Just around the corner on June 8-9 is the 2012 Washington Summer Festival. We are looking forward to this annual event. Festival T-shirts are on sale now, and we think you will love the design. Beaufort County’s 300th-anniversary T-shirts are available for purchase as well.

We have added a new Kids Zone with all kinds of free children’s events, including a free workshop with Lowe’s Home Improvement and Blockfest hosted by the Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children. Look for the ad in the Washington Daily News with all the event information. The Craig Woolard Band performs the evening of June 8. The Victor Hudson Band and Jupiter Jones play the evening of June 9. There will be outstanding food vendors and arts and craft vendors. Several local nonprofits will be raising money during the festival.

We are also excited about a new fundraising opportunity at the chamber. We will raffle off a choice between a Sea Doo GTI 130 or an ATV Honda TRX680FAC. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. How awesome would it be to win a nice Sea Doo or ATV for only $5? Tickets are available at the chamber, and you may look at the Sea Doo or ATV at Park Boat Company. Come by the chamber office and get your tickets.

We look forward to seeing you at the Washington Summer Festival. There is something for everyone at the festival:  local nonprofits and area businesses, great music, the Kids Zone and the ever-popular Summer Festival T-shirts. This is the chamber’s largest event, and we thank you for your support.

Catherine Glover is executive director of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce.