26th Anniversary Summerfest
August 22, 2009
Summerfest, which showcases the White Rose City's rich heritage and unmistakable charm, is expected to draw as many as 50,000 visitors. This grand Celebration of Summer evolved from two previous attractions promoting Historic York. The York Colonial Festival, a Jaycee-sponsored event, premiered in 1960. With much the same format as the Colonial Festival, the South Carolina Grape Festival debuted in 1965. The excitement and pageantry of this Jaycee-sponsored event spanned 15 years, concluding in 1979 amid the grape market's near collapse. It wasn't long after the demise of the grape festival that the Greater York Chamber of Commerce, with generous support from the City of York, introduced Summerfest to Upstate festival goers. The Southeast Tourism Society recognizes Summerfest, held annually in York on the fourth Saturday in August, as a Top 20 event. The Olde English District honored Summerfest as the 1996 Attraction of the Year.
And the accolades continue. The City of York and York County dignitaries, as well as the president of the Greater York Chamber of Commerce, open Summerfest on the York County Courthouse steps. Summerfest has many activities and events on its schedule that are guaranteed to satisfy a wide range of interests. The main attraction for Summerfest has been its craft and art show, which brings artisans and craft designers from various parts of the Southeast. The craft and food fair, includes over 100 craft and food vendors. The vendors are located on North Congress, East Madison, and South Roosevelt.
Streets and are open for business from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. The fair features an array of hand-made crafts and a variety of foods. The festival has several featured attractions located in the downtown area within easy walking distance of the craft and food fair.
The Summerfest Classic Car Show is one of the largest in the Southeast and will be held on South Congress Street at the Agricultural Building.
Trophies and awards will be presented. This exciting show begins at 8:00 AM. Children’s Activities are held on the lawn of The Greater York Chamber of Commerce on East Liberty Street from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM and will include a drawing contest sponsored by Family Trust Federal Credit Union. There will be exhibitions by: The Floyd D. Johnson Technology Center with demonstrations in Robotics, Trade and Industrial programs, and a petting zoo sponsored by the local 4-H group. The York County Flyers will hold their annual exhibition of giant scale model airplanes at their field on Langrum Road. The Giant Scale Fly-In is a traditional favorite of festival attendees.
Musical entertainment is available for the entire day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Main Street Stage, is located in Whitesides Cleaners parking lot on the corner of North Congress Street and Madison Street .
Featured Bands:
9:00 AM - The Tim Hartis Group playing Swing and Latin Jazz Standards
11:00 AM - Highway 61 Blues Band playing Blues and Rock
1:00 PM - David Lambert & The Carolina Rails playing Country/Rock
3:00 PM - The Burford Brothers String Band playing Bluegrass and Old-Time String Music
Our second stage, located at the Classic Car Show, will feature a wide range of Classic Rock from 10:30 AM until 2:30 PM, and will feature The Oneppo Brothers.
The third stage, located
in the Sylvia Theater on Congress Street, will feature the Interstate
107 Colgate Country Showdown, sponsored by Interstate 107, the Colgate
Company and the Greater York
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Chamber of Commerce. "The Colgate
Country Showdown" will feature contestants vying for cash, prizes, and
an opportunity to compete in the National Showdown. The top seven
contestants from the second round held July 19th at the Plaza Fiesta
near Carowinds, and the third round contestants from an August 16th
appearance at the Rock Hill Galleria will be invited to compete at the
Showdown Finals during Summerfest on August 23rd at the Sylvia Theatre.
Competition will begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 2:00 PM. The
winner will advance to compete against six other acts at the South
Carolina and North Carolina finals scheduled at the Country Stampede on
September 27, in Williamston, NC. For more information log onto
www.wrhi.com.
Piedmont Medical Center sponsors Healthy Home Town, which is held on West Liberty Street beside the Court House from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Healthy Home Town features five neighborhoods of specific health information; Heart, Women, Seniors, The Inside Story, and Safe and Healthy Kids and Teens. Special entertainment will be provided to stimulate interest in healthy living. A bike safety program also will be presented.
