Author: Charleston Daily

GREENVILLE COUNTRY MUSIC FEST LAUNCHES 2025 RISING STAR CONTEST
Local Bands to Compete for a Chance to Perform Alongside Zach Top, Koe Wetzel, Travis Tritt + More at GVL Fest 2025

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (SEPTEMBER 12, 2025) ━Greenville Country Music Fest (GCMF) is giving local artists the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to share the stages with country music’s biggest names. Today, organizers announced the official launch of the Rising Star Contest fueled by Monster Energy, offering up-and-coming bands and singer-songwriters the chance to perform at this year’s event, set for October 24–25, 2025, at the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park in Simpsonville, S.C.

The contest invites fans, friends, and neighbors to nominate their favorite local acts for a shot to join a star-studded lineup that already includes Zach Top, Koe Wetzel, Travis Tritt, Muscadine Bloodline, and more. From those nominations, a panel of fest judges will select four finalists to perform live on the GVL Second Stage at Greenville Country Music Fest.

“Greenville has such a rich music scene, and we know the next big thing is right here in our own backyard,” said Bob Durkin, Co-Founder of Southern Entertainment. “The Rising Star Contest gives artists a chance to showcase their talent in front of thousands of fans and truly kickstart their careers.”

The Rising Star Contest kicks off today, September 12, 2025, with nominations open through Friday, September 19. Judges will review the submissions and contact the chosen finalists, who will have 24 hours to confirmtheir participation. Once confirmed, the four finalists will be announced on Monday, September 22, just weeks before they take the stage at GVL Fest 2025.

All four Rising Star finalists will earn a coveted spot on the GVL Second Stage in October. But the journey doesn’t stop there—the artist or band that brings the biggest “boots on the ground” presence, shows the strongest connection with fans, and makes the greatest impact will take home the GVL Golden Plaque. That winner will be honored on the Michelob Ultra Main Stage and awarded the GVL Jackpot, along with an invitation to perform at Greenville Country Music Fest 2026 and a coveted slot at Carolina Country Music Fest 2026 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Eligibility
To enter, bands must:

1. Be nominated by fans, friends, or family on GVL Fest’s official social channels.
2. Complete the submission form with band details, social links, a demo sample, and a promotional photo.
3. Confirm participation within 24 hours of being selected as a finalist.

How to Nominate
Fans can tag their favorite artists in the comments on GVL Fest’s official posts and direct bands to complete the submission form at: https://gvlfest.com/contests/rising-star-search/.

Tickets to Greenville Country Music Fest
Greenville Country Music Fest returns October 24–25, 2025, bringing two nights of unforgettable music and community to Simpsonville, S.C. Tickets are on sale now at www.gvlfest.com, with the next pricing tierkicking in Friday, September 26 at midnight. Stay tuned for updates by following GVL Fest on Instagram and Facebook.

About Greenville Country Music Fest: 
CCNB Heritage Park with TRZ Management is honored to host The Greenville Country Music Fest in South Carolina’s largest outdoor amphitheater. CCNB Heritage Park has been the go-to outdoor concert venue for the Upstate since 2005, and has hosted sold-out shows for Post Malone, Hank Williams Jr, Zac Brown Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cole Swindell and more. Keeping it as local as possible, CCNB proudly utilizes local vendors, catering, food trucks, liquor companies and more.

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Columbia, S.C. (September 12, 2025) – The South Carolina Department of Transportation will close the I-26 Westbound Exit 187 and the SC 27 on ramp to I-26 Eastbound in Berkeley County beginning September 14 at 9 p.m. This closure will allow crews to shift traffic on to the new SC 27 bridge. This work is part of the I-26 Widening and SC 27 Interchange Project. 

The closure will continue until September 24. During this time, SC 27 will remain open to traffic but will be shifted on to the new SC 27 bridge. SCDOT asks that drivers slow down and pay attention to crews and signs as they navigate on to the new bridge. 

As part of this closure, a detour route has been established. A map of the detour can be found below.

