Monthly Archives: August 2024

2024 Spring Water Festival – Williamston SC

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The 43rd Annual Spring Water Festival will be Aug. 23 & 24, 2024
in
Williamston’s Mineral Spring Park

SPONSORED BY . . .

The Spring Water Festival Features:

Arts & Crafts – Live Music  – 5K Run – Gospel Music Showcase – Free Children’s Activities – Amusement Rides – Antique Car Show – Festival Food  – Exhibits – Souvenirs    50 plus Craft and Boutique Vendors – 40 plus Display Vendors –
12 Food Vendors – Live Music – 150 + Car Show entries – Jeeps – Fire Truck Rides

FREE ADMISSION – FREE PARKING

Mineral Spring Park one of the oldest in the country
Research shows Williamston’s Mineral Spring Park is one of the oldest public parks, and may be the oldest, in the country. Central Park in New York was established in 1853. Research on the town’s park shows it may have been established in 1844 or 1854. Documents are still being looked at to determine the exact date.
When the town’s founder, West Allen Williams set aside property for a park and surrounding town, it was done during a time when the country was being pioneered and there wasn’t much thought of public parks. The town was incorporated Dec. 16, 1852.

ROAD CLOSURES
On Friday, Aug. 23 from 5-11 pm – East Main/West Main Street will be shut down from Pelzer Ave to Minor St.. Detour is around Town Hall. Parking is available in the old Town Square Center parking lot.
Saturday, Aug. 24 from 7 am – 5 pm. – East Main/West Main Street will be shut down from Mill St. to Gossett Dr. on West Main St. From 4 pm -10 pm, Main St. will be shut down from Pelzer Ave to Minor Street. Detour will be around town hall.

Live Music Friday Night

6 pm – Blue Sky Blues Band
8 pm – The Fortunate Sons

Blue Sky Blues Band
Blue Sky is a blues/rock band from Piedmont that boasts some of the area’s top local talent. Featuring Ian Alerre on drums, Steve Myers on bass, and Adam Lindsley on guitar and vocals, Blue Sky is sure to deliver a fun and energetic performance. Listeners can expect to hear a variety of classic blues and rock songs with a few originals mixed in! Be sure to visit their website at www.reverbnation.com/blueskybluesband.


The Fortunate Sons
The Fortunate Sons are a rock n’ roll party band from the Greenville area of South Carolina. Drawing from influences of rock, blues, pop, and soul from the likes of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Motown and The Beatles. The Fortunate Sons create a musical environment that all audiences can engage and enjoy! This 5 piece band of young men from the Upstate play everything from concert halls, private parties, weddings, and corporate events. Their ability to blend the sounds of yesterday’s classic rock-n-roll with those of today makes for an undeniable crowd-pleasing performance.

Williamston Fire Department Auto Show
A tremendous display of antique and classic autos and trucks will surely delight enthusiasts during the 43rd Annual Spring Water Festival. The show is being held at the Williamston Fire Dept. and on West Main St. in front of the park. It is being sponsored by Clinkscales Chevrolet in Belton, Kenneth Rhodes & Associates Insurance Managing Partner Laruen Marvin and the Williamston Fire Department.
Organizer Williamston Fire Chief David Huff said he is expecting more than 100 antique autos, street rods, customs, trucks and other special vehicles to be on display.
The show will feature the town’s 1936 Chevrolet Fire Engine. Vehicles from outside the local area are also expected.
This year there will be a $500 Cash Give-a-Way to registered entries, $100 each hour. Registration will be $20 with awards to the top 25, plus six specialty awards. Owners may register their vehicles between 8 a.m. and noon on festival day.
Persons interested in displaying a customized vehicle, antique or tractor in the show can register on festival day.
Specialty awards include Best Original, Best GM, Best Ford, Best Truck, Best Street Rod, Best Rat Rod, Best Jeep, Mayor’s Choice, and The Will Drake Memorial Award. A new award, the Steve Ellison Memorial Award was added in 2021. Trophies are a special design.
The fire department will also offer $1 rides on the restored 1936 Chevrolet fire engine.

Antique Firetruck Rides
The Williamston Fire Department will be offering rides for $1 per person on Williamston’s antique firetruck on festival day. Proceeds will be used to continue restoration and upkeep on the vehicle.
Engine #1 was put into service in the town in 1936 and remained in service until 1962.
Department firefighters have worked numerous hours to restore the appearance of the 1936 Chevrolet. The restoration effort on the truck amounted to more than $8000. The local firefighters have done most of the work themselves.
Volunteers rebuilt the truck’s motor, making the majority of the parts themselves. Workers went by a pattern, then cut out metal and wood for the seats. Running boards for the truck were fashioned at Jimmy Jeanes’ sign shop in Pelzer.
David Harvell’s Old Time Body Shop painted the truck. Firefighters refinished ladders and shined up original brass fire extinguishers and hose fittings.
A major expense, which had to be done by professionals, was re-chroming the grill, rails, and other parts. The process cost the department about $3600. A chrome bell and spotlight has been mounted on the vehicle.
In addition to a fun day at the festival, the firetruck restoration project also preserves a part of the town’s history.
The vehicle replaced a wooden wheeled hose carrier which was pulled behind a car. That antique contraption is still stored at the department.
The 1936 truck was used to fight several memorable fires. The truck was used in 1956 at the largest fire the town ever had, which burned Mark’s Dept. Store, a shirt manufacturing operation, and an old theater building used as a warehouse on Main St.
The truck was also used earlier to fight a fire at the White Swan Laundry and Dry Cleaners and in 1950 when the auditorium of the Williamston First Baptist Church was destroyed by a blaze.
Since the old truck has been taken out of fire service, it is used for parades, festival rides, and to transport Santa Claus to the opening of the Christmas Park.
Due to the skill and dedication of Williamston’s firemen, the old truck remains in mint condition.
The firetruck was featured on the 1999, 2009 and is on the 2021 40th Anniversary festival T-shirt.

