The Palmetto Tree Service Difference
At Palmetto Tree Service, we believe that trees make the world a much more pleasant place to live. They provide us with refreshing shade, verdant beauty, cool shade, and emergency shelter. They add personality to our homes, raise our property values, and give us clean air to breathe. When your home is well-manicured, with healthy trees, everyone around benefits. That's why, as arborists, we are passionate about providing our customers with dependable Lowcountry tree care.
We believe that honest prices, state-of-the-art equipment, friendly arborists, and good old-fashioned hard work set us apart from our competition. With years of experience serving homeowners in South Carolina, you can rest easy knowing every member of our team is committed to:
- Conducting themselves in a professional manner
- Providing you with top-notch tree care services
- Arriving at your property on time and ready to work hard
- Providing you with reasonable tree care service rates
- Exceeding expectations
- Utilizing safe, time-tested techniques when trimming, pruning, or removing your trees and shrubs
- Friendly, helpful customer service
Our customers mean the world to us. When you hire our company for tree services in cityname, we take that responsibility seriously. No matter the size of your project, our team will always treat your home like it is our own. Plus, you won't ever have to worry about sneaky hidden fees or outrageous pricing. We believe every homeowner deserves access to affordable tree services!
Whether your home has overgrown trees that need trimming or you have unsightly stumps that require grinding, we're here to handle it all. Curious what kind of tree care we provide to homeowners in The Palmetto State?
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Eco-Responsible Tree Removal in Johns Island, SC
We have removed thousands of trees over the years. However, we never recommend tree removal if it's not warranted. Some South Carolina tree service companies tend to remove trees when they should be saved or simply pruned. Others go the opposite direction and never recommend tree removal.
Unlike other companies, our arborists make educated recommendations based on experience, your trees, and your needs. We make the right call for you - not for us. If disease, destruction of foundation, or other circumstances necessitate tree removal, rest assured we're recommending it for a reason.
Benefits of Tree Removal


Though we never recommend this service unless it's needed, tree removal is often the only way to protect your property and family. When done properly, removing trees from your yard can have numerous benefits.

Prevent Damage to Your Foundation
When the roots of a tree spread and grow, they often damage concrete structures, like your home's foundation or driveway. This unsightly, unsafe situation is preventable with careful tree removal.

More Yard Space
If you've got to remove trees, you might as well make use of the space. Removing trees from your yard frees up space for fun, useful additions to your home firepits and pools. Some examples that we've seen from clients include removing more free space to plant vegetables and flowers and even room to build a new basketball court.

Enhanced Views
Another benefit of tree removal is that you can create a better view for your home, both inside and out. If you have unhealthy trees blocking the view of your property, removing the tree could be a solution. On the other side of the coin, you might want the exterior view of your home to remain intact and unobstructed by trees.
Tree Trimming in Johns Island, SC
Have you noticed your favorite tree growing strangely? Are your trees so overgrown that it's making your home look like vagrants live there? Are the trees around your property weighed down by dead, dangerous branches? If you answered yes to any of those scenarios, Palmetto Tree Service has a solution to your problem.
Most folks don't know that trees respond to their environment. When trees aren't cared for, they can cause unwanted problems for the homeowner. Issues like overgrowth aren't just ugly - it's a potential safety hazard for your home and family. To prevent these problems from plaguing your property, it's important to keep your trees pruned and trimmed.
Our pruning and trimming have been described as "artistry" by our customers and are performed by highly skilled tree climbers per the Society of Arboriculture standards. Trimming procedures such as view enhancement and crown raising boosts curb appeal and open up obscured views. Proper pruning can also help establish your tree's structural integrity, which helps keep them planted firmly even in South Carolina wind gusts.
Because every shrub and tree is different, we approach our tree trimming projects with a detailed plan of action. That plan starts with our team of professional tree trimmers visiting your home. Once we see what kind of trees we'll be pruning or trimming, we'll put together an actionable plan which we'll share with you. As tree care specialists, we always account for unique variables like your tree's species and where they're located in your yard.