About SCDOT

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is the state agency with oversight of South Carolina’s network of highways and bridges, including responsibilities such as planning, design, construction, financing, and roadway safety. To ensure the nation’s fourth-largest highway system is prepared to serve the needs of South Carolina’s growing economy and population, SCDOT has developed a Strategic 10-Year Plan that addresses improvements to the state’s highway and bridge systems. Learn more at scdot.org. 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster has issued Executive Order 2025-30, directing the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) to submit a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude the purchase of candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages from the list of eligible foods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. 

“South Carolina is doing her part to Make America Healthy Again. This request is a light-touch, common-sense approach that ensures these federal taxpayer dollars are being used to help families purchase healthy, nutritious food – not unhealthy candy and sugary drinks,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “I thank President Trump and his Administration for providing us with the ability to enhance our SNAP program so we can create healthier outcomes for South Carolina families.” 

The executive order provides definitions and exclusions for the categories as follows: 

• Candy is defined as a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. Candy shall not include the following: protein bars, granola bars, or baking ingredients such as sprinkles, chocolate melting wafers, toffee bits, or chocolate chips, or items primarily identified and sold as bakery or bread products, such as baked goods, cakes, crackers, cookies, muffins, brownies, pastries, bread, or similar products.
   
• Energy drinks are defined as beverages containing at least sixty-five (65) milligrams of caffeine per eight (8) fluid ounces that are advertised as being specifically designed to provide metabolic stimulation or an increase to the consumer’s mental or physical energy. Energy drinks shall not include coffee or tea or any substantially coffee- or tea-based beverage.
   
• Soft Drinks are defined as any nonalcoholic beverage made with carbonated water and flavored or sweetened, or both, with sugar or other natural or artificial sweeteners.
   
• Sweetened beverages are defined as any sweetened beverage, flavored or sweetened or both, with five (5) grams or more of added sugar or other natural or artificial sweeteners, ready for consumption without further processing, such as sweetened coffee, tea, lemonade, and other noncarbonated drinks.
   
• Soft drinks and sweetened beveragesshall not include:
  • (i) a beverage that contains milk, milk products, soy, rice, or other milk substitutes;
  • (ii) any beverage consisting of 50% or more natural fruit or vegetable juice with no added caloric sweetener; 
  • (iii) any product commonly referred to as “infant” or “baby” formula;
  • (iv) sports or rehydration beverages;
  • (v) carbonated water beverages; or
  • (vi) any beverage for medical use, meaning any beverage suitable for human consumption and manufactured for use as a source of necessary nutrition due to a medical condition, or for use as an oral rehydration electrolyte solution for infants and children, formulated to prevent or treat dehydration due to illness.

DSS is directed to submit its waiver request to the USDA within 14 days. If denied, DSS will revise and resubmit until approval is granted. 

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, SNAP enrollees consume significantly more sugary drinks than nonrecipients, with children enrolled in SNAP consuming 43% more than children not enrolled in SNAP with similar incomes. 

The governor’s order aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to improve health outcomes across the country. If approved, South Carolina would join a growing number of states that have received similar USDA waivers. 

By David Wallace, Business Banking Relationship Manager, Bank of America

For many entrepreneurs, fall marks a key transition point that can set the tone for year-end performance. It’s a crucial time for business owners to assess their finances and prepare to capitalize on upcoming opportunities and new cycles of customer engagement.

Some South Carolina businesses may see an influx of traffic during the fall and winter, especially during the holidays. For those that experience a natural slowdown as the temperatures drop, it’s an ideal time to refine strategies and set the stage for future peaks. Either way, the seasonal transition provides an opportunity to maximize the last part of the year.

To ensure success, here are some tips to help businesses optimize cash flow, manage inventory, and make data-driven decisions.

