Divorce Attorney in Hilton Head Island SC

Editor’s note: The Island Packet was provided incorrect information by a Five Below spokesperson and press release, which initially stated that Five Below had opened in the county. The story has since been updated to reflect the latest information. The Island Packet regrets the error.

Looking for a place to shop all the newest trends and hottest deals without breaking the bank?

Then Bluffton’s newest addition of a Five Below is the spot for you.

Five Below will officially open its newest store in Bluffton at 1460 Fording Island Road, tucked in the Old Navy, Marshall’s and Ulta Beauty shopping center.

This location promises to bring a whole new level of value, fun and trendiness for shoppers of all ages.

To mark the grand opening, the store is set to host a festive weekend full of music, activities, special deals and trivia prizes.

They even promise to award the first 100 customers on opening day with a free drawstring bag.

According to Ranya Russo, spokesperson for the Five Below company, the official opening date is now set for March 21.

Sticking true to its name, Five Below is known for its “extreme value” offerings, where most product prices range from $1 to $5. However, they have additional finds in their new section named “Five Beyond,” where items are priced beyond $5 but still cheaper than other competing outlets.

Whether you’re looking for candy, beauty products, tech gadgets, room décor, t-shirts or the latest trendy items, Five Below has it all.

The new store in Bluffton features a wide range of fun, high-quality products across several retail sectors, including style, room, sports, tech, create, party, candy and new & now. All of these sections and their offerings can be viewed online.

Plus, the Bluffton store has a dedicated party shop, complete with a variety of helium balloons, décor, and party favors to make any event extra special.

This new location in Bluffton will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is also open on Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Five Below has other neighboring locations in Beaufort, Walterboro, Savannah and Pooler.

Five Below was founded in 2002, with its first store opening in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It is now headquartered in Philadelphia.

Five Below is a leading value retailer offering a wide selection of trending and high-quality products for tweens, teens and beyond. With more than 1,800 stores nationwide, Five Below is known for providing unique items for incredibly low prices.

For more information, visit www.fivebelow.com or stay updated through social media by following @FiveBelow on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

This story was originally published February 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

The Island Packet

(843) 626-0211

Anna Claire Miller is the Service Journalism Reporter for The Island Packet. Originally from Georgia, she has experience in magazine writing, non-profit communications and city government. Anna Claire has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, legal studies and English from High Point University.

It was a successful weekend for Lowcountry wrestlers at the SC High School League state championships.

Four boys and one girl won state championships at the event held at the Florence Center

It was the first year the championships were moved from Anderson to Florence. The championships also included girls on the same weekend as the boys for the second straight year.

Individual state champions on the boys side were May River’s Joshua Echeverria (175) and Blake Butler (150), Hilton Head Island’s Bryce Stephenson (113) and Bluffton’s Gabriel Fulton (165).

Bluffton’s Jada Lawrence won the state championship in the girls’ 145-pound division.

Echeverria, a senior, took home Most Outstanding Wrestler honors in winning his first state championship at 175 pounds. It took him just 48 seconds to pin Aiken’s Malik Mclaurin for the title.

Butler also won his first individual title by winning at the 150-pound class. He defeated Laurens’ Leyden Gentry by technical fall, 19-3. Both Echeverria and Butler were a part of the Sharks’ dual state championship winning team earlier this month.

Stephenson, who finished third last year at 106 pounds, defeated Southside’s Timothy Simmons, 11-8, for a win in the 113-pound class. It was his first state championship.

Fulton, a state qualifier, a year ago, defeated top-ranked John Grove of AC Flora, 4-2, for the title.

Beaufort’s Colton Freeman was a runner-up, finishing second in the 190-pound division. Freeman made it to the championship, losing in the final to Traveler’s Rest’s Mitchell Knepp.

May River had three third-place finishers — Stephano Calderon (106), Marcus Folk (120) and Thomas Brough (138). Beaufort’s Antonio Mcknight (144) also finished third.

On the girls’ side, Lawrence won her third individual championship by defeating Union County’s Stella Glenn, 19-9. She came into the tournament as the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the 145-pound division.

Beaufort’s Olesya Mullins finished second in the 105-pound class, losing to Rock Hill’s Serenity Davis, 8-1.

Third-place finishers were Hilton Head Island’s Jourdyn Mootry (130) and Makayla Hinchey (155).

Complete results from this weekend’s championships can be found at FloWrestling

Ready to let the good times roll? Join the Town of Port Royal this Saturday, Feb. 22, for an evening full of Mardi Gras festivities.