Benefits of Tree Trimming


For some folks, tree trimming seems like a minor detail in the grand scheme of homeownership. It can be tedious, but keeping your trees trimmed and well-maintained is more important than you might think. Below are just a few of the many benefits of keeping your trees and shrubs trimmed:

Tree Health
Part of the Palmetto Tree Service pruning and trimming process includes the removal of damaged, broken, dead, and diseased branches. When ignored, these dead and dying branches grow harmful fungi that can decimate the trees around your home or business. Removing these branches can help keep your trees healthy. Tree trimming also allows the sun and air to reach your trees, further helping to maintain their health.

Safety
As proud residents of South Carolina, we know how scary lightning storms and hurricanes are. Strong winds from these natural disasters result in fallen branches and uprooted trees. South Carolina's storm season is a serious concern for homeowners, especially those with tree-lined driveways, rec areas, and walking paths. When you trust Palmetto Tree Service, you're actually storm-proofing your home. If you have low-hanging limbs near home, pruning provides more safety and overhead clearance. That way, you don't have a panic attack every time the skies open up.

Aesthetics
Nobody likes the looks of a dying, disheveled tree. Tree trimming improves the general appearance of your tree and makes your whole yard and home look better. Tree trimming also helps prevent branches from intertwining with one another.

Developmental Tree Trimming
Pruning younger trees is crucial for their health as they age. This vital tree service in Johns Island keeps young trees appealing and helps promote optimal branch structure.
Types of Tree Trimming
Not all tree trimming services from Palmetto Tree are the same. Our experts specialize in many trimming services, so you get the right kind of trim for your needs. Our team understands that even the slightest mistake can permanently affect your yard and trees. That's why we approach every project with precision and expertise.
Crown Reduction: When your trees age without proper care, they can develop too many branches on their interior. Trees like this give great shade, but too much is not a good sign. That's where crown reduction trimming comes in. By reducing the density of your tree's crown, our tree care experts improve its growth rate and health. Crown density reduction also promotes a longer lifespan and a more beautiful appearance.

Storm Prep and Cleanup: Trimming and pruning procedures like removing dead wood and thinning crowns should be done before a major storm hits. Reducing branches and leaves lessens the force that wind gusts have and helps minimize the chances of trees falling. If a storm does damage your land, Palmetto Tree Service has the team and tools to help. Having recently worked Hurricanes Charlie, Ivan, Wilma, Katrina, Ike, Irene, Florence, Dorian, and even Sandy, Palmetto Tree Service has vast experience with twisted and fallen trees. We protect your property from further damage and safely remove lumber from damaged structures.
Other tree trimming services that Palmetto Tree Service offers include:
- Hazardous Tree Assessments
- Shrub Trimming
- Pruning
- Cabling
- Bracing
- Corrective Trimming
Contact Us
Free EstimateStump Grinding in Johns Island, SC
For most property owners, removing a tree can seem like a major project. While that notion certainly isn't wrong, tree removal is more straightforward and often easier than trying to remove an unsightly stump from your yard. Have you ever wondered why you see so many yards with stumps dotted around the land? It's because they're tough to remove. That is why Palmetto Tree Service offers stump removal services in South Carolina.
Our skilled stump grinders bring a depth of knowledge and modern tools to every project we approach. Available for any tree removal project, our fast, efficient grinding machines ensure stumps are 6-8 inches below grade. That way, you can plant your favorite bushes and shrubs where your stump used to be.
Our stump grinding and removal efforts don't just make your yard look great. They also save you time, money, and can prevent injuries. There's a time and place for DIY yard work, but stump removal isn't one of them. Going the "DIY" route can take weeks, even if you work an hour or two every day. There's also the issue of operating heavy machinery on your own, which is dangerous and costly. For these reasons alone, it's best to trust professional stump grinders to remove your tree stumps safely.

