The Chesnee Summer Festival Returns This Saturday

A little town in Spartanburg County is going big time this Saturday (7/25).

And you're invited.

After a three-year absence, the Chesnee Summer Festival is returning.

Festival committee member Al Corey believes the timing is just right.

Like those in so many other communities, residents of Chesnee have endured difficult economic times and the fear brought on by the Cherokee County serial killer.

"This festival is a perfect avenue to get people out of their homes, feel community pride, not feel they are trapped in their own home. Let's get people happy about living here again," says Corey. "Community pride."

"A lot of people don''t have a great deal of spending money. A lot of them won't be able to take their kids to Myrtle Beach this year." The solution Corey and others successfully pitched to city council, "Let's have a festival in Chesnee." Hospitality tax funds are giving the festival a financial base.

Corey says the main entertainment for children will be 12 rides in the First Baptist Church parking lot. A water park will feature a 76-foot slide (Corey recommends your children bring a swimsuit). A rock climbing wall is also being brought in, and there will be a giant sandpile that Corey says will be made from actual "Myrtle Beach sand." He says he'll be going to the local Fred's store to get plastic shovels and pails so kids can play as if they're really at the beach. Pony rides and street clowns are part of the fun too.

An all-day pass for the rides is three dollars. For five dollars, there's an all-day pass for the rides -and- the water park. Corey says the festival committee has worked to keep prices as low as possible.

The summer festival will also have traditional fare including 50 craft vendors and stands selling funnel cake, cotton candy, peanuts and lemonade. There's face-painting. And there's a car and truck show. Plus t-shirts will be sold.

Downtown merchants and restaurants plan to be open, says Corey.

A shuttle will give you a lift around town.

Opening ceremonies are 10 am in Cada Park near town hall (the Highway 11 and 221 intersection).

The downtown activities last from 10 am - 6 pm. At six, music begins in the Chesnee High School football stadium.

My band, "Rock and Roll Reunion," will play classic rock from 6 - 7:30 pm.

The featured act is beach music legends "The Fantastic Shakers." Their big hit "Myrtle Beach Days" is a beach music anthem. We're very proud to be their opening act. It's going to be a night of great music. Admission is $5. You can sit in the bleachers or bring a lawn chair, and there will be plenty of room to dance.

Corey says proceeds of the festival will help underprivileged children.

And he's hoping the festival will leave visitors with "a good taste in their mouth" about Chesnee. "We want them to say, 'That was pretty cool!'"

See you there!

Note: Corey says festival staff will be wearing yellow t-shirts, carrying walkie-talkies and riding in golf carts. They can point you to parking. Corey says you may wish to take advantage of the lot located off Alabama Avenue behind the BP station.