“Pluff Mud: Where life is slow and oysters grow.”
That’s this year’s slogan for the Winyah Bay Heritage Festival, this weekend, March 2nd and 3rd in Georgetown, South Carolina, just south of DeBordieu and Pawleys Island, and only an hour north of Charleston. 
Now in its sixth year, the festival is designed to celebrate the rich history of the Winyah Bay area, with an emphasis on conservation, preservation, art, hunting, fishing, decoy carving and other unique traditions.
This year’s featured artist, Lee Arthur of McClellanville, has carved an Atlantic Sturgeon that will be auctioned. The Atlantic Sturgeon was harvested for years as they produce the best caviar, but due to over fishing, they can no longer be harvested for their prized black eggs. This large, prehistoric, alligator looking fish swims in Winyah Bay and is often seen jumping, creating a huge splash, not unlike a hooked tarpon.
To help visitors understand what the festival is all about, great events are lined up for young and old. The Palmetto Dock dogs are back to show the agility of dogs that are part of our extended family. The Department of Natural Resources is providing their fishing simulator to test your skills with a line and also their shooting range to see if your aim is what it used to be. Brad Jones has been keeping his snakes ready for his “Snakes in Our Own Backyard” lecture, sure to please kids and those grownups that just aren’t so sure. The Youth Calling Clinic and Contest will allow your boy or girl to prove their worthiness on their first duck hunt. If they aren’t quite ready, we have fish and dogs they will be happy to paint. Mr. John Tanner takes us on ”An Imaginary Turkey Hunt” and we will be treated to a lecture about the “Story of the Sturgeon” given by a DNR representative. If you need one more event to grab your attention, the Center for the Birds of Prey will be on hand with live birds and will answer all of your avian questions.
All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsors benefit the Georgetown County Historical Society, which in turn supports the Georgetown County Museum, a 501 c3 entity.
In addition to festival activities, many museums and tours in the area are available to further your knowledge of this the Winyah Bay area.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, March 2, 2013
9am-4:00pm Palmetto Dock Dogs
10 am – 5 pm All Exhibits Sites Open
Bobby Alford Recreation Center, East Bay Park, Greenwich Drive
10 am – 12 pm S. C. Department of Natural Resources Heritage Trailer
& 1 pm – 5 pm (Virtual Fishing and Shooting)
10 am – 4 pm Children’s Painting
You choose a wooden dog or fish rack to paint and take home.
11 am – 4 pm Sponsor Tent Open
11 am Sturgeon Lecture with Bill Post, DNR (Inside Bobby Alford Center)
11 am Youth Duck Calling Clinic Session 1 featuring Hugh McLaurin of Big Lake Duck Calls out of Elloree, SC (Registration required $10.00)(STAGE)
11 am Retriever Demonstrations Palmetto Gun Dogs
11 am – 4 pm Walter Hill Blacksmithing
11 am – 3 pm Shark Tooth Excavation
12 pm – 1 pm Learn to throw a Cast Net
Behind the Kids Korner
12pm Turkey Calling John Tanner (STAGE)
Through storytelling John takes us on an imaginary
turkey hunt demonstrating different calling techniques.
1 pm Youth Duck Calling Clinic Session 2 featuring Hugh McLaurin of Big Lake Duck Calls. (Registration required $10.00) (STAGE)
3 pm Snakes in Our own Backyard (STAGE) An informative
demonstration to help make us all aware of some of our local
species.
3 pm Retriever Demonstrations Palmetto Gun Dogs
4 pm Special Auction
5 pm All Exhibits Close
Sunday, March 3, 2013
9-4 pm Palmetto Dock Dogs
9:00 am Onsite Registration / Practice –
10:00 am Big Air Wave # 5
11:30 am Big Air Wave # 6
1:00 pm Speed Retrieve
Speed Retrieve Finals – Immediately following Speed Retrieve™ Wave
Big Air Finals (divisional) – Immediately following Speed Retrieve™ Finals
10 am Exhibit Sites Open East Bay Park
10 am Birds Of Prey Demonstration (STAGE)
10 am- 12:30 S.C. Department of Natural Resources Heritage Trailer
& 1:30-4 pm (Virtual Fishing and Shooting)
10 am – 3pm Children’s Dog Painting and Fish Rack Painting
You choose dog or fish to paint and take home.
11:00 am Youth Duck Calling Contest and Awards (STAGE)
11 am – 4 pm Walter Hill Blacksmithing
11 am Retriever Demonstrations Palmetto Gun Dogs
12 pm – 2 pm Sponsor Tent Open
12 pm – 3 pm Shark Tooth Excavation
2 pm Snakes in Your Own Backyard (in the fish painting tent)
12 pm -3 pm The South Carolina State Duck Calling Championship
Champion of Champions Contest, Jr. SC Duck Calling
Championship, and SC Duck Calling Championship (STAGE)
12:30 – 1:30 Learn to throw a Cast Net
Behind the Kids Korner
3 pm Retriever Demonstrations Palmetto Gun Dogs
4:00 pm 2013 Festival Closes Thank you for all your support!
