Good morning, Summerville!

This weekend is packed with fun family events! As we put together this newsletter, we were honestly overwhelmed by the number of great opportunities happening around town. We hope something catches your eye and that you can get out and enjoy one of these local events!

Blueberry, peach, and plum picking are all in full swing! But if fruit isn’t your jam (pun intended), we’ve also rounded up some of the best nearby spots for flower picking. My boys seem to enjoy picking flowers even more than blueberries! We’ve visited Westbury Farms before and are looking forward to checking out some of the other farms on the list—they all came highly recommended by fellow local moms. This is the last week or two of flower picking at some places, so this week is the best time to go!

Wishing you all an amazing week ahead!

P.S. This newsletter truly is a labor of love. Every week, we spend hours researching family-friendly events, verifying information with local businesses, and putting everything together in a way that's helpful, trustworthy, and easy to read. We love serving the Palmetto Parents community and helping families connect with each other and all that Summerville has to offer.

If this newsletter has helped your family discover a new favorite park, make a special memory, or simply made planning your weekends a little easier, we'd be so grateful for your support. Every donation—big or small—helps us continue creating this resource each week and make it even better for our community. Thank you for being here and for being part of Palmetto Parents.

Sometimes you just need a morning in a field of flowers! Whether you're looking for a relaxed outing with the kids, a pretty hour for yourself, or something to do that doesn't involve a screen, there are several great u-pick flower options within a reasonable drive of Summerville. A couple tips: Make sure you get the flowers in water ASAP and change out the water every day or two for them to last the longest!

Westbury Farms: 1005 North Gum St, Summerville | Monday-Sunday 10am–5pm | Facebook

Right in the heart of Summerville, Westbury Farms is best known for strawberry picking, but they do offer seasonal flower picking as well. It's a great first farm experience for little kids — familiar, close to home, and the staff is warm. Check their Facebook page before heading out, as flower availability is seasonal and can change quickly.

Wild Goose Flower Farm: 245 Wild Goose Way, Moncks Corner | Picking by appointment — Friday evenings and Saturday mornings (check website for current availability) | wildgooseflowerfarm.com & Facebook

About 20 minutes from Summerville, Wild Goose Flower Farm is one of the more special spots in the Lowcountry. Visits are appointment-based and capped intentionally, so it stays peaceful with no crowds and no rushing. A flower curator walks you through the fields, shares cutting tips, and helps you build your own bouquet. Sessions are one hour and cost $5 per session and bouquets are priced by vessel size on-site. Founded by Air Force veteran Alexis Rehbaum, this one has a genuinely lovely atmosphere and was the most commonly recommended by other local moms! They currently are offering Sunrise & Sip Appointments which is their 7:30am appointments that include complimentary cold brew coffee—perfect for beating the heat and starting your morning surrounded by flowers.

6 Acre Farm: Summerville (appointment only — contact via website for location details) | By appointment only | 6acrefarmsc.com & Facebook

Located right in Summerville, 6 Acre Farm is a u-pick flower farm with an educational bent — visits include guidance on flower cultivation, cutting techniques, and floral arranging from knowledgeable staff. They keep it intentional and intimate, with all visits by appointment. Any unsold flowers are donated to local charities and nursing homes, which is a nice touch. A good pick for families who want more than just picking — there's some real learning built into the experience.

Wabi Sabi Farm: 685 Anderson Lane, Cordesville | Thursday-Sunday, 9am–12pm | Facebook

Wabi Sabi is a family-owned farm in Cordesville run by Jimmy and Johnna Livingston, about 30–35 minutes from Summerville. It's off the beaten path in the best way — quiet, well-cared-for, and genuinely beautiful. Primarily known for strawberries and seasonal produce, they also grow cut flowers including zinnias and wildflowers. Check their Facebook page for what's currently available before making the drive, as offerings shift by season.

