Habersham’s THIRD FRIDAY Celebrations Return, June 19
Habersham’s THIRD FRIDAY Celebrations Return June 19th With Opening Of Habersham Discovery Trail And Tribute To First Responders
story and photos by Mystic Osprey Gallery
To celebrate Governor McMaster’s call for South Carolina businesses to “Return to Normal,” Habersham Marketplace’s Third Friday Events return June 19th from 5-8 p.m.
On that Third Friday, Habersham Discovery Trail, a community-backed project, will unveil a new birdhouse that is an exact replica of Habersham’s Firehouse to honor First Responders. “When we set out to create the Discovery Trail blazed with birdhouses, we had no idea our First Responders’ tribute would be what it is today, with the way life has changed and COVID-19,” said Robert Howell, Project Leader and Owner of Mystic Osprey Gallery. “We just wanted to do something special for the men and women who save lives every day, and now look where we are.”
“This birdhouse is truly a historic symbol now,” stated Captain Daniel Byrne, Burton Fire District’s Community Support Officer. “This birdhouse is going up next to our fire station to honor First Responders as our state takes its first steps out of the COVID-19 crisis. So now this is not simply a sight to see and enjoy, but a remembrance of our community’s victory over COVID-19 and the role First Responders played in that. We love it and glad it’s here next to our station.”
The one-mile “Discovery Trail,” is a safe, easily walked course on roads and sidewalks blazed with birdhouses to guide visitors through Habersham’s Marketplace and into Habersham’s award-winning New Urbanism landscape. Habersham’s Discovery Trail gives guests a taste of its walkable neighborhood, amenities, restaurants, retail shops, and health and wellness businesses.
Trail walkers will be offered a 10% discount at select Habersham Marketplace shops if they mention the Habersham Discovery Trail in their Facebook and Instagram posts. Share pictures of a favorite birdhouse and any participating marketplace business on your social networks, using the #HabershamMarketplace hashtag. To claim the 10% discount, show the post on your feed to the participating Habersham merchant. The mention and picture must be from the day the discount is claimed.
Participating merchants include River and Marsh, Madaline Cathleen Designs, Cork & Rind, Mystic Osprey Gallery, Lily & Lou’s, Synergy Cycling, Living Color Salon, Sunset Slush, Branning Fine Art, and Barking Beautiful.
Project leaders worked with a Hunting Island Shorebird Steward and a Master Naturalist, who are Habersham residents, to site the birdhouses for bluebirds, wrens, owls, kestrels, and wood ducks. The two-family wren-house replica of Habersham’s Firehouse was created by Habersham resident, Paul Metzger, and painted by Maddie Scutta from Madaline Cathleen Designs. “I was honored to participate in the Discovery Trail birdhouse project! It was fun to be creative with the group of participants and see their birdhouses transform into beautiful works of art,“ Scutta said.
Gooding Contractors built ten other species-specific, cedar birdhouses with plans from The Cornell Lab NestWatch , and Ms. Scutta led talented residents in a workshop to paint the wren and bluebird houses beautifully with bird friendly paints. Per NestWatch, the larger houses for owls, kestrels, and wood ducks were kept raw.
“We wanted to create a lovely walk-about to give visitors another reason to find Habersham on the Beaufort map and come see us,” said Howell. Visitors can view the Discovery Trail map, find Cornell Lab’s Merlin Bird ID app, and learn more information about Habersham Marketplace by using a QR code available at an LCD kiosk adjacent to 10 Market Restaurant.
“We imagine people making an afternoon out of a visit to Habersham,” said Kate Skinner, owner of River & Marsh, a fine apparel and accessories shop. “Wander the Discovery Trail. Eat at our restaurants. Stop into River & Marsh, and visit our friends at Mystic Osprey Gallery, A Village Vault, Pearls Before Noon, Branning Fine Arts, and Madaline Cathleen Designs. Get your hair done. Take a spin cycling class. You can easily make a day of it,” said Skinner.
Habersham’s Marketplace is a favorite Lowcountry destination with monthly celebrations every “Third Friday” from 5-8 p.m., and it has seasonal, public festivals.
Habersham is a safe, walkable village complete with vibrant outdoor patios, restaurants, retail shops, and wellness services just seven miles from Downtown Beaufort, forty minutes from Hilton Head and Palmetto Bluff, and one hour from Savanah.