Benefits of Stump Removal in Johns Island, SC



Pest Prevention
Tree stumps are notorious for harboring harmful pests that can ruin your property. We're talking ants, termites, carpenter bees, and other wood borers. If you've noticed an uptick in pests around your home, call Palmetto Tree Service for a quote on our stump removal. You could be killing two birds with one stone.

Eliminate Unwanted Growth
When you leave a tree stump in your yard, there's a good chance you could experience unwanted tree growth. These new growths cause clusters of small trees to grow at the base of your stump. This isn't only unsightly - it can kill nearby plants because the more recent growths hoard water and nutrients to themselves.

Better Looking Yard
If you're a homeowner who loves beautiful landscaping, well-sculpted hedges, and a neat law, you will love our stump removal services. Not just for the weight off your chest but for your home's enhanced curb appeal and resale value. This point is extra pertinent if you're going to sell your home soon.

More Space
If your yard is small, even one stump can affect your usable space. If you spend a lot of time playing sports or just enjoying your yard space, stump removal is a huge help. After all, nobody wants to toss a football if there are old stumps you've got to avoid. With their complicated root systems, stumps also take up considerable space below ground. Stump removal gives your family the space needed to grow vegies, plant flowers, erect water features, and more.

Reduce Headaches
Is stump removal impossible for non-professionals? Sure, in theory. You could take spend hours researching the best ways to remove stumps. You could go to your hardware store, rent a powerful stump grinder, and risk your safety trying to run it without training. You could spend every minute of your free time grinding the stump down. Or, you could work with a trustworthy stump removal company with trained professionals, as you'll find at Palmetto Tree Service.
Your Premier Tree Service Company in South Carolina
With years of experience, it's no wonder why so many South Carolina natives choose Palmetto Tree Service over the competition. Clients love us because we exceed expectations with a smile - no if's, and's, or but's.
Our commitment to superior service isn't a gimmick; it's a year-round promise. When you choose Palmetto Tree, you'll benefit from:
- Professional advice and expertise
- Seasoned, friendly, hardworking tree care experts
- Efficient, effective tree care services
- Competitive pricing
Ready to get started? We're ready to help! Give us a call to learn more about our tree care services and to schedule your first appointment today.

