November 1: Masterworks Choir Intermezzo Concert

Pecan Festival Artist Space Available

Downtown Florence's South Carolina Pecan Festival is looking for artists to participate in Art Trail on Evans during this year's festival.

 

Participating artists will set up in and around the Art Trail Gallery on West Evans. This Call-to-Artists is for booth space and demonstrations. While sales are encouraged, artists looking to demonstrate are definitely welcomed.

 

 Click here to access the application. Print it and send it to Allene Tellis.

 

Vendors will be expected to exhibit from 10am-5:30pm on November 1st.

Call to Artists: FDDC is looking for artists for the 2014 Pecan Festival

Downtown Florence's South Carolina Pecan Festival is looking for artists to participate in Art Trail on Evans during this year's festival. Participating artists will set up in and around the Art Trail Gallery on West Evans. This Call-to-Artists is for booth space and demonstrations. While sales are encouraged, artists looking to demonstrate are definitely welcomed.

Click here to access the application. Print it and send it to Allene Tellis at atellis@cityofflorence.com. The application can also be mailed to Allene's attention at the address below:

FDDC

PO Box 467

Florence, SC  29503

Vendors will be expected to exhibit from 10am to 5:30pm on November 1st.

November 3rd: Eat, drink and go nuts at the Pecan Festival in Florence

Seven stages, 38 acts and more than 250 vendors are just a small sampling of the attractions the ninth annual South Carolina Pecan Festival will have to offer Nov. 3.

Early morning events like the annual “Run Like a Nut” and “Bike Like a Nut” will return to this year’s festivities with 5K, 10K and half marathon runs, as well as metric and half-metric century bike riding competitions.

According to Tara Durden, Florence Downtown Development Corporation (FDDC) promotions chair, this year’s event aims to focus on both an increase in fun as well as safety and overall convenience.

“Aside from the addition of three extra beer gardens and a wine garden, we really want to advocate the use of our ‘Park and Ride’ service to and from the festival,” Durden said.

The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority, in conjunction with the City of Florence, will continue the ride services this year with routes covering areas near the Florence Airport as well as locations along Evans Street.

“We’d like people to utilize those services, so we’re really going to push its use this year,” Durden said.

Another addition to this year’s festival will be an expansive eating/seating area on Evans Street that will share arts-and-crafts vendor space for a large portion of the afternoon.

“We plan to have an art trail that runs the course of Evans Street,” Durden said. “We’ll also have space in the breezeway area directly across from Railroad Junction for additional vendors.”

Not to leave the little ones out, Mike Richenbach Ford will sponsor the free “Kids Fun Zone” that will allow younger attendees to engage in just as much fun and fanfare as the adults.

The spotlight this year will undoubtedly be focused on the dozens of acts that will be featured on any of the seven stages being erected for the festival. Local acts such as the Masterworks Choir, West Florence High School Orchestra and funk-rock band, Speakeasy, are all scheduled to perform.

Headliners like The Rick Strickland Band, The Brown Brothers and Mother’s Finest will also showcase their talents on their respective stages throughout the day.

“We’re going to have a little something for everyone,” Durden said. “We’re ready for another eventful and exciting year.”

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: S.C. Pecan Festival

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 3

WHERE: Downtown Florence

INFO: More than 250 vendors, live entertainment and more

This story was written by Brian Wilder and originally appeared on SCNow.com.

The 8th Annual South Carolina Pecan Festival - November 4th-6th in Florence

The South Carolina Pecan Festival:

Featuring The 8th Annual Street Festival, The 4th annual Pee Dee Blues Bash, and The 4th Annual Run Like a Nut and Cook-off Competitions!

What began as a vision to bring people from all over the region to the Downtown Florence area to enjoy her beauty and history has turned into a community event larger and faster growing than its founding members ever expected, rapidly growing from 4,000 attendees in its 2004 inaugural year to over 50,000 in 2010 and this year’s Pecan Festival is shaping up to draw even more people to the Florence community.

New In 2011! We will once again increase the footprint to include Dargan Street this year, allowing us to provide larger vendor spaces and add more stages and events than ever before.  Expect eight (8) total stages of FREE Live Entertainment with over 50 bands and entertainers, an all-new Southern Nut “Farmers Market on Evans” Street selling Fresh, Locally Grown Products, and a new “Art Walk on Dargan” Street where you can watch local artists and students work. PDRTA will also offer a new free Park and Ride Shuttle Service to the festival and around the festival perimeter.  In addition, the festival has extended even more through the weekend this year with a Friday night event, “The Mixologist Cup” Competition sponsored by Micky Finn’s at the all-new FMU Performing Arts Center, and a new “Bike Like a Nut” Centric and Half Centric Ride on Sunday November 6th sponsored by Fitness Forum and Aiken & Co of Florence.

