Spring to be celebrated at 52nd Come-See-Me festival

Come-See-Me, Rock Hill’s annual celebration of spring, is set to kick off its 52nd festival with more than 70 events and activities starting Thursday and running through April 25.

Known as the largest volunteer-run festival in the Southeast, organizers say Come-See-Me attracted more than 125,000 visitors last year with live music, sports and competitions, cultural events and children’s activities.

“Come-See-Me is the unofficial kickoff to spring in Rock Hill,” said festival chairman David Williams, president of Williams & Fudge Inc. “We have events tailored to everyone, including food and crafts, sporting events, tons of music, children’s activities and, of course, the fireworks extravaganza.”

The 10-day festival will be held at venues throughout the city, including the new Fountain Park in downtown Rock Hill.

A favorite place for Williams is the scenic Glencairn Garden, a laid-back atmosphere where children can enjoy ice cream sundaes with Glen and Mother Goose and four weekdays of live music.

“For five straight days, you can enjoy different concerts and activities at the place Come-See-Me was born,” he said. “The history of the gardens related to our city is pretty special.”

Come-See-Me was first held in 1962 as a community project to invite visitors, relatives and friends to see Rock Hill during its most beautiful season. Glencairn Garden was the showplace, with thousands of blooming azaleas, dogwoods, camellias and wisteria.

The 2015 logo, chosen by Williams, features festival mascot Glen the Frog looking dapper in a jacket and bowtie and waving hello with Glencairn Garden as the backdrop.

The logo comes from the Come-See-Me image archives by illustrator Vernon Grant, the Rock Hill resident known for creating the Rice Krispies’ famous gnomes, Snap, Crackle and Pop. He drew more than 30 different images of Glen the Frog for Come-See-Me.

Williams said he chose that particular Glen image because it has never been used for any other festival.

This year’s Come-See-Me festival opens Thursday with the “Remember When” parade to honor times past and celebrate Throwback Thursday on opening night. The event kicks off a schedule that includes perennial classics mixed with a few new activities.

The new Fountain Park in downtown Rock Hill has been incorporated into the festival. The parade will conclude at the park on Main Street between Saluda Street and Elizabeth Lane. The Chalk on Main event will take place April 17 on Main Street beside the park while at the same time, Musical Mania will be held in Fountain Park.

For the first time, festival-goers over 21 will be charged a $5 entry fee for the Moonlight Jazz and Blues event on April 24, and another $5 fee for the tailgate party on April 25. The charge covers an armband that allows the wearer to bring alcohol into the events. There is also a $5 parking fee to use the lot at Winthrop Coliseum.

The Beach Bash on April 17, which also will have alcohol available, will continue to provide armbands separately at $2 each.

Come-See-Me brings back fond memories for Williams, who was born and raised in Rock Hill. Now his own children – Taylor, Peyton and Coalson – experience the spring festival in the city.

Williams’ family favorites include the opening night parade, the delicious food of Gourmet Gardens, the Mayor’s Frog Jump and the grand finale of the festival – barbecue, tailgating, skydiving and fireworks over Winthrop Lake.

“As a kid, we would set up on the hill of the Winthrop Coliseum and play whiffle ball, run around the coliseum and see lots of friends enjoying the event,” Williams said. “Also, the frog jump. After all, what would Come-See-Me be without the frogs?”

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 9:50 AM with the headline "Spring to be celebrated at 52nd Come-See-Me festival."