Edisto Blackwater Boogie

By Joy Bonala and Roger Lee

• Oct 12, 2019 Updated Aug 20, 2020

The Edisto Blackwater Boogie took place over the weekend, drawing enthusiastic crowds to Givhans Ferry State Park for the largest music festival in Dorchester County’s recent history. 

Visitors praised the beautiful weather and voiced appreciation for the opportunity to attend a live music festival inside of a state park. More than 30 different acts performed American roots music as fans also browsed vendors and dined from food trucks. 

The Edisto Blackwater Boogie has been a longtime dream of local musician Dan Riley. Two years ago, he came up with the idea of having the outdoor music festival while kayaking on the Edisto, a free-flowing blackwater river. 

All of Riley’s planning and preparation paid off- the event went off without a hitch.

“I thought it went fantastic,” Riley said. “Everyone that we heard from has had positive feedback and nothing but good things to say about it.”

Most of the sponsors have already committed to next year’s event, Riley said. State park officials were also pleased with the way the Edisto Blackwater Boogie turned out, according to Riley.

“Everyone said the event was extremely well organized and they want to be part of it again,” Riley said. “My favorite part, personally, was that my 14-year-old and 16-year-old children chose to be there and had a good time. It’s always nice to hear from other people that you’ve done a good job but to have put on an event that my teenage children think is cool- that’s the top of the line of me.”