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.

 

 

 

 

 

Piedmont Medical Center's sponsored Healthy Home Town is held on West Liberty Street beside the Court House from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM.  Healthy Home Town features 5 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 and a bike safety program will be presented.

 

 

 

 

Summerfest day concludes with an entertainment special at the McCelvey Center on East Jefferson Street.  McCelvey Center will host a music celebration that may feature a single musical performer or a group of pickers, singers, and songwriters.  Whichever may be the selected feature for Summerfest you can be assured it will be worth attending.

The 2007 featured group was Grammy Award winning "Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys" a patriarch of traditional mountain music.

 

Summerfest Sports

 By Gene Graham

The Annual 2 Man Captain’s Choice Golf Tournament, scheduled for Friday, before Summerfest on Saturday 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 AM and the Fun Run at 9 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 groups; medals are presented to each participant.  The overall male and female winners in the 5K receives 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^th.  

 

The Summerfest Softball Tournament is played on Saturday.  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.

 

Other Happenings

 

Friday Night Kickoff Concert presented by The Greater York Chamber of Commerce is from 5:30 PM until 9:30 PM located in Whitesides’ Cleaners parking lot.  For more information call 803-684-2590.

 

The Antique Show, organized by the Episcopal Church Women, begins with the Antique Gala Preview Show on Thursday before Summerfest Saturday with an evening reception.  The Antique Show will be held Friday & Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard, 108 East Liberty Street in York.

 

The Open Art Competition, coordinated by The Yorkville Artists’ Guild, will be held at McCelvey Center, East Jefferson Street, on Friday, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from1:00 PM to 5:00 PM of Summerfest weekend.  All artists are welcome.   For information, contact McCelvey Center at 803-684-3948.

 

First Presbyterian Church Community Variety Show & Bar-B-Q is on Friday evening before Summerfest Saturday.  Dinner is at 6:00 PM, Variety Show at 7:00 PM.  For information call the Church office 803-684-2356.

 

Breakfast at Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturday, from 7:00 AM until 9:30 AM with a full breakfast menu.  For information call the Church office at 803-684-4100.

 

Organ Concert at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd will feature a guest organist Saturday, beginning at 12:00 Noon.  For information call the Church Organist at 803-684-4021.

 

Graham’s Seafood Fish Fry Sponsored by the Youth of First Baptist Church, 102 S. Congress Street, to be held on Saturday, August 26, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 

Thank you 2007 Summerfest Sponsors:
 

Host Partners
 The Greater York Chamber of Commerce
City of York
 

The Major Sponsor
Comporium

Major Sponsors
Bank of York
BI-LO (www.bi-lo.com)
Clover Community Bank
Daves Land Development
Duke Energy
Family Trust FCU
Home Mortgage Financial Center
Piedmont Medical Center
Rinehart Realty
Rock Hill Coca Cola Bottling Co.
York Electric Co-op