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Latest News in Johns Island, SC
Discover the Largest Island in South Carolina (And the Creatures that Call It Home)
Jennifer Geerhttps://a-z-animals.com/blog/discover-the-largest-island-in-south-carolina-and-the-creatures-that-call-it-home/
South Carolina has 35 barrier islands (also called sea islands,) more than any other state except Florida. Barrier islands run paralle...
South Carolina has 35 barrier islands (also called sea islands,) more than any other state except Florida. Barrier islands run parallel to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and shield the mainland from the brunt of sea storms. The islands are home to wide sandy beaches, sea grass beds, vegetated uplands, and Lowcountry marshes.
What Is the Largest Island in South Carolina?
At 84 square miles in area, St. Johns is the largest Island in South Carolina. Located in Charleston County, it’s the fourth largest island on the East Coast. Situated between the city of Charleston and the barrier island beaches that border the Atlantic Coast, a portion of the island is located within the city limits of Charleston.
Technically an island, yet not bordered by the open sea, the Stono and Kiawah Rivers are what separates Johns Island from its border islands and the mainland.
What Is the History of Johns Island?
Colonialists arrived on Johns Island from English settlements in the Caribbean and named it after Saint John Parish in Barbados. However, Native American tribes, including the Stono, Bohicket, and Kiawah Indians, were already living on the island.
The settlers brought the crop, indigo, from Barbados and cultivated it in the Lowcountry of Johns Island. By the mid-1700s, indigo became the main export for the island. A popular bright blue dye, indigo grown on Johns Island was commonly sold to England. During the height of indigo production, the Stono Rebellion occurred. The settlers relied on slaves to grow and produce their crops. In 1739, a group of slaves on Johns Island rebelled and attempted to escape to Florida, which was under the rule of the Spanish at the time.
However, the uprising was unsuccessful and plantation owners captured the slaves before they could reach freedom. During the Revolutionary War, the British market for indigo was disrupted, and England began to turn to India for its indigo supply. By the 1800s, indigo was no longer listed as a crop for Johns Island.
Johns Island has been the site of several important historical events. Occupied by British troops during the Revolutionary War, Johns Island also endured the Battle of Bloody Bridge during the Civil War. Today, visitors can view the historical site marking the Civil War battle at the Burdens Causeway.
Currently, Johns Island has a population of 21,500 and growing. The nearness of downtown Charleston, the beautiful scenery of the Lowcountry, and the nearby sandy beaches of the barrier islands make Johns Island a popular spot for new development.
What Do People Do at Johns Island?
Today, Johns Island is known for local farmers’ markets, historical parks, and towering oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Although new developments are cropping up on the island, about 75% of the island remains rural with agricultural and horse farms, large acreage estates, and waterfront communities. Just a few miles south is the resort community of Kiawah Island.
One of the main attractions on Johns Island is the Angel Oak, a live oak tree that is thought to be the largest living oak tree east of the Mississippi River. Estimated to be around 400 years old, it’s the oldest tree in South Carolina. The massive tree is 65 feet tall and 25.5 feet around. Further, it provides shade to a staggering 17,000 square foot area. Surrounding the tree is a small park with a visitor’s center and a gift shop.
Another popular activity on the island is shopping at the Freshfields Village, an open-air shopping center with over 30 shops, numerous restaurants, and a boutique hotel.
The Goatery at Kiawah River is a small artisan goat dairy farm specializing in goat cheese and soaps. The farm offers private tours, classes for children, and goat yoga. The farm also doubles as a goat sanctuary, offering many goats a forever home.
Where Is Johns Island on a Map?
Johns Island is in between Charleston and the barrier islands. It’s surrounded by Kiawah, Seabrook, Wadmalaw, Edisto, James, and Folly Islands. The Stono and Kiawah Rivers separate Johns Island from the mainland and the barrier islands.
What Animals Live on Johns Island?
Johns Island is teeming with wildlife. Although there are many homes, shops, and restaurants on the island, much of the land remains undeveloped, providing habitat for numerous species. On the island, it’s common to see deer, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, otters, wild hogs, and even alligators.
The rivers and marshes on the island are abundant with oysters, trout, black sea bass, bluefish, and bottlenose dolphins. Birds found in the area include many species such as osprey, bald eagles, wild turkeys, and egrets.
Hicks: County and city put Johns Island traffic solution in gear
Brian Hickshttps://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/hicks-county-and-city-put-johns-island-traffic-solution-in-gear/article_c6635d90-0bba-11ee-a045-674b5c0f5a69.html
