Christmas Park open through January 1

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Opening night ceremonies and lighting of the Christmas Park was held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m., at the Amphitheater Stage in Mineral Spring Park, State Hwy. 20, Historic Williamston, SC.

The Christmas Park has been a holiday attraction in the upstate since 1958. It is a joint effort by local citizens and the town to convey the Christmas spirit through a unique collection of holiday lights and displays.
Each year, local businesses, churches, civic groups, the Springwater Committee and The Town of Williamston contribute by placing original displays and 1000s of lights in Mineral Spring Park.
Visitors come from all over the upstate and surrounding states to circle slowly along the drive or walk the paths viewing lighted displays. A visit with Santa in the Boy Scout Hut is a treat for the children, and parents!
The Pelzer-Williamston Jaycees are credited with originating the Christmas Park idea 59 years ago. They saw it as a “Christmas parade that stands still.” The idea soon became the local tradition that area residents look forward to during the Christmas season.
The lighting of the park includes the opening of Deck the Halls in Williamston’s Municipal Center.
The annual event has become a holiday tradition for the town and features beautifully decorated Christmas trees in the main hallways of the Municipal Center. It will be open to the public for viewing following the lighting of the park and during regular business hours through the holidays.
Hours for viewing trees will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through the holiday season.

The Williamston Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, December 15 at 3 p.m. The theme will be “Keep Christ in Christmas”.

Georgia Country Artist of the Year to headline 2018 Spring Water Festival entertainment

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Georgia singer Thomas Fountain will headline the 2018 SWF.

The 37th Annual Spring Water Festival is coming up August 24 and 25. Hours for the festival this year will be 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The festival returns with over 100 vendors featuring arts and crafts, exhibits and business displays, festival food, children’s activities and rides, 5k Spring Water Run, antique car show, and live entertainment
This year the Spring Water Festival will feature a variety of live music beginning on Friday with the Carolina Coast Band playing beach and blues.
On Saturday, entertainment will include the Blue Sky Blues Band, Adam Kiraly Band and headliner Thomas Fountain.
The festival will also include performances on the Gospel music stage by the Chordsmen, The Grissops, Gary Hart and Hartstrings, Caitlin Tierce, Living Truth Eternal Vision and more.

Blue Sky Blues Band

The Blue Sky Blues Band is a local 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. They will perform a variety of classic blues and rock songs with a few originals mixed in.

Adam Kiraly Band
The Adam Kiraly Band is a Tropical Rock/Jazz Fusion band out of Greenville.
Their music is most like a blend of Dave Mathews Band and Jimmy Buffet with improv sax solos with springy, island-flavored vocals and powerful, creative grooves.
They will perform originals as well as covers from a variety of artists. The band released an EP this year, titled “Riverwalk”, and are touring regionally to promote it.
The single from their EP, Skeleton Crew, charted the first week out at #10 on Shore Life Radio and #1 on Tikipod Radio. The music from EP continues to rank in the top 20 several weeks later.

Thomas Fountain

Georgia singer, songwriter Thomas Fountain will headline entertainment on Saturday.
Fountain was named the 2015 Male Georgia Country Artist of the Year.
His first single “FLOAT” from his debut self-titled EP, gained him recognition in media outlets and on radio.
It was followed up with the release of his single “Just Like You”.
Both songs and video can be found on youtube.
With the success of these songs, Fountain was featured on NBC’s, “Atlanta and Company” and nationally known Jezebel Magazine.
In November 2016, he released his single “Sometimes God Whispers” landing him the number one voted upcoming local artist on station – 94.9 The Bull Backyard Country series.
The music video garnered over 1 million Facebook views in just over a month of its release.
Fans have responded to the song with stories of how the words translate to their personal lives and experiences.
Fountain will perform on the Spring Water Festival Amphitheater stage at 2 p.m.on Saturday.
Additional information on the Spring Water Festival will be announced soon.
For more information visit the website at www.springwaterfestival.com.

The Carolina Coast Band will perform beach music and blues at the Spring Water Festival on Friday, August 24.

2018 Spring Water Festival Entertainment Schedule

Friday – August 24
6:00 – 10:00 Carolina Coast Band

Saturday – August 25

9:15 Opening Ceremony

Amphitheater Stage
10:00 Blue Sky Blues Band
12:00 Adam Kiraly Band
2:00  Thomas Fountain

Gospel Stage
10:00 Craig Ledford
10:30 Victory Lane
11:00 Living Truth
11:30 Grissops
12:00 Eternal Vision
12:30 Catlin Tierce
1:00 Chordsmen
1:30 David Earl Lawson
2:00 Heaven’s Hope
2:30 Keith Kanipe
3:00 Narrow Way
3:30 All For Hill
4:00 King’s Way

Children’s Stage
Buttons The Clown
TBA

More information to be posted soon!

 

 

Spring Water Festival accepting vendor applications

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Organizers of the 37th Annual Spring Water Festival are now accepting vendor, display and run applications for the two day festival August 24 & 25, 2018. Hours for the festival this year will be 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Any local craft vendor interested in participating in the event can pick up an application and guidelines at The Journal office or online at the Spring Water Festival website at www.springwaterfestival.com.
For more information on crafts contact Beth Watkins at 864-704-4502 or email swfcrafts@gmail.com
Local businesses, and non-profits are also invited to have a display to promote their business at the festival.
Business displays should contact Dianne Lollis at 864-847-5743 or by email at missetta@charter.net.
The festival will again feature one of the upstate’s largest antique and classic auto shows, being sponsored by the Williamston Fire Department. To register contact Steve Ellison at 864-844-7107 or email wfd100@att.net. Also online at www.williamstonfire.com. There will be awards in a number of categories.
The 5K Spring Water Run will be a featured attraction and will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25. The run is sanctioned as an RRCA Grand Prix event. The 5K open race will begin at 8:30 a.m. There will also be a 1 mile fun run at 7:45 a.m.
The course includes city streets and country roads with rolling hills. Splits will be called at the one and two mile mark and water stations will be on the course.

