🌴 Family Fun Nights, Free Outdoor Adventures & A Local March Madness!

Good morning, Summerville!

We hope you had a great week and are ready for a beautiful Saturday. This week we have a lot of information you don’t want to miss- free entry to Beidler Forest, new family fun nights at the community center, and a bomb new smoothie shop in Nexton. And if you want some inspiration going into Daylight Savings time, we got you covered. Be sure to participate in our nominations for March Madness: The Ultimate Summerville Showdown to win some great prizes! 👇🏼

Today’s sponsor is fitting because it’s all about how to save money on the rising costs of owning pets — the costs which we are painfully familiar with.

This past week our dog broke her toe, which cost $800 and 8-12 weeks of recovery 😭 

People keep telling us we should have pet insurance and at this point I feel like they’re right. If you have a pet and don’t have insurance, check out some affordable options below.

Protect your pet and wallet against rising costs

Some pet surgeries can cost as much as $10,000.

Pet insurance can provide up to 90% reimbursement for covered accidents and illnesses.

View Money’s Best Pet Insurance list and find protection today.

Find protection for your pet

Btw, Daniel has a weekly podcast he hosts called Two Dads in Tech, and this week they discuss the question everyone is asking… Did your love for your pet decrease when you had kids? Listen to the full episode here.

March Madness: The Ultimate Summerville Showdown!

This March, Palmetto Parents is putting Summerville’s best family-friendly restaurants and parks head-to-head in a bracket-style showdown—and YOU get to decide the winners!

How It Works:

• Round 1: We’ll start with 8 top restaurants and 8 parks, based on your nominations.

• Voting Rounds: Each week, we’ll post polls in the newsletter for you to vote.

• Final Showdown: By the end of March, we’ll crown Summerville’s Best Family-Friendly Restaurant & Park! We will announce the winning park and restaurant at the beginning of April.

Your participation each week will count as an entry to win a gift card to the winning restaurant. We will be mailing out six gift cards to randomly drawn participants: a $50 gift card, $25 gift card, and four $10 gift cards.

Round 1 Nominations: Click here to send us your nominations for the top family friendly restaurant (can include coffee shops/dessert shops) and family friendly park and next week the voting will begin!

TO DO

Free Admission at Beidler Forest

Looking for a weekend adventure that brings the whole family closer to nature? Audubon’s Beidler Forest is the perfect way to explore the stunning beauty of South Carolina’s only old-growth cypress-tupelo swamp—and the boardwalk tickers are free on the second Saturday of each month! This includes this Saturday, March 8th. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous, so it’s a great time to get outside and take advantage of free admission.

• Location: Audubon’s Beidler Forest, 336 Sanctuary Rd, Harleyville, SC

• Date: Second Saturday of every month

• Time: 9am-5pm

• Cost: Free admission on Second Saturdays! (Some guided activities have a fee.)

On other days, general admission for the boardwalk ranges from $7–$12 (kids under 5 free, discounts for seniors, military & Audubon members). If you purchase tickets more than 24 hours in advance you get $1 discount per ticket. Some guided activities—like kayak tours, photography workshops, and night walks—require an additional fee. The boardwalk is open Wednesday-Saturday 9am-6pm and Sundays 11am-4pm. Their grassland and woodland trails are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset are are free of charge.

🌳 What is Beidler Forest?

Located in the heart of Four Holes Swamp, Beidler Forest is an 18,000-acre wildlife sanctuary home to the largest remaining virgin cypress-tupelo swamp in the world. This protected ecosystem offers a breathtaking glimpse into untouched wetlands, where some of the bald cypress trees are over 1,000 years old. The sanctuary is a haven for wildlife, including barred owls, river otters, prothonotary warblers, alligators, and more. With a 1.75-mile boardwalk, visitors can explore the swamp without getting their feet wet while soaking in the peaceful, moss-draped scenery.

🦉 What to Expect on Second Saturdays

Each Second Saturday, the sanctuary offers hands-on nature experiences, guided walks, and interactive programs tailored for all ages. Families can wander along the boardwalk, keeping an eye out for wildlife and listening to the sounds of nature. It takes an average of 1.5 hours to walk the boardwalk, so keep that in mind for your family. You may not want to walk the entire trail if you have young kids or you may want to bring your stroller along.

🌱 Why It’s Great for Families:

• Outdoor Fun! Unplug and explore the wonders of the swamp.

• Wildlife Encounters! Kids will love spotting turtles, herons, and frogs.

• Educational & Engaging! Learn about conservation in an interactive way.

• Stroller Friendly! The boardwalk and trails are great for even the littlest of visitors.

Bring comfy walking shoes, bug spray, and a curious mind—there’s always something new to discover!

🔗 More info here

LOCAL EVENT

Family Fun Nights At Rollins Edwards Community Center

Looking for exciting ways to spend time with the family this March? The Rollin Edwards Community Center downtown Summerville has a fantastic lineup of events that are sure to bring fun, competition, and a little bit of magic to your week! Mark your calendars and register today for these upcoming family-friendly activities:

🏰 Disney Family Trivia Night

📅 Wednesday, March 12 | 🕕 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
📍 Rollin Edwards Community Center
💲 $3 per participant (ages 5+)

Calling all Disney lovers! Put your Disney knowledge to the test at this special Family Trivia Night dedicated to all things Disney! From princesses to talking animals, we’ll cover it all. Get your team together and compete for some magical prizes!