There’s a new red light on Maybank Highway, and new Charleston County Councilman Joe Boykin hears about it. Every. Single. Day.Because, make no mistake, traffic is the undisputed heavyweight chokepoint of contention on Johns Island.“A lot of folks are upset; they can’t get on and off the island,” Boykin says. “You think it’s bad now — there are 1,300 homes planned or under construction around there. Wait ’til all that drops.”Yep, that’s the thing — the isl...
There’s a new red light on Maybank Highway, and new Charleston County Councilman Joe Boykin hears about it. Every. Single. Day.
Because, make no mistake, traffic is the undisputed heavyweight chokepoint of contention on Johns Island.
“A lot of folks are upset; they can’t get on and off the island,” Boykin says. “You think it’s bad now — there are 1,300 homes planned or under construction around there. Wait ’til all that drops.”
Yep, that’s the thing — the island can’t wait any longer for traffic relief. Residents have been waiting, largely in idling cars, for years now.
Johns Island’s chronic congestion — and dysfunction — has spread over time, and overwhelms James Island and West Ashley with tens of thousands of commuters daily. Sometimes the drive-by traffic shuts down the grid west of the Ashley River.
See: Savannah Highway and Main Road, Interstate 526 and Sam Rittenberg, Maybank and Folly Road, et al.
There are various solutions to this problem planned, but land disputes, jurisdictional spats, environmental concerns, the threat of lawsuits and rising construction costs have slowed many of those projects. It’s a mess.
Of course, politics is behind some of the paralysis. Nobody can agree on anything these days, especially what needs to be done about Johns Island growth … and its infrastructure.
It’s really about an island with an exploding population that has exactly two routes on and off it. You could call that poor planning, but plans for a third route have been in the works for years. But that’s another story.
So here we are.
There is some reason for hope, however. On Thursday, county and city traffic engineers — along with Boykin, County Council Vice Chairwoman Jenny Honeycutt and City Councilman Karl Brady — sat down in Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg’s office to talk about more collaboration between the two local governments to get various road projects moving.
Which is a good sign, because in the past the two haven’t always seen eye to eye.
At Boykin’s request, County Council recently pledged to work more closely with the city on Johns Island traffic.
And a unanimous vote from a City Council committee last week affirmed its commitment to the same.
Most significantly, City Council gave initial consent to a fourth lane to Maybank Highway between River Road and the bridge to James Island. Right now, much of that stretch is restricted to a single outbound lane that at times is ridiculously overwhelmed.
The City Council resolution is notable because, years ago, Charleston held up county plans to widen Maybank — largely because officials didn’t want to sacrifice trees for additional lanes.
But in the past two years, the traffic count on Maybank has gone up by 6,000 cars per day, to a new high of more than 35,000. For comparison, about 45,000 cross the Wappoo bridge.
The agreement to widen Maybank Highway is a good start, because it’ll ease the bottleneck that builds up ahead of the bridge to James Island. Boykin says if that can be done without sacrificing any trees, it will be.
That’s a big deal but, frankly, just having the city and county in accord is bigger.
“I believe we have a newfound, unprecedented level of cooperation and commitment to improving the traffic at River and Maybank,” Tecklenburg says. “We’re looking at temporary and long-term ways to get two lanes from River Road to the bridge. We’re going to update the traffic plan, which should take about a month. We’re going to do whatever the Department of Transportation will allow.”
Because, remember, the state technically owns all these roads.
Commute times don’t yet reflect it, but there’s already some movement.
The county’s northern pitchfork is under construction — that new traffic signal at Maybank and Fenwick Hall Allee (the one Boykin is getting calls about) is in place because that’s where the pitchfork will meet the highway.
The problem has been the light’s timing. As any traffic engineer will tell you, when a road is that hopelessly over capacity, it’s difficult to sync it.
The next challenge will be building the southern pitchfork, which Boykin says is key to alleviating congestion on that side of the island. And it’s needed whether or not 526 gets finished.
That’s one thing the county and city, which secured land for the southern leg a few years back, will study in the coming months.
As Boykin and Tecklenburg note, the tines of the pitchfork need to align because yet another traffic light on that stretch of Maybank is simply not an option.
Neither is allowing Johns Island’s congestion to fester any longer.
Editorial: Seabrook Island, other beach towns, should respect Johns Island growth boundary
THE EDITORIAL STAFFhttps://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-seabrook-island-other-beach-towns-should-respect-johns-island-growth-boundary/article_3f452f3c-2578-11ee-9aa0-1fa7a0456ce2.html
