"The Frogmore Stew was great," Pat Gibson said. "Until we moved to Beaufort I didn't even know what it was."

The Gibsons, who have been attending their first Water Festival all week, recently moved to Beaufort from Kansas City.

On the festival's final day, which was filled with the blessing of the fleet, the parade of boats, power boat races and an air show, the couple looked back happily at their introduction to the Lowcountry tradition.

"We've enjoyed every minute of it," Pat Gibson said. "I think it's great."

Margaret Gibson, who said the live music throughout the week had been her favorite part of the festival, is looking forward to enjoying the event repeatedly in the years to come.

"We don't want to miss a thing," she said.

Pat Gibson agreed that the festival would become a tradition for the couple.

"As long as we're in Beaufort, we'll always be here for Water Festival," he said.

But just where the Gibsons, and all other festival attendees, will be next year is still in question.

The planned renovations to Waterfront Park, scheduled to start in January and last about a year, have festival-coordinators searching for a venue for next year's event, said Marvin Morrison, Commodore for next year's festival.

"We're unsure right now what's going to happen to the festival," Morrison said Sunday afternoon after the festivities had wrapped up.

The festival might end up being split up between different venues, but no decisions have been made yet, said Morrison, who has been involved with Water Festival for 11 years.

"We spend all of our time thinking about this year," he said. "The planning process will be starting in September for next year."

But rest assured, the Commodore said the festival will not be canceled.

"There will be a Water Festival next year," Morrison said.

This year's final day kicked off with Father Ronald Cellini blessing the boats and a parade of boats judged by a panel of former winners.

Farah and Frieda Harvey, a mother-daughter combination who won in the pleasure boat division two years ago, were looking at decorations, spirit and how well the boats adapted to the festival's theme of "Where History and Fun Come Together."

In the end, the Gracie Bell took home top honors, beating out eight other registered vessels, including Gov. Mark Sanford's pirate-themed Robinson Carusoe.

"They were just the total package," Farah Harvey said.