Summerfest Sports
By Gene Graham
The Annual Two-Man Captain’s Choice Golf Tournament, scheduled for Friday, August 22nd, before Summerfest at Spring Lake Country Club, is a familiar lead-in to York’s Summerfest attraction. Sponsored by the Bank of York, the tournament begins with a 12 o’clock high noon shotgun start. The tournament has had excellent response in past years. There are a lot of players, many from out of town, that enjoy competing in the tournament each year. Players are encouraged to register early to insure acceptance to the tournament. The tournament typically fills up early. The field is limited to the first 64 teams (128 players). USGA rules apply, with handicaps to be verified. The entry fee, determined annually per participant, includes green and cart fees, prizes, lunch, a cocktail party and gifts for each player. There also will be prizes for closest to the hole on the par 3’s, longest drive and drawings for other prizes, including a cash grand prize.
Other lead-in events to York’s Saturday Summerfest agenda are the Annual Summerfest USTA sanctioned Tennis Tournament and the moonlight bike ride. The tennis tournament begins Friday, at 5:30 PM. The event concludes on Sunday. Matches are played at the York Comprehensive and Clover high school courts. The event includes Open Division and USTA Division play for men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, senior men’s singles and doubles and senior women’s singles and doubles. The Open Division includes mixed doubles and senior mixed doubles. Also included in the USTA Division play is mixed combo doubles. Fees, determined annually, are per participant per event. Each entrant is entitled to one T-shirt. Registration is online with a credit card at the USTA website: http://tournaments.usta.com.
The
Moonlight Bike Ride winding through the streets of Historic York begins at
8:30 PM Friday. There is no fee. The
York Rescue Squad, following the ride, provides ice cream. Cotton Howell of
the York County Office of Emergency Management said the moonlight bike ride
has become a popular event over the years. “This is a leisurely bike ride
through York and we have never been rained out” Howell said.
On Saturday, the 5K and Fun Run starts at the Trinity United Methodist Church parking lot, Roosevelt and Liberty streets.
The
5K race begins at 8:00 AM and the Fun Run at 9:00 AM.
The fee for 5K and Fun Run is determined annually with a separate
charge for registration on race day. 5K registrations are not accepted
after 7:40 AM and registrations for the Fun Run are not accepted after 8:40
AM on race day. The Fun Run is not separated into divisions or age
group, but medals are presented to each participant. The overall male
and female winners in the 5K receive a cash award and a plaque. The
top three finishers in each age group will receive plaques. T-shirts
are guaranteed for those registering by August 15. Register at
www.strictlyrunning.com.
The Summerfest Softball Tournament is played on Saturday, August 23. The divisions for men’s open, women’s open, and co-ed are established prior to registration. ASA rules will apply, including a 5 home run limit per game. Participating teams must provide 44 core softballs. Entry fees are determined annually.
Friday Night Kickoff Concert presented by The Greater York Chamber of Commerce features the Beach and Motown music of Flash Back. The concert is from 5:30 PM until 9:30 PM located in Whitesides’ Cleaners parking lot at the corner of N. Congress and Madison Streets. For more information call 803-684-2590.
The Antique Show, organized by the Episcopal Church Women, will be held Friday & Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard, 108 East Liberty Street in York. For more information, contact Mary Beth Tiblier at 803-684-4081.
The Open Art Competition, coordinated by The Yorkville Artists’ Guild, will be held at McCelvey Center, 212 East Jefferson Street, on Friday, August 22 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM; and Saturday, August 23, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday, August 24, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM of Summerfest weekend. For information, contact Jack Bolin at 803-328-6747.
First Presbyterian Church Community Variety Show & Bar-B-Q is on Friday, August 22, at 10 West Liberty Street. BBQ Dinner begins at 6:00 PM with the Variety Show following at 7:00 PM. For information call the Church office 803-684-2356.
Breakfast at Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 23, from 7:00 AM until 9:30 AM with assorted breakfast items is sponsored by the Bible Study Class. The church is located at 22 E. Liberty Street. For information call the Bill Fischer at 803-628-1744 or Mary June Shuler at 803-684-4539.
The Episcopal Church of The Good Shepard will feature Christ Church organist Tim Smith on Saturday, August 23, at 2:00 PM. For information, call the Church office at 803-684-4021.
Graham's Seafood Fish Fry, sponsored by the Youth of First Baptist Church, 102 S. Congress Street, will be held on Saturday, August 23, from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
The second annual "Barn Burner Classic" 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament will be held Saturday, August 23. Entry deadline is August 15, 2008, for boys, girls, and co-ed teams ages 10 and up. For entry fees and requirements, contact Kendall McCarter at 803-371-3018 or 803-980-6926.
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