There are several powerful reasons why Seabrook Island Town Council should reject a proposed annexation that would pave the way for a new boat dock, private clubhouse, boathouse, pool house and 10 rental cottages near the town’s northern limits.The additional boat and car traffic would create more congestion on Betsy Kerrison Parkway in particular and Johns Island in general, as well as more pollution to the otherwise pristine Bohicket Creek. But the biggest reason Town Council should reject the 18-acre annexation is the dangero...
There are several powerful reasons why Seabrook Island Town Council should reject a proposed annexation that would pave the way for a new boat dock, private clubhouse, boathouse, pool house and 10 rental cottages near the town’s northern limits.
The additional boat and car traffic would create more congestion on Betsy Kerrison Parkway in particular and Johns Island in general, as well as more pollution to the otherwise pristine Bohicket Creek. But the biggest reason Town Council should reject the 18-acre annexation is the dangerous precedent it would set, a precedent that would erode the rural character of southern Johns Island.
Decades ago, local governments, led by the city of Charleston and Charleston County, agreed on an urban growth boundary across Johns Island and other areas. The big idea was to ensure their zoning and other policies were synchronized to allow suburban development to continue to spread, but only up to a point, beyond which the existing rural nature would be preserved. The boundary has generally worked well, but as with so much other conservation work, it needs to be embraced and reaffirmed by each new generation.
Seabrook Island’s potential move would mark one of the first and most dramatic annexations by a municipality into the rural portion of the island; if it succeeds, it almost assuredly wouldn’t be the last, and it could hasten the unraveling of the boundary line — and increase development pressures on the shrinking amount of land on the rural side of the boundary.
Robby Maynor of the Coastal Conservation League agrees that annexing and rezoning this property on the rural side of the urban growth boundary would set a disastrous precedent on the county’s Sea Islands and could lead to annexation battles such as those that are playing out along the most rural stretches of the upper Ashley River, whose rural historic district remains in jeopardy from encroaching homes, stores and the traffic they bring. Approving the marina project would be “like kicking an anthill and hoping you don’t get bit,” he says.
The case that the property’s owner and other supporters have made for the annexation is that it would give Seabrook Island future control of the site and limit future development there, according to reporter Warren Wise. But the proposal appears to us as designed to facilitate development, not to curb it. Annexing the site, which is next to Bohicket Marina, would allow it to tie into the town’s sewer system.
Unfortunately, Seabrook Island’s Planning Commission has recommended annexing the site and rezoning it for a mixed-used development. We urge Town Council members to reject that move when they consider the matter Aug. 22.
As Mr. Wise noted, the project is a scaled-down version of a 30-year-old Andell Harbor project that state environmental regulators rightly and mercifully rejected. While this is smaller, with only about 4 acres of development near the creek and the rest set aside for open space, it still would represent an unwelcome and disturbing encroachment into the rural area between the barrier islands of Kiawah and Seabrook and the suburban growth from the city of Charleston.
Last year, we urged elected officials, neighborhood leaders and planners with Charleston County and the two beach towns to come up with a mutually agreed-upon overlay for their shared area at the southern tip of Johns Island. That overlay should guide future development toward the kinds of uses — and the sizes and scale — residents of all three jurisdictions would most like to see, and help address growing real estate pressures in a way residents prefer. We repeat the call for regional cooperation, and Seabrook Island’s rejection of this annexation would be an important first step.
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Historic Preservation field school engages Gullah Geechee community
Clemson Newshttps://news.clemson.edu/historic-preservation-field-school-engages-gullah-geechee-community/
Download imageClemson University’s Historic Preservation program is launching the Johns Island Preservation Field School. The summer field school program funded by the Andrew W. ...
Clemson University’s Historic Preservation program is launching the Johns Island Preservation Field School. The summer field school program funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Vernacular Architecture Forum focuses on researching and documenting late 19th and early 20th century public buildings and their role within the African American community on Johns Island, SC.
Alongside Clemson’s Historic Preservation program, the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture at the College of Charleston, the Progressive Club and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission (GGCHCC) are hosting this three-week program—the field school runs from May 22 to June 9.