Register now for the 2018 Spring Water Run – Sat., August 25

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The Annual Spring Water Run is being held Saturday, Aug. 25 in conjunction with the 37th Annual Spring Water Festival.
The 2018 Spring Water Run which is sanctioned as an RRCA Palmetto USA T&F certified event. The 5K open race will begin at 8:30 a.m. There will also be a 1 mile fun run at 7:45 a.m. Drinks and snacks will be provided for runners.
Entry fee for the Spring Water Run is $25 in advance or $30 on the day of the race. Pre-registration ends on August 23. Entry fee for Fun Run is $10, Ages 12 and under free. Shirts will be $10.
Packet pickup and pre-registration will be held on Friday, Aug. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ace Hardware, 29 Pelzer Ave. in Williamston.
Registration will be held on the day of the run, August 25 between 6:15 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. in the parking lot beside McDonald’s in downtown Williamston. Online registration is available at www.itsabouttime.run/event-registration.
Trophies will go to the top two males and females in the 5K, the top male and female masters and medals to second and third place male and female by age group.
Age groups will include 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, and 65 and over.
Awards and drawings will be held following the one mile run. All registered runners are eligible for race day drawings which will include a variety of prizes. Pictures of all winners will be made immediately after presentation of awards.
The course includes city streets and country roads with rolling hills. Splits will be called at the one and two mile mark and water stations will be on the course, Vickery said.
Food and drink will be provided after the race for runners. The Williamston Police Department will secure all major intersections and MedShore Ambulance will be on site.
Additional information including registration and forms is available online at www.springwaterfestival.com and at The Journal or email: michaelvickery7@gmail.com

Online Registration

5K Spring Water Run 2018 Application

Spring Water Festival 2018 Applications

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Organizers of the 37th Annual Spring Water Festival are now accepting craft vendor, business and non-profit applications for the two day festival in August. Dates for this year’s festival are August 24 & 25, 2018.

Any local vendor interested in participating in the event can pick up an application and guidelines at The Journal office or download/print from the Spring Water Festival website at www.springwaterfestival.com.

For more information on crafts contact Beth Watkins at 864-704-4502 or email swfcrafts@gmail.com or watkinsb@anderson1.k12.sc.us.

Local businesses and non-profit organizations are also invited to have a display to promote their business or organization at the festival.

Business and non-profits should contact Dianne Lollis at 864-847-5743 or by email at missetta@charter.net.

2018 SWF Forms and Applications

Craft Vendor Application

Craft Vendor Guidelines

Business & Non-Profit Display Application

Business & Non-Profit Display Guidelines

5K Spring Water Run Application 

2018 Spring Water Festival

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Coming Soon!

August 24 & 25 – 2018

Mineral Spring Park – Williamston, SC
 State Hwy. 20 just off I-85 between Anderson and Greenville, SC

Arts & Crafts　 5K Spring Water Run     Mineral Spring Trail Walk (New)
Health Fair　 Live Music　 Gospel music showcase
Free Children’s Activities      Amusement Rides
Antique Car Show　 Festival Food　 Exhibits     Souvenirs

Directions to Festival
From I-85 or Hwy. 29, exit onto Hwy.8 to Pelzer.
Right on Hwy. 20 into downtown Williamston

Christmas Park Opening Saturday, Nov. 25 at 6 pm!

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Opening night ceremonies and lighting of the Christmas Park will be held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m., at the Amphitheater Stage in Mineral Spring Park, State Hwy. 20, Historic Williamston, SC.
There will be special holiday music and Santa Claus will be arriving on the town’s antique 1936 Fire Engine and visiting with children in the Scout Hut. Pastor Jon Feusse of Midway Bible Church will have the opening prayer and members of the church will be caroling and serving hot chocolate and cookies to help visitors keep warm while strolling through the Christmas park enjoying lights and decoration and watching special entertainment.
Cookies and hot chocolate will be given out by the Boy Scouts on weekends during December and during the week before Christmas.
Santa will be in the Scout Hut from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 25-26, Nov. 30, Dec. 1-3, Dec. 7-10 and Dec. 14-23.
The Christmas Park has been a holiday attraction in the upstate since 1958. It is a joint effort by local citizens and the town to convey the Christmas spirit through a unique collection of holiday lights and displays.
Each year, local businesses, churches, civic groups, the Springwater Committee and The Town of Williamston contribute by placing original displays and 1000s of lights in Mineral Spring Park.
Visitors come from all over the upstate and surrounding states to circle slowly along the drive or walk the paths viewing lighted displays. A visit with Santa in the Boy Scout Hut is a treat for the children, and parents!
The Pelzer-Williamston Jaycees are credited with originating the Christmas Park idea 59 years ago. They saw it as a “Christmas parade that stands still.” The idea soon became the local tradition that area residents look forward to during the Christmas season.
The lighting of the park will include the opening of Deck the Halls in Williamston’s Municipal Center.
The annual event has become a holiday tradition for the town and features beautifully decorated Christmas trees in the main hallways of the Municipal Center. It will be open to the public for viewing following the lighting of the park and during regular business hours through the holidays.
Hours for viewing trees will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through the holiday season.

The Williamston Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, December 9 at 3 p.m. The theme will be “Keep Christ in Christmas”.