In this 2nd annual celebration, the “Krewe” of Port Royal is bringing all the fun, food and flare of Mardi Gras to the Lowcountry.

This parade and festival will be filled with music, floats, beads and more. Parade participants will range from dazzling floats, marching bands, dance troupes and even those simply showing off their Mardi Gras spirit.

The parade will kick off at 4 p.m. on Feb. 22 and is set to follow the same route as last year, starting at 1625 Paris Avenue, right at the United States Post Office.

If you’re still searching for a great spot to watch the floats go by, any spot along Paris Avenue between 16th and 11th streets will give you a great view to catch all the action.

Traveling down Paris Avenue, the parade is set to continue down 11th Street and end at Shellring Aleworks for an after-party fully equipped with live New Orleans-inspired music from the band Kanola, delicious food from local food trucks and face painting to revel in the excitement of a true Mardi Gras celebration, making it the perfect event for the whole family.

Food options promise to bring classic Cajun and Creole flavors to the celebration, including authentic New Orleans dishes like jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish and beignets.

The Mardi Gras parade and festival is presented by the Old Village Association of Port Royal. The event is free to attend.

Mardi Gras is a celebration that begins around the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminates on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, which this year, is on March 5.

The term “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday,” reflecting the tradition of indulging in rich foods on the final night before the Lenten season of fasting and sacrifice begins.

While Mardi Gras isn’t observed everywhere nationwide, many cities with French heritage hold vibrant celebrations.

Now, fittingly so, Port Royal has joined in on the fun.

The Port Royal area was first explored by French Huguenot Naval Officer, Jean Ribaut. In 1562, Ribaut led an expedition to the New World and established the outpost of Charlesfort on what is now Parris Island.

U Pick Daffodils, a local daffodil farm in Bluffton, is now open and abloom for the 2025 spring season.

After the oddly cold winter that dropped snow and ice across the Lowcountry, the opening of the farm this year was delayed a bit more than expected.

Luckily, cold weather never harms these delicate blooms, but it does slow them down, resulting in a much later season.

But now with the early spring showers and warmer temperatures shuffling in, these bright yellow flowers are ready to be enjoyed.

The daffodil farm has been a long-time favorite spot for families, photographers, visitors and flower lovers alike.

Co-owners Chuck and Diane Merrick say they are now ready to welcome visitors.

They opened the farm for the first time this season right after Valentine’s Day on Saturday, Feb 15, and according to Diane Merrick, practically sold out of all their flowers in just a few hours.

Now, they are ready to open their farm and share the beauty of these daffodils for the season.

This year, the Merricks have stated that the farm will only be open on weekends, usually on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sundays if they can.

Their ability to open depends on a number of factors, including the number of available blooms and the weather.

So while these external factors can cause a delay, Chuck and Diane always try their best to share these beautiful blooms with the community.

To open and run the farm takes a lot of work. The Merricks’ children and grandchildren are a big help on days when the farm is open, traveling from North Carolina and Charleston to bring this springtime magic to life.

Even though rain and cold have persisted this week, the Merricks are planning to open the farm back up on Saturday, March 1, if the warmer weather and daffodil blooms permit.

For information about the days the farm will be open, the Merricks strive to keep visitors updated on the farm’s opening through their Facebook page or website at upickdaffodils.com.

The Merrick family has always been full of keen farmers who frequently sell their items at the local farmers’ markets. Some of their popular items include wildflowers, figs and seasonal vegetables.

According to Diane Merrick, the land has been used as some form of farm for as long as she can remember. From pigs to turkeys, to cows, “It was always something,” she said.

The U Pick Daffodil tradition started more than 50 years ago, and each year the farm has expanded to meet a growing demand.

“We are dedicated to preserving this piece of land and every year we find ourselves in awe of how much Bluffton has grown and how many people want to visit the farm,” said Diane Merrick.

Daffodils don’t grow easily in the Lowcountry climate, Chuck Merrick previously told The Island Packet, and every year the farm loses about half of the daffodils they planted in earlier years.

To plant the flowers, he uses a machine purchased from Holland — it is pulled behind a tractor — to plant tens of thousands of daffodil bulbs with varying blooming times, that way, the farm can hopefully have a longer picking season.

U Pick Daffodils farm is located at 48 Calhoun Plantation Road in Okatie, off of Pinckney Colony Road.

Each stem picked is $0.50. You can also purchase pre-picked bundles of 15 flowers for $9. Cash and card payments are accepted.