“The field school brings together African American studies, public history, history, historic preservation and other thinking and skills, all surrounding important and story-laden historic places and the people associated with these built environments,” explained Amalia Leifeste, associate professor of historic preservation at Clemson University.
The program includes workshops by historic preservation faculty, history faculty, archivist, scholars and local community educators, teaching participants about life in the Johns Island community during the Reconstruction, Jim Crow and Civil Rights periods. Through hands-on training in historic preservation documentation and research methods, including archival research, measured drawing, photography, laser scanning, photogrammetry and GIS, participants will learn how to document the physical fabric and cultural narratives associated with the historic buildings and landscapes on Johns Island.
“This is the kind of work that can bring new people into the field of historic preservation and assists in continuing to evolve the field to include buildings and people not always centered in historic conversations,” Leifeste said.
Johns Island residents will also be encouraged to apply to the second year of the field school (Summer of 2024), and they will be given priority along with applicants demonstrating historic or cultural ties to Johns Island or the broader Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Residents will also be invited to participate in one-day workshops with topics including reading buildings with Jobie Hill. Community members will be compensated for their time in attending these workshops.
Public Preservation Events
Johns Island Preservation Field School also offers three public events during its three-week tenure on the island. The public is invited to panel discussions, student presentations and a preservation advocacy discussion. Following are the events that are open to the public:
Circus show brings exotic horses, fire dancers to Johns Island
Chloe Hoganhttps://charlestoncitypaper.com/2023/03/20/circus-show-brings-exotic-horses-fire-dancers-to-johns-island/
Step inside the big top tent during Cirque Ma’Ceo to witness an emotionally charged artistic experience featuring circus performers and horses from around the world. With misty red lighting, the tent offers an intimate setting where every seat allows for breathtaking access to the one-of-a-kind performance which promises to transport you back in time to the “roots of Gypsy heritage,” according to the show’s website. This 90-minute show offers fire dancers, mesmerizing acrobatic acts, dance and equestrian displays....
Step inside the big top tent during Cirque Ma’Ceo to witness an emotionally charged artistic experience featuring circus performers and horses from around the world. With misty red lighting, the tent offers an intimate setting where every seat allows for breathtaking access to the one-of-a-kind performance which promises to transport you back in time to the “roots of Gypsy heritage,” according to the show’s website. This 90-minute show offers fire dancers, mesmerizing acrobatic acts, dance and equestrian displays.
Cirque Ma’Ceo is suitable for all ages and offers five performances March 24-26 at Johns Island County Park.
The show has been described as an equine version of the famous Cirque du Soleil. The theatrical, equestrian-themed circus show tells a story through acrobatics, dance and aerial performance — all to the acoustic beats of Spanish guitar. Cirque Ma’Ceo is based out of Sarasota, Fla., and has performed in Las Vegas, Nev., Honolulu, Hawaii, and all over Canada.
Rachel Gauthier, media relations for Cirque Ma’Ceo, said the show blends many cultures. It was created in 2005 by director Olissio Zoppe, a ninth-generation descendent of the historical Italian family that created equine-based theatrical-style circus performance, the Zoppe and Zamperla family. Zoppe himself has performed in the circus since childhood.
“He was born in the circus — he’s been doing this all his life, and now he’s created his own show,” Gauthier said. “We’re performing and traveling all across the United States doing this amazing show, but this will be our first time in Charleston.
“The show features aerialists, fire dancers and amazing tightrope acts. We have this really dreamy act of featuring this black Friesian stallion horse. The performer rides the horse as an aerialist takes flight over him with red ribbon silks. It’s a really beautiful act.”
Those who are interested in horses will enjoy seeing many different and exotic breeds, including Friesian Percherons, Mustang quarter horses, miniature horses and more. The show combines elements of contemporary circus, as seen in Cirque du Soleil, along with more traditional circus elements.
“Zoppe comes from a more traditional style of circus: the big top tent with the ringmaster announcing act after act — the traditional circus acts that you would see. This show is a blend of both worlds because he comes from a traditional circus family, but in his work he has touched on the contemporary more theatrical side of circus too. He was inspired to create his own show that had this traditional feeling to it, but brings a contemporary style of circus as well,” Gauthier said.
General admission tickets are $35 and can be purchased here.
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