Solidify cash flow. Cash is king, and business owners need to meticulously manage and monitor its flow to finish the year strong. This fall, business owners can do so by:

• Forecasting budget: For businesses in certain sectors — think tourism and hospitality — cash flow is susceptible to feast-or-famine cycles. Peak summer and winter seasons may bring in a wave of customers and, therefore, substantial revenue, which leaves a potential lull during the fall months. Over-indexing on periods of high demand can lead to budgets that become hard to sustain during quiet periods. To shield the business, build potential revenue dips, whether due to slower customer activity or seasonal demand shifts, into your budget.
• Negotiating with suppliers: If there are any new suppliers you will be working with in the fall months or agreements up for renewal, plan to negotiate those vendor contracts as appropriate. Ask for extended payment terms, discounts for early payment, or volume discounts. If you can’t come to an agreement, don’t be afraid to shop around for better deals and partners.
• Accelerating receivables when possible: Look for ways to incentivize customers to make early payments. For example, you might offer a limited-time fall discount to customers who pay by a certain date. You can also stay on top of receivables by invoicing promptly, and don’t be afraid to follow up on late payments.
• Proactively exploring financing options: Don’t wait until you’re in a Q4 cash crunch to seek financing. If you don’t have an existing relationship with a bank or credit union, start fall off right by establishing one. A line of credit can be a valuable safety net toward the end of the year.

Optimize inventory for fall demand. Business owners should examine physical inventories and adjust as needed to streamline for the fall months. By strategically optimizing inventory, they can more confidently navigate fluctuating demand, avoid costly overstocks, and ensure customer needs are met. Some tactics to manage inventory include:

• Analyzing sales data and adjusting: Consult historical sales data to identify your best- and worst-selling products during the fall months. By understanding proven demand patterns, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions about which products to stock up on and which can be moved off the shelves.
• Implementing just-in-time inventory: If possible, work with suppliers to implement a just-in-time inventory system to receive items when you truly need them. This will help minimize storage costs and the risk of overstock, allowing you to capture sales opportunities while maintaining leaner operations.
• Considering seasonal promotions: As summer comes to an end, run promotions to clear out excess seasonal inventory and create more space for new fall arrivals.

Think like a CFO. Every season, business owners should use data to identify trends in customers’ behavior, forecast revenues, and plan ahead. Business owners can start by looking at the past three to five fall seasons and determining the specific revenue dips and expense spikes. From there, it is crucial to identify the why behind these numbers. Having a deep understanding of performance metrics will help entrepreneurs better prepare for the future. To do this, start by:

• Segmenting your customer base: Understand which customer segments are most active in the fall and tailor your offerings to them. Are locals more likely to spend, or are you reliant on tourists? These considerations can better inform marketing messaging and spend.
• Developing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs): While overall revenue is important, you should be using a variety of metrics to measure the success of your business. Track KPIs like customer acquisition cost, average transaction value, and website traffic, which provide visibility into your current performance and enable you to identify growth pathways, pinpoint optimization opportunities, and accelerate your progress toward goals.

Owning a business is a rewarding but challenging vocation, and a crucial element of success lies in effectively managing fluctuating consumer needs and costs as the seasons change. By taking proactive steps through the fall months, you can set your business up to thrive in the final quarter of the year.

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LUKE BRYAN ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINER FOR CAROLINA COUNTRY MUSIC FEST 2026
Five-Time Entertainer of the Year Joins Blake Shelton and Post Malone on the Myrtle Beach Stage – Tickets On Sale Now

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (SEPTEMBER 12, 2025) — Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF), the East Coast’s largest outdoor country music fest, has added another superstar to its 2026 lineup, announcing that Luke Bryan will headline the fest when it returns to Myrtle Beach, S.C., on June 4–7, 2026. The five-time Entertainer of the Year joins previously announced headliners Blake Shelton and Post Malone as CCMF continues to build one of its most exciting lineups to date.

With a career spanning more than 15 years at the top of country music, Bryan has amassed 26.6 billion global streams, 11.9 million album sales, and 47.7 million track sales worldwide. He is the most digital single RIAA-certified country artist of all time with 117.5 million digital single units, including 19 million album certifications and 98 million single certifications. A prolific hitmaker, Bryan has notched 32 #1 singles, 17 of which he co-wrote, and spent 58 total weeks at #1 on the charts.

