Charleston makes every event special.

by Ed Camp

Every year in the summer, I remember our annual trek to the coast.  When I was a kid growing up in the Piedmont Area of North Carolina, all the textile mills shut down for the week of July 4th and everyone went to the beach . . . usually Myrtle Beach.  We'd get up really early, way before the sun started heating up the humid air, and head out to the coast. 

On one of our trips, I remember seeing a sign for Charleston, and thought about what an exotic place that must be.  It just sounded so regal, and I had just learned about all the interesting things that happened there during the Civil War.  (Charlestonians call it the "Time of the Great Discomfort.")  It wasn't until I was in my mid 20's that I finally found out why Charleston is so special, and it's called me back ever since.  I lived here for two years back in the late 80's, and returned four years ago. 

Going and coming for over 20 years, I see what makes the area such a delight to tourists, which of course is part of what makes it a great place for major corporate events.  The mixture of Civil War history, the plantation culture, working artists, amazing Lowcountry cuisine, and architecture that appears to be frozen in time makes it a hard place to beat for a corporate meeting or convention.  Charleston has always cared enough about its heritage to protect itself from too much commercialization.

Planning an event in Charleston can be made easy just by tapping into everything the city has to offer.  Here are three of my favorite resources:

• The Gullah Tradition.  The word "Gullah" means "mixture," which makes sense when you find out that the Gullah people came from the former slaves that took up residence on some of the isolated Coastal Islands after they became free.  They remained isolated for years, and developed an interesting culture that was influenced by their African roots, West Indies customs and more. There are a couple of very good performance groups who are passionate about preserving the Gullah way of doing things, from their crafts to their food to their special dialect.  I love using them for corporate events.
• The H.L. Hunley.  The Hunley was a Civil War "submarine" that sunk after its first mission, and was found within the last ten years.  Researchers are busy trying to figure out why, and a restoration of the vessel is underway.  Groups can tour the Hunley facility and there are a number of historical re-enactors who can come to an event and tell all about it.
• Lowcountry Blues bands.  As with the Gullah traditions, Lowcountry Blues evolved from the trials and tribulations of the local residents to become a mixture of blues, swing and old fashioned R&B.  It's a lot more upbeat than the Memphis Blues, and really is great for parties.  There are a couple of great local bands who play it, but I really love Shrimp City Slim.

In a city as rich with tradition as Charleston, there are so many more suggestions I can offer.  The suggestions offered here are what I call "the tried and true that never become tired."  We'll see you in Charleston!