Follow more of our reporting on Uniquely Hilton Head

See all stories

If the beach—or anywhere near the water—is your happy place, you might consider South Carolina as a place to settle down now or one to file away as a potential candidate for retirement one day. The Palmetto State is probably best known for its unofficial Southern capital of Charleston, but its 187 miles of coastline are a close second. From North Myrtle Beach on the North Carolina-South Carolina border all the way down to Hilton Head located just a couple clicks from the Georgia coast, each one of South Carolina's beach towns, barrier islands, and waterfront destinations is more scenic than the last. Here are eight of the most beautiful places on the South Carolina coast.

Hilton Head Island

With more than 12 miles of pristine white-sand beaches, vivid sunsets, and endless activities, it’s no surprise this Lowcountry paradise is continually voted as a reader favorite in our annual South’s Best poll. Hilton Head Island will give you just the right balance of small-town warmth and world-class sophistication. Whether you are exploring its scenic bike trails, enjoying a round of golf at one of the island’s 23 renowned public courses, or savoring the catch of the day at a waterfront restaurant, Hilton Head Island has all the makings of a magical getaway.

more on hilton head island

Folly Beach

Just a short drive from Charleston, Folly Beach, nicknamed the “Edge of America” by locals, is a quaint and colorful destination known for its laid-back beachtown vibes. There is no shortage of beach rentals, surf shops, and excellent waterfront restaurants. You can enjoy your vacation at a slower pace with a stroll down The Folly Beach Pier, or you can venture out to see the dolphins with a sunset boat tour. It’s a relaxed destination, where feeling the breeze in your hair is just one bike rental away.

more on folly beach

Myrtle Beach

This list wouldn't be complete without the shining star of the Grand Strand. With 60 miles of coastline to enjoy, Myrtle Beach is as versatile as it is beautiful.Enjoy a relaxed beach day hunting for shark teeth along the shoreline in North Myrtle Beach, or gear up for some action-packed fun at the beloved boardwalk. With so much to explore, Myrtle Beach is a do-it-all destination perfect for making memories.

more on myrtle beach

Murrells Inlet

Most vacationers won’t think of Murrells Inlet when they think of South Carolina, but as the seafood capital of the state, this neighborhood is worth adding to your itinerary. About a 30-minute drive from Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet is a prime destination for fishing, watersports, and sunset viewing. One of the best ways to experience the inlet is to take a stroll along The MarshWalk, a half-mile boardwalk along its saltwater estuary. Head there for a divine waterfront dinner soundtracked by the swells of live music. From the MarshWalk you'll have excellent views of one of Murrells Inlet's most odd but worth-seeing attractions, Goat Island.

more on Murrells Inlet

Kiawah Island

Known for its gorgeous sand dunes, diverse wildlife, and perfectly preserved maritime forest, Kiawah Island is a nature lover’s dream. This 10-mile-long barrier island grants you breathtaking views of the Kiawah River and the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re looking for luxury, Kiawah Island has that too. You can book a stay at a world-class resort or tee off at one of the five championship golf courses. However you choose to spend your getaway, Kiawah Island is an excellent place to unwind, unplug, and reconnect with nature.

more on kiawah island

Hunting Island State Park

Located near Beaufort, this barrier island is popular for its outdoor recreation and charming historic lighthouse. Make your trip memorable with a horseback ride along the beach or a paddleboarding session along the salt marsh. If you’re a fan of “Forrest Gump,” you won’t want to miss the Marsh Boardwalk Trail, where the movie’s Vietnam war scenes were filmed. At the end of this trail, you’ll find a platform overlooking the water, providing one of the best spots in the Lowcountry to watch the sunset and enjoy the ocean breeze.

Pawleys Island & Litchfield

These two neighboring beaches make for one peaceful getaway. Pawley’s Island is less than four miles long, but make no mistake, it has plenty to offer. As one of the oldest seaside resorts on the East Coast, Pawleys Island is rich with historical charm and timeless beauty. The island’s calm atmosphere and 25 mph speed limit make it a popular spot for family outings. Less than three miles up the road, Litchfield Beach compliments the old-world charm of Pawleys Island with modern comforts. Here you find tennis, golf, and uninterrupted peace and quiet.

More on Pawleys Island

Georgetown

This slice of Southern heaven is something out of a storybook. As the third oldest city in the state, Georgetown’s streets are lined with towering oak trees, 200-year-old-homes, and gorgeous historic properties. Cozied up beside the Sampit River is the heart of Georgetown, the Historic Downtown District. You will find many lively and colorful shops on downtown’s Front Street, which is just a few steps away from the Harborwalk. Thanks to stunning sunsets and scenic river views, a stroll along this boardwalk will have you feeling like the main character in your very own fairytale.