♪ Hello, I'm Beryl Dakers.

Welcome to "Palmetto Scene."

Christmas time is here and as the song goes, it is my favorite time of year with unique celebrations going across the state.

We begin this episode with a visit to the Low Country and the Gullah Kinfolks holiday musical "Christmas Wish...

Freedom."

Celebrated on the Sea Islands of Beaufort, South Carolina, it's the last Christmas before the Civil War.

On December 20, 1860, South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union.

Our friend, Aunt Pearlie Sue and the Gullah Kinfolk, bring this history alive through interactive storytelling, dancing, hand clapping, foot stomping music that mesmerizes audiences as they journey back in time to celebrate this special Yuletide season.

♪ Trouble will be over ♪ ♪ When we see Jesus ♪ ♪ Trouble will be over ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Trouble will be over ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Trouble will be over ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ <Anita Singleton-Prather> Well, it's the last Christmas before the Civil War.

The masters of South Carolina have already said that if Abraham Lincoln was elected president that November of 1860, that South Carolina was going to secede out of the Union.

All the plantation owners from all over South Carolina <a.k.a.

Aunt Pearlie Sue> gathered at an institution up in Charleston and every one of them signed.

And on December 20, 1860, South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union.

So, when you get a glimpse of the stage, you see half is set up - one third of it is set up as the quarters; the other third is set up in the big house.

So, you see the servants in the big house and you see the servants in the quarters.

But the servants in the big house heard the masters say, he ain't gonna let no Yankee tell him what for do with his slave.

So he says "I'm goin' to war for it."

So, it's war talking goin' on in the big house, So we in the quarters talkin' 'bout, "Well, we know freedom's soon to come."

And that was our Christmas wish, freedom.

And so that excitement on top of the Yuletide seasons, is what you'll see.

<sticks pounding rhythmically> ♪ Trouble will be over ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Trouble will be over ♪ ♪ Amen.

Yeah, ♪ ♪ trouble will be over ♪ ♪ When we see Jesus ♪ ♪ Trouble will be over ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ <indistinct chatter> <Scott Gibbes> Here in Beaufort is one of the places that I think is one of the lost treasures that people don't hear about, that we were some of the first freed slaves here.

And so this is a vision that God gave Aunt Pearlie Sue, that she needed to tell the story, and we do it through musical entertainment, over the years and it's grown, and what's really most exciting about it, is that it's never the same each time.

So, if you come to one of our productions and you said "Oh, I've already seen that."

Well, no, you would not have seen it, because every year is always different.

<rhythmic stomping and singing> ♪ Glory be to God on high ♪ <Joan Linyard> My daughter became involved, and then later some years later, I became involved with it, and I just - I love it.

It just brings a lot of joy to my heart.

It's service, it's service.

It's praising the Lord, and every song that I sing, I'm singing from my heart, just enjoying.

♪ Christ was born in Bethlehem Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ <Anita> Hark the Herald.

Come on!

♪ Hark the Herald Angels sing ♪ ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ <Juanita Dantzler> My favorite part of the production is all of the musical presentations, because it's interactive with the audience.

I think it allows them to feel the message that we're trying to share with them.

So, I love that a lot, and I love the depth of the actual mid passage voyage where it shows the feet and you can hear the pain from the actors, which will hopefully allow the audience and those that are watching on video to feel what was went through, and to understand the true purpose and meaning of the journey.

<singing and stomping rhythmically> ♪ Hallelujah!

♪ <Raul Bradley> The audiences have been just wonderful.

I mean, from the children, to the adults, everybody come back and they say, "I got something out this time; I didn't see that before."

And the younger children, it strikes them.

It makes them say, "Oh, this is serious, this actually happened."

<indistinct chatter> <Juanita> Behind the scenes is a lot of visionary, like you work with the visionary, which is Anita Singleton- Prather, Aunt Pearlie Sue, and the different personalities of the different characters, you have to be able to manage that, and also make sure that the message is portrayed through everything that's done.