Spring Water Festival Features FREE Parking
PUBLIC PARKING
The Williamston Police Dept. recommends the following locations when looking for parking at this year’s festival:
Behind Soccer Fields – Limited parking will be available behind the soccer fields with access from Mauldin St. Festival goers parking in this area can easily walk under the Main Street bridge to the craft and food area.
The Armory Fitness (old Armory) on Gossett Dr. – Public Parking is available in the field area adjacent to the Armory which now houses Armory Fitness, with short walk to craft and food area of the festival.
Municipal Center – Limited parking will be available in the parking lot located behind town hall and at the baseball fields.
HANDICAP PARKING
Handicap parking will be available with decal beside the Historic Depot on Main St. and in front of the Municipal Center from Minor St. and Main St.
CRAFT VENDORS
Crafters will have limited designated parking at the corner of Gossett Dr. and West Main and with public parking available at the Armory on Gossett Dr.
BUSINESS/DISPLAY VENDORS
Business and Display vendors will be given a parking pass during registration and will be allowed to park in designated parking just outside the rear gate entrance/exit with pass.
OTHER NOTES
Visitors are reminded not to park on private property or block entrances to homes or businesses in the area.
Vendors may set up on Thursday evening with festival representative approval or until 6 p.m. on Friday.
Craft Vendors may begin unloading at 6 a.m. Saturday on Gossett Dr. Signs will direct crafters to Gossett Dr. for unloading and parking on festival day. Registration will be in the Gazebo.
Business/Display and NonProfits who set up Saturday must register at the shelter in the center of the park.

Thank You
The Williamston Springwater Committee gratefully acknowledges the contribution of time, money, and talent given by individuals, businesses, volunteers and organizations in Williamston and surrounding areas.
Special Thanks to all volunteers and others who have helped with repairs and painting and other work done in the park over the years.
Medshore Ambulance & Anderson County Paramedics for providing medical assistance. Williamston Police Department for security and traffic control.
The Town of Williamston Street Department for providing trash pickup services.
Also for the support of the Town of Williamston, Mayor, Council and employees. Thanks to all who helped make the 43rd Annual Spring Water Festival a success!

 

Spring Water Festival to celebrate 43 years! – 4th Saturday in August

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The 43rd Annual Spring Water Festival will be held August 23-24 in Williamston’s historic Mineral Spring Park.
It is one of the longest running festivals in the upstate.
The festival will kick off at 6 pm on Friday evening with live music by two local bands, the Blue Sky Blues Band and The Fortunate Sons. Music lovers are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy an evening of music. Twelve different food vendors will offer a variety of delicious festival food items and specialties.
Festival day activities will officially kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday with an antique and classic auto show, informative displays, children’s activities, historic displays, craft demonstrations, handmade crafts and festival food favorites.
More than 50 craft vendors, boutiques and local vendors will display and sell their items. Many offer handmade specialty items.
Approximately 50 business and non-profit organizations are expected to have informative displays about the goods and services they offer.
The Williamston Fire Department antique and classic auto show will have more than 100 antique autos, street rods, customs, trucks, jeeps and other special vehicles on display.
It is sponsored by Clinkscales Chevrolet in Belton, Kenneth Rhodes & Associates Insurance/Managing Partner Lauren Marvin and the Williamston Fire Department.
This year there will be a $500 Cash Give-a-Way to registered entries, $100 each hour. Registration will be $20 with awards to the top 25, plus six specialty awards.
Persons interested in displaying a customized vehicle, antique car or truck or tractor in the show can register between 8 am and noon on festival day.
Specialty awards include Best Original, Best GM, Best Ford, Best Truck, Best Street Rod, Best Rat Rod, Best Jeep, Mayor’s Choice, and The Will Drake Memorial Award. Trophies are a special design. A new award, the Steve Ellison Memorial Award was added in 2021.
The fire department will also offer $1 rides on the restored 1936 Chevrolet fire engine.
The 5k Spring Water Run will be held at 7:30 am on Saturday. There will be some temporary street closures during the race.
Advance online registration will be available until race day. Entry Fee is $25 and includes a race bib and timing chip. Spring Water Race shirts can be added to any registration for $12 each.
The race will be timed and the overall top three male and female winners will receive cash and gift card prizes.
The course includes city streets and country roads with rolling hills. Food and drink (bananas and bottled water) will be provided for runners. The Williamston Police Department will secure all major intersections and paramedics will be on site.
Packet Pickup and registration begins at 6:30 am on race day in the parking lot beside McDonald’s in downtown Williamston.
Registration information is available online at www.springwaterfestival.com or email: Kellylanemoon@gmail.com
The Spring Water Festival celebrates the founding of a town that was once a popular tourist destination, with the state’s largest hotel and drawing people from across the state to enjoy the benefits of a mineral spring which reportedly had medicinal qualities.

Today the spring around which the town was built still flows, offering visitors a cool, refreshing drink of spring water in Mineral Spring Park, one of the oldest public parks in the country.

The festival is organized by the Williamston Springwater Festival Committee, a 501 C3 non profit organization. Proceeds from the festival are used for improvements in the park and to help decorate the Christmas Park.