Happy holiday weekend, Summerville!

It's Labor Day weekend, which means we have multiple days with nowhere to be early in the morning! Beyond the regular fun of the farmer’s market, there’s not too much scheduled around town this weekend which we’re taking as our cue to take it easy and enjoy a slow weekend after a full few weeks getting back into the school routine.

On the contrary, next weekend is absolutely packed with fun things to do. We did a roundup this week so you can pick what events your family may be interested in and plan ahead! The Public Works Art Center’s Block Party is a family favorite event and one to prioritize. I also love the movie nights in the park that are happening and (hopefully) the evenings will be a little cooler. I look forward to the days when our boys can stay up a bit later to enjoy those events. And for you grandparents, there’s a special Grandparents Day activity next Sunday at Ashley River Park (all the details below).

Have a great weekend and enjoy the extra time to relax!

‼️Coming soon‼️

A boutique coworking space directly in Hutchinson Square! If you work from home and have been looking for a desk right in the heart of Summerville, look no further. Hutchinson Yard, Summerville’s newest neighborhood workspace, is opening next month!

Memberships are first come first serve, and spots are limited. If you’re interested in learning more, fill out this short interest form and they’ll be in touch.

Few things say early fall quite like a movie under the stars. As the evenings finally start to cool off, both Dorchester and Summerville Parks & Rec have a great lineup of free outdoor movie nights coming up. Pack your blankets, lawn chairs, and a picnic dinner, and settle in for a relaxed family night out.

Here's what's on the calendar:

"Hoppers" at Ashley River Park
Saturday, September 12 | ~7:30pm | Ashley River Park

Dorchester Parks & Rec kicks things off with a screening of the family film "Hoppers." Bring your blankets and chairs, pack a picnic, and grab any extras from the concession stand, which will be available for purchase. The movie night is included with the park entry fee ($2/person).

"The Super Mario Galaxy" at Gahagan Park
Friday, September 18 | Pre-show at 7pm, movie at sunset | Gahagan Park front football field

Summerville Parks & Rec brings the action to Gahagan Park with "The Super Mario Galaxy." Pre-show activities, games, and food trucks open at 7pm, and the movie starts as soon as it's dark enough after sunset. Renewal by Andersen is the presenting sponsor. With food trucks on-site, this one makes for an easy dinner-and-a-movie night — no picnic prep required.

"Toy Story 5" at Davis Bailey Park
Saturday, October 3 | ~7pm | Davis Bailey Park, St. George

Dorchester Parks & Rec closes out the series with "Toy Story 5" in St. George. Same easy setup — blankets, lawn chairs, a picnic dinner, and concessions available for purchase. St. George is a bit of a drive from central Summerville, but a fun destination if you're up for it.

Whether you make it to one or all three, outdoor movie season is a simple, low-cost way to make a memory with the kids before the busy fall routine fully sets in.

Looking for a realtor who actually listens, cares, and shows up? Meet Ernest Govan—Summerville’s “Dream Maker Agent.” Ernest helped our family find our home after moving from Chicago in 2021, and since then, he’s become the go-to realtor for many of our friends and family.

What sets Ernest apart is more than his knowledge of the Lowcountry market—it’s his genuineness, patience, and responsiveness. Whether you're just exploring options or ready to make a move, Ernest walks with you through the entire process, no pressure, just genuine support. From casual browsing to paperwork and closing, he was steady, kind, and made every step feel manageable.

In the video above, you’ll get a glimpse of what working with Ernest feels like—he’s not just a realtor, he’s a guide and advocate who wants to see your family thrive.

Thinking about buying or selling? Reach out to Ernest directly at [email protected] or reply to this email and we’ll gladly connect you. Because when someone’s this good, you can’t help but share them.

Saturday, September 12 is stacked. There’s so many fun free or affordable events, all in downtown Summerville and tailored perfectly for families. If you are a master scheduler and your kids have boundless energy, you can try to accomplish as many as you can. Or if you’re capacity is limited, pick which one works best for your family!

Public Works Art Center Block Party
Saturday, September 12 | 10am–1pm | West Richardson Avenue, between Montreaux Bar and Grill and Cedar Street | Free

The Art Center shuts down a block of West Richardson and turns it into what the town describes as an old-school carnival: art-themed games, an artisan market, live mural painting, face painting, jugglers, and performers. It doubles as the opening reception for the SPARK Community Exhibition, the all-ages show where every submitted piece is accepted — so if your kid has something hanging in it, this is the day to go see it up on a wall. The street closes from 9am to 1:30pm, so plan to park a block or two off and walk in.

Harvesting History Kids Club
Saturday, September 12 | 10:30-11:30am | Summerville Museum | $5/kid

Step back in time and discover how children made their own toys long ago! Join the Summerville Museum for the Harvesting History Kids Club. Kids will learn about this historic tradition and create their very own corn husk dolls to take home!

Back to School Bingo
Saturday, September 12 | 3–5pm, doors at 2:30 | Rollins Edwards Community Center, 301 N. Hickory Street | Free

Family bingo, free, all ages, in an air-conditioned gym at exactly the hour of the afternoon when everyone in my house has run out of ideas. Registration is available here.

Other events next weekend worth mentioning:

This week isn't a specific restaurant feature, but rather a food deal I wanted to share with you all!

Now that my older son is in school more days than my youngest, I've settled into a new grocery shopping routine. We start at Aldi or BJ's to stock up on everything we can (these boys are eating machines, and we've got to get the most bang for our buck!), then head next door to Earth Fare for the specialty items we can't find elsewhere. I have several food sensitivities, so there are a handful of things I can only get there.

To make our grocery trip something we both look forward to (for my toddler and me, to be honest), we always stop by the juice and smoothie counter and split a PB&J smoothie. They'll even divide it into two cups for us, which is such a nice touch.

While waiting for our smoothies—and trying not to drool over all of the fresh sandwiches, pastas, and other grab-and-go meals—I noticed two fantastic family dinner deals that I had to share. Both are just $15 and are available every day. Even if you cook at home most nights, it's hard to feed a family for that price. And if you have a larger family (or one with especially big appetites), grabbing two is still a great value.

This meal includes:

This includes:

Current pasta options include:

I've seen the Chicken Broccoli Alfredo in person, and it looked delicious and more than enough to feed a family. As an added bonus, all of the pastas are seed oil-free, if that's something that's important to your family.

So, if you need a night off from cooking but don't necessarily want to eat out, these are two great dinner options to keep in mind. They're affordable, convenient, and a nice way to get a homemade-style meal on the table without the work.

Love,

Courtney, Daniel, and the Berk Boys

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