If you can imagine streets brimming with a sea smiling faces, classic cars and tractors glistening in the bright sunshine, stages of pulsing music from every corner, and children dancing, jumping, and squealing in delight as balloons and grills season the cool fall air, you won’t want to miss this year’s event!  Join us on a stroll through historic Downtown Florence as the Florence Downtown Development Corporation and the City Of Florence with presenting sponsor Piggly Wiggly host their 8th annual Pecan Festival on Nov 5th, 2011!  Over 250 food and craft vendors lining streets, eight stages of live entertainment with over fifty musicians including Clarence Carter, The Band of Oz, The Night Hawks, The Blue Dogs, and Midway Blue in addition to the 4th annual Pee Dee Blues Bash stages.  Peruse the American Luxury Coach and King Cadillac Car Show and the Honda Antique Tractor Show as you join family and friends at the Sexton Dental Amusement Rides and the FREE McLeod Health Kids Fun Zone area with live entertainment, inflatables, face painting, putt-putt golf, a petting zoo, pecan crafts, the Roche-Progress Energy Science South mobile, and much more.  Stop and take a seat at the Central United Methodist Church Sanctuary and the all New Performing Arts Center Outdoor Amphitheatre, both venues will have free live entertainment all day long including Morgans Road and The Masterwork Choir.

Interested in some competitive fun? We have you covered. The Inaugural Mixologist Cup competition is at the Performing Arts Center on Friday November 4th from 7-10 pm, come see what local bartenders and Mixologist mix up to create the official inaugural Pecan Festival Cocktail. Come early on Saturday and join the Fitness Forum and Palmetto Infusion as they host their 5th annual Run Like a Nut Race beginning at 8 am from the Fitness Forum on Elm St in Downtown, or bring your favorite pecan inspired dish and join sponsor Chic Fila of Magnolia Mall for the annual Pecan Cook-Off competition, judged by City Councilman Glynn Willis, WBTW’s Chris Sill, and Shane Carroway; the head chef at Percy and Willies in Florence…and that’s not all, “Bike Like a Nut” on Sunday November 6th !  Join us at 9am at the Fitness Forum for our first Metric or Half Metric Ride through the Greater Florence Area.  Plenty of activities for you all weekend long!

Visit florencedowntown.com for details on all of these events including what to do while you’re there – this year is sure to be a treat for kids and adults alike!  Get the Entertainment/Stage & Kids Fun Zone Schedules, and an Overview & Map of the Festival, a Cook Off Application and check out the details for all of the 2011 events including the details for the new Park & Ride Shuttle Service. 

2011 SOUTH CAROLINA PECAN FESTIVAL WEEKEND OVERVIEW

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4TH

The Pee Dee Blues Bash – In its 4th year.  Five Venues in the Florence Area including two stages at the Street Festival on Saturday.  Twelve Blues Bands, Ten playing at the Street festival. peedeebluesbash.com for details

The Mixologist Cup - Mixology Contest (New in 2011) “The Mixologist Cup” from 7-10 pm at the FMU Performing Arts Center non Dargan Street in Downtown Florence, samplings, food, music, $50, tickets at Porters Gift Shop in Florence.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5TH

Run Like A Nut: In its 5th year.  There will be a Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, and 1k Kids Run begins and ends at The Fitness Forum on Elm Street in Downtown Florence, start time variable ( 8-9 am).  T-Shirt with entry by Oct 31, Entry Fee Varies, Shower Facilities available (so you can enjoy the Street Festival).

The Street Festival, including two Blues Bash Stages: Irby, Cheves, Evans, Dargan, & Coit Street blocked off in Downtown Florence, event is from 10:00 - 7:00pm, a Free Admission Street Festival in its 8th year in Downtown Florence

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6TH

Bike Like A Nut: Metric and Half Metric ride (New in 2011) begins and ends at The Fitness Forum on Elm Street in Downtown Florence at 9am. T-Shirt with entry by Oct 31, Entry Fee Varies, Shower Facilities available. 

ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA PECAN FESTIVAL

The South Carolina Pecan Festival is part of the Florence Downtown Development Corporation, a 503C non-profit organization, each year they rely on the community a sponsors, partnerships, and volunteers.  In addition to presenting sponsor Piggy Wiggly, 2011 Festival sponsors include: Crown Beverages, Florence Toyota, Jebaily Law Firm, First Reliance Bank, PPSI, Fitness Forum, Southern Nut , Micky Finns,  Young Plantation, Sexton Dental, Chick Fila, Honda, Roche, Nanya, Toledo Carolina, Pee Dee Electric, Pepsi, Frischkorn, Inc. , Ervin Engineering Co, Inc., Armstrong Wealth, First Bank, Haynsworth, Sinkler, & Boyd, Palmetto Infusion, Aiken & Co.,  Pee Dee Orthopedic, American Luxury Coach, King Cadillac, and McLeod Health.  Morning News, WBTW, Cumulus Florence, Quantum Communications, Richbourg Rentals, PDRTA, the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau, The News Journal, The Community Times, Pee Dee Foodie, The Flossip, Coastal Tents & Events, Adams Outdoors, S/W Printing, Miller Communications, and Radio Free Florence also make this event possible as media and service sponsors.   If you or your business would like to participate please contact the Florence Downtown Development Corporation at 843.665.2047 or by email at pecanfestival@gmail.com.  Sponsors and Volunteers are still being accepted for 2011, applications and a volunteer form can be found at florencedowntown.com.