Beyond the music, Bryan has become one of the most recognizable figures in the genre, serving as host of the ACM Awards five times and the CMA Awardsfour times, in addition to his eight-year run as a judge on ABC’s American Idol. His accolades include 50+ major music awards, including five wins as Entertainer of the Year, the ACM Album of the Decade Award, and recognition from Billboard, CMT, and the Country Music Association. He has also been honored for his philanthropy, receiving the ACM Lifting Lives Awardand the Country Radio Broadcasters Artist Humanitarian Award.

“Luke Bryan is one of the biggest entertainers in country music, and having him join Blake Shelton and Post Malone makes this year’s CCMF lineup one of the most exciting we’ve ever built,” said Bob Durkin, co-founder of Southern Entertainment, producers of CCMF. “His catalog of hits, his energy on stage, and his connection with fans are unmatched — this is going to be a show to remember.”

With four consecutive sellouts and recognition from USA Today, Billboard,and Rolling Stone, Carolina Country Music Fest has spent more than a decade delivering unforgettable live music experiences on the shores of Myrtle Beach. Luke Bryan is the third of four superstar headliners to be announced, with more to follow in the weeks ahead.

Tickets for CCMF 2026 are on sale now at CarolinaCountryMusicFest.com. Fans who purchase early will lock in the lowest price of the year, a CCMF tradition that rewards early buyers before the full lineup is unveiled. For the latest updates and exclusive #CCMFHints, fans are encouraged to follow Carolina Country Music Fest on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

About CCMF: 
Carolina Country Music Fest™, (CCMF), the East Coast’s largest outdoor country music fest, is located in Myrtle Beach, SC, at the Boardwalk within the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion Place. CCMF is host to the industry’s biggest stars with 40+ artists at the beach, June 4th-7th, 2026. CCMF hosts a unique blend of today’s country headliners, regional stars, up-and-comers and locals favorites on multiple stages. With the combination of country music and the scenic beach backdrop, this family-friendly, four-day fest is a summer vacation destination.

About Luke Bryan:
During his career, Luke has amassed a total of 26.6 Billion global streams, 11.9 Million global album sales and 47.7M track sales worldwide.  He is the most digital single RIAA certified country artist of all time with 117.5M digital single units including 19M album certifications and 98M single certifications. Luke was honored with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award in recognition of his standing as one of the most streamed artists in their 20-year history. Luke has garnered 32 #1 singles, 17 of those Luke co-wrote, and he’s accumulated 58 total weeks spent at #1 during his career. 

Luke has hosted the ACM Awards five times and the CMA Awards four times and has won 50+ major music awards including five wins as Entertainer of the Year. Additional awards include six recognitions as a CMT Artist of the Year, NSAI Artist/Songwriter of the Year, the first-ever recipient of the ACM Album of the Decade Award for Crash My Party, seven CMT Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and four American Music Awards—as well as being named Billboard’s Top Country Artist of the 2010s, the Most Heard Artist of the Decade by Country Aircheck, Artist Humanitarian Recipient by the Country Radio Broadcasters and the ACM Lifting Lives Award honor because of his devotion to improving lives through the power of music. Luke was recently inducted into the Star Trail of Fame by The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to honor his profound impact over the years. The Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage, and provides year-round educational support within the community. 

Luke, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie will return in 2026 as a celebrity judges on ABC’s “American Idol.”

About Southern Entertainment: 
Southern Entertainment is a full-service event and production company with an unwavering commitment to excellence that has produced more than 500 events across the United States. For more information, visit www.southernentertainment.com

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By Mark Andrew Watke

The SC Youth ChalleNGe Academy is a program offered by the National Guard Bureau, located in Eastover, South Carolina. The staff there serve at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18. Youth aged 15 ½ may apply and be accepted if they will turn 16 during the middle of the cycle. The academy takes students who are at risk of dropping out, have dropped out, or have been expelled and gives them the opportunity to spend 22 weeks obtaining their GED, high school diploma, or earning academic recovery credits. The academy considers high schools, police departments/sheriff’s offices, churches, therapists, and non-profits to be partners in creating a better future for South Carolina’s youth.