West Farm: 1542 Cooper Store Road, Moncks Corner | Open Wednesdays through Sundays from 4:30-7:30pm through the end of June | westfarmcornmaze.com | Facebook

West Farm in Moncks Corner is hosting its 2nd Annual U-Pick Flower Season this spring through June 2026 — sunflowers, zinnias, and wildflowers spread across their fields. If you've been to West Farm for the fall corn maze, this is the same family-owned farm doing something a little quieter and a lot more colorful in the warmer months. Click here for u-pick pricing and more details.

Your favorite characters are coming to The Joe!
Bring the whole family out to meet Spider-Man, Bluey, and Paw Patrol at select RiverDogs games this season! Snap photos, make memories, and enjoy a night of baseball-packed fun the kids will love. Don’t miss these special appearances at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park!

Family fun starts here — get your tickets today at https://www.milb.com/charleston/tickets/promotions.

Porch Pickin' at Ashley River Park | Friday, June 26 | 6–8pm | Ashley River Park

Live music, yard games, and a food truck at Ashley River Park to kick off the weekend. This week's performance is Boonie Bevins & Carolina Drive, with Burgers N' Freys on the food truck. Bring a chair or blanket, grab a bite, and enjoy the outdoor space. Drinks available on-site.

Family Movie Night at the Pool — Goose Creek | Friday, June 26 | Movie starts at 7pm | City Pool, 300 Hamlet Circle, Goose Creek

Swim, float, and watch a family-friendly movie under the stars — all for free. Goose Creek Recreation is hosting a movie night at the city pool, and it's exactly as fun as it sounds. Bring your float and towels! Get there early to claim your spot in the water.

Market Under the Oaks at The Ponds | Friday, June 26 | 5–8pm | 326 Hundred Oaks Parkway, Summerville

Local vendors, food trucks, live music, yard games, and axe throwing with Southern Hatchets — and apparently Santa is making an appearance. Mrs. Claus will be serving Firecracker Floats and Santa is helping kids make their own Kringle Kap (a custom mesh hat). A little Christmas in June energy, and we are here for it. Market Under the Oaks runs on the last Friday of every month through September.

Low Country Harley-Davidson Family Fun Day | Saturday, June 27 | 12–4pm | 4707 Dorchester Rd, North Charleston | Ages 3+: $20 at the door | Adults & kids 2 and under: Free

More than just a dealership event — this one has a full afternoon of activities for kids including face painting with Dabbledy Doo, gem mining, build-your-own stuffed animals with Crosswind Farm, and balloon animals from Carol's Balloons. All kids activities are included with the wristband. The Charleston Animal Society will be on-site for dog adoptions all day, Top Shelf Catering and Mr. Narwhal's Magnificent Snowballs are handling food and drinks, and Shakin' Martinis provides the live music. There's also a tent with vintage and one-of-a-kind Harley merch for kids and pets.

Annual Peach Festival at Schuler Peach Farm — Ridgeville | Saturday, June 27 | 10am–2pm (farm stand open until 6pm) | 582 US-78, Ridgeville

The Annual Peach Festival at Schuler Peach Farm runs 10am–2pm and is loaded with local vendors: mini photo shoots in the peach trees by Bria Bria Lashae Photography, sourdough, cotton candy, polymer clay jewelry from BettysRoots, cookies and sweet treats from Royaute Sweet Treats, kettle corn and lemonade, dried nuts and boiled peanuts from D's Nuts and Such, an emerging soda fountain and ice cream, candles and herbal teas from Farmer Steele, and Dry Creek BBQ on the food truck. For the kids there's a playground, bounce house, and John Deere tractors to climb on. U-pick and pre-picked peaches are available all day, and the farm stand stays open until 6pm. Ask staff about giveaways happening throughout the event.

Crosswind Farm Mobile Petting Zoo at Luxe Bar & Bistro | Sunday, June 28 | 6–7:30pm | 1430 Central Avenue, Summerville | $5 basic entry — includes one free adult admission with each paid child ticket

Crosswind Farm is bringing their mobile petting zoo back to Luxe, and the lineup is impressive: baby sheep, baby goats, baby bunnies, a non-spitting llama, a mini horse, a capybara, a kangaroo, and an African desert tortoise. Horse rides are also available. Come early to grab dinner and drinks before the animals arrive. Check-in is in the back courtyard — look for the parking attendant on arrival.

