Restrictions on activities and recreation continue to be lifted in South Carolina.
Governor Henry McMaster announced, in a press conference on May 20, 2020, that attraction facilities will be permitted to open throughout South Carolina beginning Friday, May 22nd. The governor’s announcement comes after AccelerateSC has been meeting for nearly a month to determine the safest ways to reinvigorate the state’s economy.
Entertainment Venues/Attractions lifting restrictions and may open on Friday, May 22:
- Arcades
- Museums, aquariums, and planetariums
- Indoor children’s play areas
- Bingo halls
- Venues operated by social clubs (ex. VFW)
- Large attractions include: SC Aquarium, Riverbanks Zoo, Patriots Point, State Museum
- Go cart tracks, mini-golf, laser tag, mazes, escape rooms, zip lines, single car amusement rides, billiard parlors, paintball, rope courses, Ferris wheels, etc.
Lifting restrictions on Saturday, May 30th:
- Sports involving interaction and close proximity
- Activities with shared sporting apparatus
- Commercial Public playground equipment
- Outdoor youth & adult sports activities include, but not limited to: American Legion, Little League, Dixie youth, kickball, softball, lacrosse and flag football
Organized activities can start practicing 5/30 and competitive play on 6/15
Although they were never restricted, AccelerateSC is issuing guidelines on day camps including YMCA, Vacation Bible School, church day camps, educational day camps, Scouting activities, etc.
The “Response” component of AccelerateSC has established exhaustive safety guidelines for businesses that have been allowed to reopen. Guidelines for attraction facilities can be found here and on the AccelerateSC website, along with guidelines for all recently re-opened businesses.
Hilton Head Island Beaches are Open
What You Should Know for A Safe Beach Visit…
Starting Friday, May 22, all of Hilton Head Island’s public beach accesses and parking will be open for the following beach parks:
Free overflow parking will be available at Cast Net Court for Burkes Beach visitors and at the USCB Hospitality Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, for Coligny Beach Park visitors. From 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Palmetto Breeze will shuttle beach visitors back and forth for free from the campus to Coligny Beach Park.
Parking fees will be reinstated and meters will be operational at beach parks where they are located. Beach Pass holders may park in any marked space without paying an additional fee. Vehicles that are illegally parked in unmarked spaces or along road rights of way will be towed.
Additionally, Sheriff’s Deputies and Town staff will be patrolling the beaches. Security guards will also patrol Islanders’ and Coligny beach parks.
Beach visitors should be aware of the following beach regulations:
- No alcohol (liquor), beer or wine. Violators may be cited and fined.
- No dogs or other animals are allowed on the beach between 10 am & 5 pm, starting the Friday before Memorial Day thru Labor Day.
- No shovels made of materials other than wood and/or plastic; the shovels must be less than 30″(L) and 6″(W).
- No holes greater than 12” deep. Please fill in holes before you leave. This helps protect our visitors from getting injured if they step in a hole and our sea turtles from getting trapped or injured if they fall in a hole.
- No tents, towels, chairs, coolers or other personal belongings should be left overnight. Our crews will remove and dispose of Items left behind.
Beach regulations and penalties can be found at hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
Beach visitors are encouraged to wear face coverings to protect themselves and others around them from potentially spreading the coronavirus. Please continue to practice safety and physical distancing guidelines to stay healthy and safe. Stay six feet apart.