The academy has an educational component, with dedicated teachers on staff to assist at-risk youth in obtaining their GED, high school diploma, or academic recovery credits. Located on McCrady Training Center, the education building houses several classrooms—one for science, one for math, one for English, and one for social studies. They also have two computer labs: one that is a Pearson VUE-certified testing center and another used for credit recovery. The principal, Tamara Watkins, takes great pride in her role assisting at-risk youth and in serving as the math teacher.

Presently, the director is Ronnie Scott, a Marine Corps veteran. Director Ronnie Scott has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Benedict College and is currently working on his master’s degree in leadership. Director Scott loves the opportunity to give back to the community after his long and fruitful military career and has spent over 30 years in project management, budgeting and planning, quality assurance, and management resolution. Director Scott makes it a point to mentor his staff through required leadership and all-hands meetings. Through his briefings, he emphasizes the importance of teamwork—one prominent illustration being cars in a traffic jam. Director Scott emphasizes teamwork in all things.

Cadet Antley was banned from every school in South Carolina, but he was able to make it through the SC Youth ChalleNGe Academy. While he was a cadet at the SC Youth ChalleNGe Academy, he learned important lessons centered on eight core components. The physical training helped him improve his discipline as well as his physique and physical capabilities. He was required to wake up every morning for physical training. Once daily physical training is completed, the cadets are required to attend educational classes with the goal of obtaining their GED, high school diploma, or academic recovery credits. In the evening, they retire to the barracks associated with their platoon.

Other cadets, like Cadet Raleigh, made the most of the opportunity by nurturing their walk with the Lord through the academy. Cadet Rodriguez-Gutierrez had this to say: “It was pretty good. Great staff, amazing teachers.” Many students—who are called cadets—benefit from the program, and the staff continue to support them even after they complete the program.

Director Scott’s goal is for the SC Youth ChalleNGe Academy to become the number one youth-serving program in South Carolina. Recently, a new deputy director has been appointed, Gillian Porterfield, who previously served in multiple positions at the academy.

Follow the journey on Instagram.

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Photo Credit: Mark Andrew Watke

Wetzel’s Franchisee Opens Mobile Bakery to Deliver Handheld Happiness to His Local Community

CHARLESTON – Wetzel’s Pretzels (Wetzel’s), the iconic brand known for its fresh, hand-rolled 

pretzels, is expanding into South Carolina with a new food truck rolling through Charleston. This will be the first-ever location in the state as the brand continues to expand into the Southeast region of the country. 

The new food truck will bring an abundance of flavor to Charleston, offering craveable snacks and refreshing drinks for the community to enjoy. Isaac Watlington, a Charleston resident since 2014, began his career in medical sales, where he worked for more than seventeen years before transitioning into hospitality. Over the past eight years, he has built his experience as a restaurant operator and is now enhancing his portfolio by becoming a first-time Wetzel’s Pretzels franchisee. Drawing on his operational expertise, Watlington aims to make the food truck a staple at community events throughout the metro area.

“Opening a Wetzel’s food truck is a significant step in my career, and I am thrilled to introduce the mouthwatering products that Wetzel’s Pretzels is known for to the Charleston community,” said Watlington. “Being able to bring the very first Wetzel’s location to South Carolina is truly meaningful to me, and I can’t wait to share this experience with the city I call home.”

The food truck will attend three fall festivals: the Cane Bay High School ROTC Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18; the Cane Bay YMCA Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25; and the Charleston Harvest Festival at Johns Island County Park on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wetzel’s continues to expand its food truck concept and is more equipped than ever to satisfy consumers’ hunger for pretzels. With a fleet of more than 25 trucks in operation and more in the pipeline, the brand is making its sweet and salty snacks more accessible than ever. 

“We’re pleased for Isaac to open his first Wetzel’s location with us as well as lead our South Carolina debut,” said Jon Fischer, Head of Development at Wetzel’s Pretzels. “We can’t wait for the food truck to be a delicious pillar bringing our beloved pretzels to Charleston and the state of South Carolina, and we are confident the community will embrace Wetzel’s warmly. As we continue to grow into new markets, we look forward to sharing our iconic flavors and creating memorable experiences for the local community.”