• Teams of up to 5 (ages 5+) can participate.

• Kids under 5 are welcome to join the fun but won’t count toward the team size.

• Coming alone? No worries! We’ll have a sign-up sheet for solo players to join a team.

🔗 Register now: Sign Up for Trivia Night

🧩 Family Puzzle Party

📅 Wednesday, March 19 | 🕕 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Rollin Edwards Community Center
💲 $5 per participant (ages 5+)

Think you and your family are puzzle pros? Put your skills to the test at the Family Puzzle Party! Teams will go head-to-head to complete a 500-piece puzzle within two hours. But there’s a twist—expect some minute-to-win-it mini-challenges along the way that could give your team an advantage!

• Teams of up to 5 players (ages 5+) will all receive the same puzzle.

• Children under 5 are welcome to participate but won’t count toward the team limit.

• Every team gets a participation prize, but the winners will take home a Summerville restaurant gift card!

🔗 Register now: Sign Up for Puzzle Party

🎲 Family Bingo Night

📅 Saturday, March 22 | 🕞 Doors Open at 3:30 PM | Games Begin at 4:00 PM
📍 Rollin Edwards Community Center
💲 FREE for all ages!

Join us for an exciting evening of bingo fun for the whole family! Whether you're a bingo veteran or a first-time player, this event is open to all ages and completely free to play.

• Doors open at 3:30 PM, and the games start at 4:00 PM—be sure to grab your spot early!

• A variety of prizes will be up for grabs.

• Concessions will be available for purchase to snack on while you play!

🔗 Register now: Sign Up for Bingo

RESTAURANT

The Bomb Bar

Exciting news for Summerville residents and visitors: The Bomb Bar has officially opened its doors in the heart of Nexton! They had a soft opening on Wednesday and are now open daily. ​The name "The Bomb Bar" is inspired by Blender Bombs, a nutrient-dense superfood smoothie booster that was created by Helen Hall in Charleston. Since launching Blender Bombs in 2017 and gaining nationwide success, the brand expanded into brick-and-mortar Bomb Bar locations—first in West Ashley, then Raleigh, and now with its latest spot in Nexton. The Blender Bombs are central to the shop's smoothie offerings, embodying their commitment to health and flavor.

What to Expect at The Bomb Bar:

🍓 Smoothies: Crafted with fresh ingredients, their smoothies are both delicious and nutritious, perfect for a quick pick-me-up.​ Each smoothie contains a blender bomb which include 12+ superfoods, so they are perfect as a meal replacement or substantial snack. They also offer $6 smoothies for kids 12 & under.

☕️ Coffee & Tea: Whether you're in the mood for a robust coffee or a soothing tea, they've got you covered.​ They serve locally roasted King Bean Coffee.

🥪 Healthy Eats: From plant-based grab-and-go snacks to drool-worthy toasts, there's something for everyone.​ They stock Mabel Mae’s pastries, like donuts, coffee cake, and muffins. Mabel Mae’s is a local bakery that makes all goods gluten free, vegan, and without refined sugars. For those in the gluten free and vegan community, we know it’s a huge deal to finally have a retailer sell Mabel Mae’s in Summerville!

💣 Blender Bombs: They have a variety of flavors of blender bombs for you to purchase to use at home as well as their own brand of bars, protein, and granola.

The Bomb Bar's expansion into Nexton reflects its commitment to providing wholesome and tasty options to the community. The store owner, Julie, is a Nexton resident and is passionate about bringing nutritious options to the area. I tried the Community Spark smoothie (strawberries, bananas, honey, blueberries and cinnamon) based on her recommendation and loved it. The addition of the Blender Bombs in the smoothies really elevates it beyond ones you make at home.

Be sure to follow their Instagram page for the latest updates, promotions, and mouth-watering photos of their offerings. ​Whether you're starting your day with a nutrient-packed smoothie or enjoying a leisurely afternoon coffee, The Bomb Bar offers a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for all.​

📍 Location: 424 Brighton Park Blvd. Summerville
⏰ Hours: Monday-Friday 6am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm

PALMETTO PIECE

Springing Forward—One Hour, One Opportunity

Daylight Savings Time is here, and if you’re a parent, you already know what that means—bedtime battles, groggy mornings, and a household adjusting to a missing hour (cue the Oscars humor above). But while the time change can throw us off, it also brings something beautiful: longer evenings to slow down and soak up the extra daylight.

Instead of focusing on the lost sleep, what if we saw this as a reset? A chance to shift our routines, savor family dinners with sunlight streaming in, and embrace the promise of spring just around the corner. Maybe it’s the push we need to take an evening walk, linger a little longer outside, or just breathe in the fresh air that’s been waiting for us all winter.

So yes, the first few mornings may feel tough. But soon enough, we’ll be chasing fireflies, enjoying late sunsets, and wondering why we ever dreaded the change. Here’s to more light, more moments, and more memories in the making. 🌿💛

Love,

The Berks 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