hey Palmetto Parents!

If all goes according to plan, you are receiving this while I am in Mexico. Kids are with their grandparents and not missing us at all! If I know anything, they will be more sad saying goodbye to their grandparents than saying goodbye to us. And I am totally cool with that! Shout out to all the grandparents who support us with out kids. Even if it’s bringing us a coffee or taking our big kids out for lunch, we appreciate it.

You might have already guessed it, but this week’s newsletter is all about the Fourth of July… and donuts. A perfect combination! There is a list of all the fireworks happening Saturday and what time they start. Most of them start around 9pm or later.

In addition to all the firework displays that will happen this weekend, there are a few different special events happening in order to celebrate the 250 years of America. Check out Marion Square anytime after 10am to see some special demos and more. There are a few different expos to see as well. Tickets are required but both events are free to the public!

Now to the food… If you have yet to try BKeDSHop this is your sign! They have a few different locations in every corner of Charleston, which makes it a perfect pit stop for families this weekend.

Lastly, I have a sweet reminder that the 4 of July celebrations look very different with kids and that’s okay. Hopefully it will give you some parent to parent encouragement!

Be safe, and happy Fourth!

Let’s face it, fireworks and kids don’t go together well or at all! Keeping one kid safe at the cookout is hard enough but add two, three or even more of your own kids to keep safe - it feels impossible! If you are wanting to celebrate this Fourth of July with your kids and the rest of Charleston, we’ve got you covered! Charleston has several fantastic family-friendly celebrations. Here are some of our favorite places to celebrate the Fourth of July with kids.

If you're looking for a full evening of entertainment, head to Waterfront Park for one of the biggest celebrations in the Lowcountry. Beginning at 4pm, families can enjoy patriotic festivities, a live performance by Ranky Tanky alongside the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and the largest fireworks display in the Southeast celebrating 250 years of American independence. Pack a picnic blanket and enjoy beautiful harbor views while you wait for the show.

Location: Waterfront Park, Vendue Range & Concord Street, Charleston
Admission: Free

Riverfront Park hosts one of the area's most popular family celebrations—and for good reason. Festivities begin at 5pm with live music, plenty of open green space, food vendors, and activities for kids before the Lowcountry's largest Fourth of July fireworks show lights up the sky at 9pm It's an excellent option for families looking to make an entire evening out of the holiday.

Location: Riverfront Park, 1001 Everglades Avenue, North Charleston
Admission: Free

If your family loves spending the day by the ocean, Folly Beach is the perfect destination. Build sandcastles, splash in the waves, grab dinner at a local restaurant, and stay for fireworks over the Atlantic. Parking fills up quickly, so plan to arrive early and enjoy a full beach day.

Isle of Palms is another favorite for families looking to combine a beach day with an evening fireworks show. Ice cream shops, restaurants, and easy beach access make it a fun destination for kids of all ages.

However you choose to celebrate, there's no shortage of family-friendly places to enjoy fireworks around Charleston. From the harbor and historic parks to the beaches, these celebrations are sure to become summer traditions your kids will remember for years to come.

Your favorite characters are coming to The Joe!
Bring the whole family out to meet Spider-Man, Bluey, and Paw Patrol at select RiverDogs games this season! Snap photos, make memories, and enjoy a night of baseball-packed fun the kids will love. Don’t miss these special appearances at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park!

Family fun starts here — get your tickets today at https://www.milb.com/charleston/tickets/promotions.

Charleston is kicking off the celebration of South Carolina 250 with several family-friendly events that honor the state's role in American history. Whether your family enjoys interactive history, live music, or cultural experiences, there are plenty of ways to join the celebration.

Living History in Marion Square
July 1–3 | Beginning at 10am daily
Marion Square, Downtown Charleston

Step back in time as Marion Square transforms into a living history experience centered on the Revolutionary Era. Families can explore live demonstrations, watch historical reenactments and living history moments, play colonial-era games, enjoy community art installations, experience traditional dances, and discover more interactive activities throughout the three-day event.

The Sound of Charleston: America 250 Edition
July 1 | 7 pm
Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., Downtown Charleston

Celebrate America's musical heritage during this special 75-minute performance honoring Charleston's distinctive place in the nation's rich musical history. The program features gospel spirituals, patriotic favorites including America the Beautiful, and other beloved songs that showcase the city's diverse musical traditions. Advance reservations are required.

South Carolina 250 Program at the International African American Museum
July 2 | 6:30 pm
International African American Museum, 14 Wharfside St., Downtown Charleston

Continue the South Carolina 250 celebration with an evening program at the International African American Museum. This special event highlights the stories, history, and contributions that shaped both Charleston and our nation as America marks its 250th anniversary.

These events offer meaningful opportunities for families to learn about Charleston's unique role in American history while enjoying engaging experiences together.