OhMy! Creative One-Year Anniversary Celebration — Nexton Square | Saturday, June 27 | 5–9pm | 420 Nexton Square Dr. Summerville | Free to attend (VIP pass available for extras)

OhMy! Creative is celebrating one year at Nexton Square with a full evening of creativity and fun. Live music, a DJ, a mocktail bar, body art, DIY craft stations, flower crown making, a charm jewelry bar, exclusive shopping, and community art are all part of the night. Drop in for one thing or grab a VIP pass to experience everything. A great Saturday evening option for the whole family.

One of our family's favorite summer traditions, especially now that we've been biking to downtown Summerville so often, is making a stop at Puma's Italian Ice & Hot Dog Shack. Sometimes we go for lunch, sometimes just for Italian ice, and sometimes we can't resist getting both.

If you think a hot dog is just ketchup and mustard, Puma's is about to change your mind. Their menu features more than 150 different hot dog combinations, ranging from classic favorites to creations that are downright wild. You'll find everything from hot dogs topped with mac and cheese or breakfast favorites like eggs and bacon to adventurous options with peanut butter and jelly or even whipped cream and sprinkles. Our recent favorite was the Theresa Puma, topped with chili, pickles, onions, roasted red peppers, feta, and spicy mustard. It sounds like a lot, but somehow it just works. Kids can stick with simple toppings or have fun trying one of the sweeter creations. They even offer a budget-friendly bun option with toppings and no hot dog if you don’t want to eat a hot dog.

And if hot dogs aren't your thing, don't let the name fool you—the Italian ice alone is worth the trip. They offer both dairy-free Italian ice and creamy "cream ice" flavors, with everything from classic lemon to fun seasonal options. On our last visit, one of my boys chose the mint chip cream ice while the other went with a classic lemon Italian ice. A kids cup is just $3 and was more than enough for my four-year-old. Daniel was okay with not getting anything that evening until he saw the root beer float on the menu which he couldn’t resist (pictured below).

What keeps us coming back, though, is more than the food. The owners, who moved here from New York, are always so welcoming and genuinely enjoy getting to know their customers. They've become such a wonderful addition to the Summerville community.

Puma's has locations in downtown Summerville and on Dorchester Road in North Charleston (just outside Summerville), with a third location coming soon to Santee. Whether you're looking for a fun family lunch or a refreshing summer treat, Puma's is one of those places that's easy to make part of your regular rotation.

I came across an Instagram post recently with a simple line that has been stuck in my head ever since:

"Adult friendships don't survive on good intentions. They survive on invitations."

I don't know about you, but I can't count the number of times I've said, "We really need to get together sometime." And I genuinely mean it every single time.

The problem is, "sometime" never seems to make it onto the calendar.

As parents, we're all waiting for life to slow down. For the kids to sleep better. For sports to end. For work to calm down. For there to be a free weekend. But I'm starting to think that season never really comes.

The friendships we want don't happen because we have good intentions. They happen because someone sends the text with a real invitation, with a date and time and a solid plan.

One of my closest friends and I probably have an "ideal" hangout—a coffee date or dinner out—a few times a year. But the reality is that our friendship mostly survives on sitting on each other's couches from 8–10pm after the kids are finally asleep. We both love our sleep. We live 30 minutes apart. It's not always convenient, and it's definitely not glamorous (although the conversation and the popcorn and chocolate we eat while is chat is delightful). But we've learned that showing up matters more than having the perfect plan.

I've realized that if we wait until it's easy, we probably won't see each other very often.

So here's my encouragement this week: send the text. Invite another family over for pizza. Meet at the splash pad. Ask someone to join you at the library. Don't wait until your house is perfectly clean or your schedule is perfectly open.

Community doesn't just happen anymore. We have to build it—one invitation at a time. And if you have a minute, I highly recommend reading the Instagram post that inspired this reflection. It was such a good reminder for me.

Love,

Courtney, Daniel, and the Berk Boys

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