Wetzel’s has been sharing its signature handheld happiness ever since its founding in Pasadena, California, in 1994. The brand continues to attract a cult-like following in communities across North America through its cool SoCal feel and crave-worthy snacks that cultivate special moments of pure pretzel bliss between friends, family, and colleagues.

For additional information about Wetzel’s franchise opportunity, visit https://www.wetzelsfranchising.com. 

About Wetzel’s Pretzels

Providing a fun, fresh take on soft pretzels, Wetzel’s Pretzels was founded in 1994 by Bill Phelps and Rick Wetzel in Pasadena, California. Drawing fans to its mouth-watering, portable snacks that are hand-rolled, baked fresh and served hot from the oven, word quickly spread about the delicious West Coast brand. Today, Wetzel’s Pretzels has grown to more than 400 locations, continuing to cultivate fanatics around the world with its SoCal vibes and “gram-worthy” snacks. As the nation’s leading pretzel chain, the franchise has received numerous accolades, most recently being named on Yelp‘s 2024 Fastest Growing Brands, alongside Franchise Business Review‘s 2025Top Franchises, 2025 Top Franchises for Women, and Top Culture100 lists.

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Startex, SC – Fourteen years after her remains were discovered in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, a Jane Doe known as Ms. Startex has been identified as Jolene Lynn White. White was born in New York in 1976 but had been living in the nearby town of Cowpens when she disappeared in 2005, six years before her body was found.

On October 26, 2011, a group of teenagers searching for scrap metal found skeletal human remains in a wooded area along a highway in Startex, South Carolina. Authorities determined that the remains belonged to a 40-55 year-old Caucasian woman and investigators found evidence that she had been murdered before her body was hidden under debris.

In 2020, the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office brought the case to the DNA Doe Project, whose expert volunteer investigative genetic genealogists work pro bono to identify Jane and John Does. A DNA profile was generated from the woman’s remains and uploaded to GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA, but the team immediately ran into challenges. Ms. Startex only had distant DNA matches but it was obvious that she had roots in Puerto Rico, where endogamy can complicate genetic genealogy research.

“The genealogy in this case was very complex,” said team leader Rebecca Somerhalder. “Our team built out family trees for hundreds of Puerto Rican DNA matches, but figuring out how they were connected to Ms. Startex was tricky because they were all very distant relatives.”

Over years of research, the team on this case built out a family tree for the unidentified woman that grew to contain nearly 50,000 people. Then, in April 2025, a new DNA match appeared on FamilyTreeDNA. Before long, the team had identified the biological parents of Ms. Startex as a couple from Orange County, New York. The father, as expected, was originally from Puerto Rico, while the mother had deep roots in the area.

However, none of their known children were missing and it became clear that Ms. Startex must’ve been adopted. Investigators spoke with the family and discovered that, after the death of their mother, two of the children had been adopted by a family who later moved to South Carolina. Upon speaking with their adoptive family, they learned that one of them – Jolene Lynn White – had been missing for two decades. Follow up DNA testing confirmed that Jolene was, in fact, the woman formerly known only as Ms. Startex.

“This identification was only possible because of a dedicated and collaborative team,” said researcher Janel Daniels. “It also goes to show that one DNA match can make a huge difference – anyone who uploads their DNA to GEDmatch.com, DNAJustice.org or FamilyTreeDNA.com might help solve a cold case without even realizing.”

The DNA Doe Project is grateful to the groups and individuals who helped solve this case: the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Project; Astrea Forensics for DNA extraction; HudsonAlpha Discovery for sequencing; Kevin Lord for bioinformatics; GEDmatch Pro and FamilyTreeDNA for providing their databases; our generous donors who joined our mission and contributed to this case; and the DNA Doe Project’s dedicated teams of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to bring all our Jane and John Does home.

https://dnadoeproject.org/case/ms-startex

About the DNA Doe Project

The DNA Doe Project is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to identify John and Jane Does and return them to their families and communities. Investigative genetic genealogy research is provided pro bono to our partners in law enforcement, but the organization relies on donations to fund lab costs and operational support of our volunteers. To date, DDP has helped resolve more than 150 cases of unidentified human remains. For more about our work and to join our mission, visit our website: https://dnadoeproject.org.

