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Iris Festival

2008 APPLICATIONS & EVENTS SCHEDULE ONLINE NOW!!!

Sumter's Iris Festival is South Carolina's oldest continuous festival and is ranked among the top festivals in the Southeast. The 4-day festival includes concerts, an arts and crafts show, a golf tournament, a flower show, a food tasting, the crowning of the Iris Festival king and queen, and a number of contests and children's activities.

Sumter's Swan Lake-Iris Gardens -- the main staging area for the Iris Festival -- is home to all eight types of the world's swans including swans from Asia, Australia, England and South America.

As the festival has gained popularity, it has become a favorite stopping place for bus tours from all over the U.S. and Canada and has been covered in "Southern Living" magazine. The annual event receives prominent news and advertising coverage in major newspapers, radio and television stations as well as on the world-wide Web.

Sumter Iris Festival

2008 Events Schedule

Sunday, April 27

Sumter Civic Chorale Iris Festival Concert

Patriot Hall, 3 p.m.

 

Saturday, May 17

Iris Festival Pageant

Sumter High School, 10 a.m.

 

Thursday, May 22

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony/Crowning of the King & Queen

Heath Pavilion, 5:15 p.m.

 

Diaper Derby & Parade

Heath Pavilion, 6 p.m.

 

TASTE AT THE GARDENS with UBU

Garden Street Stage, 6 - 9  p.m.

(Tickets required)

 

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

May 23-25

ONGOING EVENTS

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday

1 - 5 p.m. Sunday

 

Art in the Gardens (until 6 p.m.)

Gateway to Gardening (until 6 p.m.)

Arts & Crafts

Food Court

Iris Festival Marketplace

“Just Kidding Around”

Boat Exhibit

Childrens’ Art in the Park hosted by the Sumter County Gallery of Art (Friday 2- 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.)

Quilt Show (Saturday [closes at 5 p.m.] and Sunday)

Sumter Cruisers Show & Shine (Sunday Only)

 

Friday, May 23

Tuomey Community Initiatives Free Health Screening

Swan Lake Visitors Center, 9-11 a.m.

(Requires 12-hour fast)

 

Saturday, May 24

5th Annual Shriner’s Day Parade

Alice Drive to Garden Street, 10 a.m.

 

Italian Street Painting Competition

Swan Lake Tennis Courts, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m

(Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.; Awards at 4:30 p.m.)

 

“Kids Connection” sponsored by SAFE KIDS Sumter County

Kiwanis Kids Fingerprinting

Heath Gardens, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

 

Time Warner Scholastic Chalk Art Competition

Swan Lake Tennis Courts, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

(Ages 5-18; Awards at 4:30 p.m.)

 

Iris Festival Flower Show

Alice Boyle Garden Center, 2-5 p.m.; also open Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

 

Pet Show hosted by the SPCA

Heath Pavilion, 4:30 p.m.

(Registration at 4 p.m.)

 

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

 

Friday, May 23

Main Stage

Dupree Cantley                            12 - 1 p.m.

Blue Moon Music Jam                   1:30 - 5 p.m.

Allen Hinnant (Bluegrass)             5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

 

Garden Street Stage

Neon Candy                                 7:30 - 9 p.m.

 

Saturday, May 24

Main Stage

Rhythm & Blues                           12 - 1:30 p.m.

Offbeat Symphony                       2 - 3 p.m.

Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues Jam   3:30 - 6:30 p.m.

 

Garden Street Stage

Children’s Entertainment              12 - 4 p.m.

Main Street Jazz                           7:30 - 9 p.m.

 

Bland Gardens Gazebo

“Three Men Folk & Scape ‘Ore Swamp:  Stories & Song”

Sponsored by SC Traditional Arts Network and Thompson Turner Construction

featuring

Buford Mabry                               10 - 10:45 a.m.

John Fowler                                 10:45 - 11:30 a.m.

Will Goines                                  11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Scape ‘Ore Swamp                       12:15 - 1 p.m.

 

Sunday, May 25

Main Stage

Gospel Music                               1 - 4 p.m.

 

Garden Street Stage

Latin Music                                  1 -4 p.m.

 

 

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Sponsorship Information

Sumter's Iris Festival has been ranked as one of the top 20 festivals in the region by the Southeast Tourism Association, and your company can become known as one of its major sponsors!

You can benefit from this high-profile festival and help put Sumter in the spotlight once again. Together we can bring thousands of people into Sumter and hundreds of thousands of dollars into our economy.

For Festival information, Parking & Shuttle information, or to become a sponsor, contact:


Iris Festival Commission
PO Box 1802
Sumter SC 29151
Phone: 803-436-2640 OR 1-800-688-4748
Fax: 803-436-2652

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Vendor & Entertainment Applications

All spaces for Arts & Crafts and Marketplace Vendors are full.  Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience, and we hope to see you at Iris Festival 2009!

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Event Applications 

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