So, everything from staging, what's on stage, what's seen, what's heard, all of that.

So, you're kind of multitasking and you're really, truly super focused on everything that's going on and what needs to happen.

<actor speaking> <Louise Maury> There's a lot of history.

There's a lot of southern history that people don't know anything about, and they get the impression from some sources, and they think that's the way it was, when in actuality, it wasn't, so it's important to portray this kind of play and stories so that people know the truth.

<Willie Bleach> Ultimately, it's a part of Beaufort.

It's a part of America.

The uniqueness that for Beaufort, most of the slaves were already free, before, you know, most everywhere else, so, to be able to tell that story and showcase it, I think is important for America moving forward.

<Sheila Jenkins Ward> I really want this message to get out about Beaufort and the importance that it has played, and not only for us here, but for our children and our children's children.

We need to tell the story repeatedly, so that we won't - or happened to our ancestors won't be repeated.

<actors speaking on stage> This little man here.

This boy here.

<Joan> I think it's vitally important, because...we're living in a time where there are still racial barriers, and I think that this show crosses those lines, it brings up conversations that normally may bring friction to talk about, but through this show, we're able to have those conversations, and bring things to the surface that's going on and to exhibit that love and just to say, "We have to look beyond the color of our skin.

"We have to look beyond our social status and just really just love each other."

<Anita> Even in the midst of craziness, even in the midst of hopelessness or despair or pain, let us find some joy.

>> A Gullah Kinfolk Christmas is just enjoying family.

Take whatever you have, and make the best of it.

♪ Hallelujah!

♪ <Beryl> Our look at unique holiday celebrations continues with a trip to the coast.

Here's ETV and South Carolina Public Radio's, Bradley Fuller.

>> Thanks Beryl, what better way to get into the holiday spirit than with the best parade on the water?

The Intercoastal Christmas Regatta brings yachts and boats covered in Christmas lights and decorations to thousands of spectators across many points along the waterway.

This unique fundraising activity makes a positive impact on the community and the lives of children throughout Horry County.

♪ Jingle Bells ♪ <Susie Nye Watson> Well, it happened about 37 years ago, my... uncle Captain Pooh McLaughlin, my husband, Royce Watson and myself we're sitting around Palmetto Shores Marina at that time.

It's now called Captain Archie's and we were wondering what we were going to do after the fishing tournaments for the season and Pooh says, "Well, let's just do a Christmas parade.

We start with the committee and it's a year of planning.

First of all, you know, just getting the PR out there.

Everyone knows that it's always the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

We do something called Yachts for Tots, just like the Toys for Tots, but we're Yachts for Tots.

We put out boxes along the local area and we ask that if you come out and watch the parade, bring an unwrapped toy and those go to the less fortunate children in the community.

We go through the schools, the agencies.

Different people will pick up the phone and call us, and it's just a way that I can give back and know that the children of my local community is having a Christmas like I had when I was a little girl.

♪ <Michael Stewart> Well, it's our first time in the parade or the Regatta, and we're locals.

My wife and I are locals, and this is my niece in law, and she's from <Sidney Hughes> - I'm from Virginia.

<Michael> Yeah, and so she's here.

She just wanted to be part of it and so, we're both excited to be in it.

Our boat name is Doggy Style, because we have <Sidney> four dogs <Michael> Four rescues.

Yes, we're dog people.

So, the name of our dog is doggy...Our boat is doggy style.

So, this is our first year in it.

We're really excited.

We've seen it before, but we've actually never been in it.

So, we just want to give it a shot and see what it's like.

It seems like a lot of fun.

But, we're working.

My wife's actually, they're right now, trying to get the boat prepared.

So, you know, we're going to spend all day, tonight and all day tomorrow trying to get it ready, so hopefully we can walk away with some kind of trophy or "attaboy" or something, you know.

♪ <Will Schildgen> I am going to be driving one of the Cruisin Tikis, Myrtle Beach Tiki boats.

