The Festival of Hope announces its celebration featuring a day of community, music, prizes, unity, and purpose on Saturday, May 17th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The family-friendly event is free to attend and will be held at the First Baptist Athletic Complex football field on James Island. The Festival of Hope is designed to raise awareness about mental illness and substance use disorders and addictions while celebrating community, resilience, and hope.
With 1 in 5 South Carolinians facing mental health challenges and overdose rates continuing to rise across South Carolina, Festival of Hope aims to unite families, individuals, and organizations to receive help and be part of the solution.
“We want people who are facing mental health and addiction challenges to know that they are not alone and that help is available right here in our community,” said Kyle Hooss, Associate Pastor at James Island Baptist Church. “This festival is about offering support, love, and laughter. Whether you're in need, know someone who is, or just want to celebrate community, Festival of Hope checks all those boxes and will be a great time for everyone.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
Attendees can look forward to a fun-filled, family-friendly day featuring:
- Live music from Wildflower Station, a beloved local Charleston band
- Carnival games and activities for families, including a mechanical rodeo shark • A Kids Zone run by Chick-fil-A James Island
- A free lunch voucher for the first 1,000 attendees
- Color Guard Ceremony by the Ralph H. Johnson American Legion Post 147
- National Anthem sung by local favorite, Marilyn Clifford
- A motivational message from House Representative Mark Smith
- 35+ Vendors of Hope offering resources ranging from mental health and addiction services spanning counseling, youth mentorship, counseling, housing programs, food assistance, and more.
Attendees can enjoy fare from local favorites, including Charleston Crab House, Chick-fil-A, Kona Ice, and Tom’s Coffee Truck, while connecting with organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, James Island Outreach, Charleston Center, Wake Up Carolina, Warrior Surf Foundation, Celebrate Recovery, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and many more nonprofit, faith-based, and government partners.
To RSVP, see the full list of participating organizations, learn more about the event, or get involved, visit www.hopeforcharleston.com.