Like dinosaurs? They’re coming to Fort Mill, plus much more as crowds gather again
Fort Mill is going prehistoric on Saturday. Yet a fun family event featuring dinosaurs may also be a step into a brighter future.
Dino Encounters runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new amphitheater in Elisha Park. The free event includes stage shows every 30 minutes, strolling characters, an excavation site for fossil digs and a baby “dinosaur” to pet. Plus dinosaur merchandise, food trucks, dinosaur activities, face painting and more.
“Dino Encounters is an exciting event created toward families but people of all ages love learning about them so everyone is welcome,” said Jacona Hester, town events organizer.
Dino Encounters is one of 10 events planned this year for the amphitheater. On the calendar are a beach bash, jazz night, school music showcase, pups in the park night and more. That’s the kind of use, as a community gathering spot, town officials envisioned in the years-long process of planning and constructing it. Then COVID-19 hit and delayed numerous town events.
The amphitheater opened late last summer, amid a pandemic with varying rounds of COVID event shutdowns, seeming returns to normalcy and new waves of the virus.
“During the pandemic, the town continued to provide quality events whether virtual or hybrid that adhered to the CDC guidelines,” Hester said.
The biggest event each year at Elisha Park, the South Carolina Strawberry Festival, went virtual when pandemic hit two years ago and was a hybrid event last year, with some in-person and some online activities. This year the full first weekend in May gathering at Elisha is back for the first time in three years.
“The Strawberry Festival on Friday and Saturday will feature bands, food trucks, vendors, rides, wrestling, pig races and a car show,” Hester said.
A weeklong lead up to the main festival includes pageants, a run, scavenger hunt, dog fashion show, baby photo contest, golf tournament, music events and more.
Last year brought events like the Fort Mill Farmers Market and Second Saturday Service, plus holiday events.
“As guidelines continue to improve, the town is excited to have our regular events,” Hester said.
Hester said the turnout and vibe have been positive since some events resumed following COVID. The hope is, from dinosaurs to strawberries, it will become common again to bring people together in town.
“All of the events the town has hosted this past year have been very successful and we look forward to things continuing to get better and seeing even more of our community at the events,” Hester said.