We're gonna be decorating them all in lights, make them look like Christmas trees and candy cane forests, going out there and just donating all for the children.

We're all about the children over at Cruisin Tikis and we're just excited to be out there on the water and being out there in the community.

One of the life boats is going to look like a Christmas tree.

We got it all brown lights on the bottom, with the green on the top.

We got ornaments that we're going to hang from the top and make it look like it's a real Christmas tree, then, our other Tiki boat is going to be looking like kind of candy cane vibes.

It's got red and white all around it, candy canes hanging from the railings, and it's just going to be a lot of fun.

♪ <Bo Gilbert> The Yachts for Tots Christmas Regatta is all about the boats and just decorating, having fun.

Of course, we have prizes, you know, so they are out there trying to decorate, and show off, you know, their talents for ...all their Christmas Regatta, you know, parade and Christmas lights and all kinds of decorations.

So, it'll be a lot of fun.

It's a lot of fun.

Some of these people started decorating two or three weeks ago.

It's crazy how some of these people really get into decorating their boat, and you'll see a lot of cool boats here in the parade, this year.

So the judging, are looking for the Christmas bright parade.

They're looking for originality.

They're looking for crew participation.

They're looking for the decorations themselves.

So, it's a lot of, - it's all about, you know, putting all three together and decide who the winner is, for each category.

The committee puts in a lot of time.

There's a lot of volunteer work a lot of time.

It's exciting for the committee to see it come to a fruition and actually be done and be over with and start planning for next year, but it's a lot of work, but it is rewarding to...see all these toys coming in, and we do have a lot of toys, you know, that this raises awareness for.

The people get excited about the parades, but again, it's all about Yachts for Tots.

♪ <Susie> There's been several committees and different people.

Some of them are still on the committee 37 years later.

Some of them have grown older and have moved on to other things, but it's a way of giving back to the community for me.

If you own a boat, sign up, be a part of that parade.

Don't just sit on the sidelines, but we also do ask that the houses, the condos, the resorts that are along the waterway, and we ask that you decorate if you have a party that night.

Have a box sitting there.

Ask your guests to bring a toy and we donate those.

They'll call us and we'll go by and pick them up or they drop them off here at one of the local marinas.

♪ Jingle Bells ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Jingle Bells ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <Susie> Being a part of this community and knowing the history of it, if you get time, research.

Look around and appreciate the marshlands.

Appreciate the ocean out there and not just the business side of it, but also the nature of it and share that with the next generation.

Those are our...what's going to happen in the future.

They need to take care of it.

So, if you take trash to the ocean, bring it back.

You take trash, out on the island, pick it up.

and...those things are appreciated, so that we can leave this for our children and the generations to come.

And don't forget, Yachts for Tots and You Gotta Regatta.

<Bradley> What a great way to give, and now with a look at individuals making a positive impact in the streets during the holiday season.

Here's our Desiree Cheeks.

>> Thanks, Bradley.

During the Christmas holiday, most people have a chance to relax, travel, and spend time with friends and family, but for the homeless community, it's not that easy.

Cold weather and other obstacles make the holidays very difficult for some.

Fortunately, in come what we call, Santa's Street Soldiers.

Men and women who donate their time and money to the mission of bringing a little joy into the lives of the homeless during the holiday season.

<Ericka> The holidays are a little bit more important to many, because it's a time that a lot of us kind of go through hardships mentally, where we've lost several family members or we don't have a close knit family, like some others, and we may see the ideal family but that's not us, and when you're serving the less fortunate, a lot of these individuals, some are out here on their own.

A lot of them may be going through hardships and they kind of steer away.

They don't want to take their family through what they're going through.

So, during the holidays, they're just out here and I found our community kind of jumps in a lot around Thanksgiving and Christmas to give back to the less fortunate, which is a great thing would be kind, be great.

We do the same.

We'll make what we call blessing bags, where we give out non-perishable food items, socks, hats, gloves.

Now, we're doing hand sanitizers and face masks and things of that nature, because it's very important to let people know you're still loved.

