S.C. Sweet Potato Festival 2016
The Pilot Club of Darlington will host the 34th Annual South Carolina Sweet Potato Festival in downtown Darlington on October 8, 2016 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. We have approximately 125 vendor applications that came from seven states, including our home state of South Carolina. To our surprise, we received one from Sacramento, California! For two years, we had a vendor who drove her van from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, just to sell her silk flower arrangements at our event. We are happy to be honored with these visits.
A fun day is planned this year with a variety of entertainment, many arts and craft items, amusements for the children, lots of good food, and the lovely and unusual antique cars. We will also have a large variety of sweet potato items!
Visiting with us this year will be Tony Melton from Clemson University Extension Office in Florence who comes each year to purchase sweet potatoes from our local sweet potato farmer, Bobby Arnold. To those of you who buy tickets for a chance to win a door prize, you may win a basket of his delicious sweet potatoes!
Come join us for lots of fun the entire day.
Schedule of Events:
Emcee: Kinsley Odom, 2015-2016 S.C. Sweet Potato Teen and reigning Miss Pee Dee.
Entertainment
• 9 a.m.: Festival Begins at Public Square in Darlington; Antique Car Show begins on Cashua Street
• 9:15 a.m.: Darlington High School Band performing on the Carolina Bank lawn; Director, Brandon Johnson
• 10 a.m.: Opening Ceremony and Introduction of Guests
• Presentation of Colors: Darlington High School JROTC
• Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
• National Anthem by Melissa Schwier
• Prayer by Dr. Brian Sherwood, Pastor of First Baptist Church Darlington
• Welcome from the Pilot Club of Darlington by President Nancy Lee
• Greetings from the Mayor of Darlington Gloria C. Hines
• Governor of the S.C. District of Pilot International, Vivian Lee
• Special Guest: Tony Melton, Clemson University Extension Office of Florence
• 10:30 a.m. School of Dance Art of Florence
• 11:00 a.m.: Ronnie Anderson
• 11:25 a.m.: From the Heart of Grace
• 11:50 a.m.: Summer of Corruption Band
• 12:30 p.m.: Miss South Carolina Teen Makayla Stark
• Miss Hartsville Mikeya Murphy, vocalist
• Mss Darlington High School Aubrey Goodwin, vocalist
• Miss Greater Easley Teen Sarah Finleyson, monologue
• Teen Miss Chesterfield County Maquitta Butler, vocalist
• South Carolina’s Outstanding Teen Ashleigh Smith, clogger
• 1:00 p.m. Larry Flowers, vocalist
• 1:30 p.m. Patsy Hathcock School of Dance
• 2:00 p.m. Kendall Skinner, vocalist
• 2:30 p.m. Kendall Standish Voice Studio
• Anna Grace Lawhon, Rachel Warr, Monica Saxton and featuring Stone Martin
• 3:00 p.m. Brenda Cranford School of Dance of Hartsville