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Charleston County

Dreaming Farms — Charleston, SC

• Location: 1540 Camp Road, Charleston, SC 29412   

• Hours: Opens ~September 20, 2025. Monday–Friday: 11 am–7 pm | Saturday: 10 am–8 pm | Sunday: 12 pm–7 pm   

• Services & Features: Wide variety of pumpkins, live music on weekends, gift shop, pumpkins in many shapes and sizes, corn stalks, marigolds, ornamental peppers, hayride ambiance    

• Admission: Free entry; pay for pumpkins   

Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch — Mt. Pleasant (Charleston County)

• Location: Entrance at 2434 N. Hwy. 17, Mt. Pleasant (don’t use main plantation entrance)   

• Dates & Hours: Fridays–Sundays, September 26 – October 26, from 10 am to 5 pm   

• Admission: $15 for guests aged 3+. Children 2 and under free with paying adult  

• Attractions: Corn maze, tractor tour, live performances (e.g., Circus Incredible, HoneyBee exhibit), petting zoo, pig races, inflatables, magic show, mini-golf, rubber duck races, “ask-a-farmer” interactive sessions, face-painting, pony rides (additional fee), food vendors, pumpkins by the pound  

• Bonus: Free admission on Friday, September 26 and Friday, October 3, courtesy of Berkeley Electric Cooperative (serving Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester counties)  

Hibben UMC Pumpkin Patch — Mt. Pleasant

• Location: 690 Coleman Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464   

• Dates & Hours: October 1–31. Monday–Friday: 11 am–7 pm | Saturday: 10 am–7 pm | Sunday: 12 pm–7 pm   

• Admission: Pumpkins available for purchase; proceeds support church missions   

John Wesley UMC Pumpkin Patch — Charleston

• Location: 626 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC  

• Hours: Through October. Monday–Saturday: 10 am–8 pm | Sunday: 12 pm–8 pm  

• Purpose: Fundraiser supporting youth mission projects (local and international)  

Carolina Pumpkins — North Charleston

• Location: 5140 Ashley Phosphate Road, North Charleston   

• Offers: Pumpkins, cornstalks, wheat straw, mums, carving kits, “Build a Buddy” costume activity   

The Pumpkin Patch at Mistletoe Lane — Summerville

• Location: 3408 Mistletoe Lane, Summerville, SC   

• Hours: Tuesday–Thursday: 12 pm–7 pm | Friday & Saturday: 10 am–8 pm | Sunday: 12 pm–7 pm   

• Features: Pumpkins, hay bales, mums, live music weekends 12–4 pm   

Knightsville United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch — Summerville

• Location: 1505 Central Avenue, Summerville, SC   

• Dates & Hours: September 21–October 31, daily 9 am–7 pm   

• Note: Supports church mission ministries  

⸻

Berkeley & Dorchester Counties

West Farm Corn Maze — Moncks Corner (Berkeley County)

• Location: 2641 Cooper Store Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461  

• Attractions: Large corn maze (~2.8 mi), smaller pumpkin-shaped maze for kids, hayride, pumpkin barn, play area, farm zoo, scarecrow alley, apple slingshot, food vendors, picnic area, restrooms, accessible facilities  

• Admission & Amenities: Accepts cash and card; group discounts, school and military rates available  

• Dates & Hours: Typically open October–early November; check schedule (2025 likely similar)   

Legare Farms — Johns Island (near Charleston County border)

• Location: 2620 Hanscombe Point Road, Johns Island, SC 29455   

• Dates & Hours: September 27–28 and all weekends in October. Fridays: 3 pm–6 pm | Saturdays: 10 am–6 pm | Sundays: 12 pm–6 pm   

• Admission: $5 per car; includes 1 free hayride coupon per family   

• Activities: Pumpkin picking; hayride to feed cows ($4 per rider 2+); horse rides ($5); scarecrow-making ($12); gem mine ($5–$10 per bucket); corn cannon ($1); free farm animal barnyard and playground; food concessions (no outside food)   

• Other Services: Field trips, birthday parties, summer camps, group events  

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