♪ <Regi> I...used to be homeless seven years ago.

♪ My health started depleting.

I tried to get disability.

It never came through.

Next thing I knew, I was losing my apartment.

People like Ericka and a couple of dozen other people that come out and directly deal, by serving food, clothes, whatever.

It's greatly appreciated and lets them and lets people know.

Like when I was homeless, I knew at least there was somebody that cared.

That means a lot, right there.

My mother passed.

Unbeknownst to me, she left me enough money, now I have a house.

I have a car, both bought and paid for, but I can't stop coming out here, and seeing what I can do to make sure people know where to get help.

These people aren't just homeless people, a lot of them are my friends or my family.

This is just part of what I do.

I'm very fortunate that I'm working now with about 40 churches, about 20 different organizations United Way, Cooperative ministry, social workers, probation departments.

I wasn't financially able to do what these other people were doing, but because of the lists I was putting together, at least I was able to share with people where they could find other meals, other days, other locations.

<Jennifer Bailey> When you're homeless.

It's very, it's very solitary existence, and you're often unseen.

You feel unseen.

No one looks you in the eye and talks to you, and we come down and we talk and we eat.

<James> I met with Ms Jennifer Bailey, last January or something and she was giving away a lot of food.

And we decided to start cooking, grilling, and we've been here every Tuesday at 4:30 for the last seven or eight months that we've been here.

We have not missed a day, and we enjoy it.

<Jennifer> James and I, we had a bunch of extra meat and decided to come downtown and feed some people.

We had about 20 people.

The next, week had 40, and last week, we had 200.

And what we're doing is we're taking food that's been donated, that would have otherwise gone to waste, and we are cooking it, and then feeding people who need food, and we're feeding not only the homeless, but we're also feeding people are food insecure.

So, instead of having to if they can feed their family tonight, then that money can go to pay bills, because there are a lot of people like that who need help.

It's a really nice sense of community, and I think it not only feeds people, but it feeds their souls, <Ericka> On the norm, they'll run up to the car, help us unpack, you know, put the items out whatever is needed, and in that, that's gratitude, and we're just appreciative.

We want to give a smile and receive one back.

And they always give it, you know, from my standpoint, anyway.

<Theodore> Right now.

I'm on the street.

I have a place to go, but they don't have no running water or lights, stuff like that.

I'm just during the holidays, it's a blessing.

It's a blessing.

If you're hungry and you're down here they'll feed you until you get full.

Can't go wrong with that.

That's what I like about them.

They don't say just get one plate and go...

They'll keep feeding you until they run out.

That's what I like about them They're nice people.

I love them.

<Jennifer> One can of - one pot of macaroni and cheese, a couple batches of cookies, when they all add together, which they do, we literally can feed 200 people.

So, one person can make a difference.

<Ericka> Donate, if not us, any shelter.

I advise individuals, Hey, if you're just riding, take a blessing bag in your car.

Just put socks, hat gloves, items out of the Dollar Tree actually, and if you run across someone that you feel may be down on their luck, you know, just jump out and maybe pass the bag.

If you're scared, maybe just jump out and sit the bag on the ground and kind of wave the person down and say hey, you know, here's something for you.

I know sometimes it's unknown territory to many, and some people are afraid to approach head on, which is okay, but you know, you can reach out to any organization here in the Columbia area.

You can donate financially or monetarily, to give back in any way that you feel.

You know, that's sufficient for you.

<Jennifer> There's a lot of need, and people often wonder what they can do to help.

It's actually incredibly easy.

We're creating community.

We're helping to get to know ...people and during the holidays that is extra important.

I think it's extra important.

<Beryl> As the year draws to a close, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for joining us this past year for Palmetto Scene.

<Desiree> We look forward to seeing you in the near future and hope, <Bradley> the new year brings you health and happiness <Beryl> for ETV and Palmetto Scene.

<All> Happy holidays!

♪ Go Tell It on the Mountain ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