Five things to know about the 2022 Strawberry Festival, back and berrier than ever
The biggest gathering in Fort Mill is back. The end of April and start of May mean South Carolina Strawberry Festival time, something that’s looked much different the past couple of years due to COVID-19. The main event at Elisha Park returns this year for the first time since 2019.
“Because this is our first live Strawberry Festival since the pandemic began, we have been hard at work communicating all aspects of the festival to the public, from available parking and shuttles to locations and times of events,” said Jacona Hester, town events coordinator.
Bands, carnival style rides, vendors, contests and more are planned. Here are five items to know ahead of this year’s festival:
Key festival dates
The most visible piece of the festival each year is the first weekend in May gathering at Elisha Park. Yet the festival has grown into more than a week of spring activities, most of them ahead of the Elisha Park portion.
Events start Friday with the festival poster unveiling and the Little Miss Pageant. The Teen, Miss and Ms. South Carolina Strawberry Festival pageants follow on Saturday, as does the Strawberry Sprint and Stroll downtown. A scavenger hunt and dog fashion show also happen Saturday.
Other activities include a festival brunch Sunday, baby photo contest Monday and golf tournament Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Downtown Strawberry Jam will have music, food, vendors and activities for kids on Main Street. The Strawberry Idol singing contest follows on Thursday.
The main activities at Elisha Park come May 6-7.
Elisha Park events
Activities in the park run 5-11 p.m. May 6 and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. May 7.
There are 10 bands including the Ryan Perry Band, Carolina Rhythm Band and Billy Joel tribute The Stranger on Friday night and Pushh, Kyle Dills Band, Ace Party Band, Groove Machine, Kids in America and Boy Band Review on Saturday. Friday night also will have the Strawberry Idol Showcase.
The park also will have carnival style rides, stage shows, eating contests, a car show, pig races and wrestling. A full rundown of events and times is online at scstrawberryfestival.com.
Parking and shuttles
There will be way more people than parking spaces at Elisha Park for main festival activities. Several spots nearby will offer parking for $5. Some will shuttle guests to the festival.
First Baptist and St. Johns United Methodist churches, along with Fort Mill Church of God will have downtown lots with shuttle stops. First Baptist and St. Johns will have the only handicap accessible shuttle parking. Fort Mill and Nation Ford high schools also will have parking with shuttles.
Shuttles will run on 15- or 20-minute schedules. Shuttles start at 5 p.m. May 6 and and 9:30 a.m. May 7. They will run until festival close both days.
Fort Mill Church of the Nazarene and the Anne Springs Close Greenway horse lot on North White Street also will have parking, but no shuttle service.
Rules regarding food, beer, wine and pets
Guests are welcome to bring a chair or blanket for the Elisha Park activities, but there are several items that aren’t allowed. Outside food or drinks, including alcohol, aren’t permitted. Neither are coolers. A variety of food and drink vendors will be present. There will be wristbands on-site for purchase of beer, wine and ciders.
Other items that won’t be allowed at the park are golf carts, bicycles, weapons and pets. Smoking isn’t allowed, either.
Free and ticket events
The festival is a mix of free and paid events. Pageants, the 5K race, festival brunch and golf tournament ahead of the main weekend are ticket or registration-required activities. The poster unveiling, scavenger hunt, dog fashion show, baby photo contest and downtown jam are not.
Many, but not all, of the main festival events at Elisha Park are free. They include a classic car show (entering a car has a cost, but viewing cars doesn’t), wrestling matches, musical performances, pig races and fireworks Saturday night.
Festival rides will take one to five tickets each, with tickets on sale for $1 apiece. A $20 wristband, for Friday night only, will get unlimited rides. Tickets are cash only, with an ATM on site.
People who want to compete in the strawberry ice cream or strawberry cupcake eating competitions need to be present prior to the 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday start times.
Full details are available at the festival website, or at Fort Mill Town Hall.
“For those who would like to get a jump on the festivities, they can stop by Town Hall (200 Tom Hall St.) to pick up rack cards and brochures detailing all of the festival fun,” Hester said.