As you might have heard me mention before, in our house, Saturday mornings are for iced coffee and treats! One of our favorite places just opened up a new location and I am so excited to share about them. BKeDSHop has officially opened its newest, bringing its fresh, made-from-scratch doughnuts and handcrafted coffee drinks to families in the area.

Baked Shop's newest location is now open at 555 Shadowmoss Parkway, in West Ashley, making it easier than ever for families to enjoy their coffee and treats! In addition to the new West Ashley shop, Baked Shop also has locations at 408 Nexton Square Drive in Summerville, 99 Westedge Street in downtown Charleston, and 3540 Park Avenue Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, making it a favorite stop for doughnut lovers across the Lowcountry!

One of the things that makes Baked Shop unique is its rotating menu of creative flavors. The bakery regularly introduces seasonal doughs, glazes, and garnishes, so there's always something new to try alongside customer favorites. They also offer both traditional and vegan doughnut options, making it easy for everyone in the family to find a treat they'll love.

Beyond the doughnuts, Baked Shop serves a full lineup of espresso-based beverages crafted with coffee from high-quality roasters. It’s the type of place you can get drink recommendations from your barista without feeling incompetent! Parents can also enjoy hot steeped teas and refreshing iced teas, making it a great stop whether you're grabbing breakfast before camp, meeting a friend for coffee, or treating the kids after a day of summer activities.

Each location feels unique old school with fun touches of modern. There are touches of plants and greenery throughout which makes each shop feel airy. It feels carefully planned and elegant but also feels casual enough to enjoy giant donuts with you’re children!

As far as food goes they have plenty of options! Cinnamon rolls, cookies and sticky buns for starters. They offer a few different variations of pretzels which are the perfect match to the sweetness of the pastries. And the donuts? Don’t even get me started. Sprinkle, Chocolate, Strawberry and cinnamon sugar to start as there classics. Then they have a few standouts like cereal milk which is a donut covered in cereal with vanilla glaze. Don’t forget about there samoa long john, maple brown sugar and apple fritter!

If after all those pastry and donut options you still need a reason to come check them out, then wait until you hear about the shape of their donuts… square! I think this is the only square donuts I have ever seen!

The coffee, pastries and square donuts are a simple way to satisfy a sweet tooth and give you a fun experience with your kids. Baked Shop is a welcome addition to the growing dining scene!

Before kids, holidays looked a little different. You could stay out until the fireworks ended, linger at the neighborhood cookout, or spend the entire day by the pool without thinking twice. Our last fourth of July before kids we spent in kayaks watching the fireworks over the Boston Harbor. It was an epic way to go into fourth of July retirement!

Now? The type of celebration is impossible. Especially because fireworks don't even start until after bedtime and our kayaks only fit two people.

If you're in the thick of parenting young children, chances are your holiday plans revolve around naps, early dinners, snacks packed in the cooler, sunscreen reapplications, and figuring out whether it's worth keeping everyone awake for a 10pm fireworks show. Sometimes the answer is simply... no.

There have been years when we've skipped the big celebrations altogether. Crowded parks, toddlers who suddenly need to be carried, babies startled by loud fireworks, and older kids running around with sparklers can make what should feel relaxing feel anything but. While store bought fireworks are beautiful, they also come with real safety concerns, especially when little ones are curious and unaware of the risks.

It's easy to look around at friends without young kids and wonder if you're missing out. But the truth is, this season is temporary.

One day, we'll stay for the fireworks.

One day, our kids won't need us to hand them another snack every five minutes or search the bottom of the beach bag for a tissue. They'll swim confidently while we actually get to sit in a chair and finish a conversation. They'll carry their own towels, put on their own sunscreen (or at least remember to try), and we won't spend every second counting little heads.

And then, before we know it, those same kids will be grown. Holidays won't be about chasing them around the pool and they'll be about enjoying quality time together. We'll watch fireworks side by side, share meals that aren't interrupted every few minutes, and laugh about the years when leaving the house felt like packing for a week-long vacation.

If your Fourth of July ends with bedtime stories instead of fireworks, or if you choose a backyard sprinkler over a packed celebration downtown, you're not doing it wrong. You're simply in a different chapter.

These years may feel exhausting at times, but they're also the years your children will remember most. The magic isn't always in the big event. It's in the ice cream melting down little hands, the red, white, and blue popsicle-stained smiles, and the joy of watching the world through your children's eyes!

The fireworks will still be there in a few years. The Boston Harbor has been around for (at least) 250 years, it will be there in a few years when my kids are grown. Whatever you feel like your’e missing out on? You’re right and it’s hard. But hold on tight and remember life is different now, but different can also be better. We just might have to wait a few more years before we get ‘the better’.

So enjoy the in between that might feel boring. Because right now, your little ones need you more than the grand finale.

Have the best week and happy 4th of July!

Love, Jenna