Summerville Celebrates the 51st Year of Flowertown Festival
The quaint town of Summerville, South Carolina just concluded another successful year of its annual Flowertown Festival. Sunday marked the close of the 51st annual event, which was hosted by the Summerville Family YMCA in the town’s center. Drawing in not only locals but also visitors from other areas, the three-day event gathered thousands of attendees and over 300 vendors.
A Variety of Entertaining Attractions
The FlowerTown Festival had something captivating for everyone. Festival-goers indulged in a wide array of offerings, including mouth-watering food, nerve-tickling rides, charming arts and crafts exhibitions, an array of clothes to browse through, stunning jewelry, and heart-pumping music and entertainment.
Among the numerous participants, nonprofit participant Echo Barkery, originating from Virginia, made their first attendance at the festival. Echo Barkery is committed to providing employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, primarily through their business of producing and vending dog biscuits.
A Successful Debut
Peter Yuska, Director of Echo Barkery, expressed his delight over the organization’s first participation in the FlowerTown Festival. With their successful turnout, Yuska revealed plans for the nonprofit to return in the following year. Yushka, who learned about the Flowertown Festival through his research, described the event as one of the biggest street festivals in southeast.
Fostering Business Growth
Established businesses also found the festival to be worthwhile. Stephanie Button, the owner of Tweedle Beedle Children’s Boutique, noted the event as their favorite business undertaking of the year. Attending the festival for the fourth time, she stated this year’s event to be their best one yet and appreciated how it has allowed them to discover new customers.
Charleston Community Bee Gardens, another non-profit present at the festival, was able to impart knowledge to festival-goers about the crucial role of bees in pollination. Their President, Jim Strohm, was enthusiastic about the possibilities of returning to the festival in future years.
Festival Tradition
For many locals, the Flowertown Festival is more than just a weekend event; it’s an annual tradition. Many attendees expressed their joy over seeing new vendors each year, thus adding more variety to an already thriving event.
One visitor, Harleigh Mosley, reminisced about how the festival has been a part of her family ever since she can remember. “The thing with me and my dad is, we’ve been coming out here since, as far as I know since I was born. Like, it’s just been a family thing,” she shared.
Another attendee, Emma Breaux, decided to extend her prom night fun into the FlowerTown festival. Breaux and her friends visited the festival after their prom, creating a memorable high school experience.
The 51st annual FlowerTown Festival not only offered entertainment and commerce but also served as a gathering place for the community of Summerville and its visitors, solidifying its status as a beloved annual tradition.
