Festival of Flowers ushering in 40th with new events and old favorites
by St. Claire Donaghy Index Journal staff writer

In its 40th year, the South Carolina Festival of Flowers is going back to its roots and turning over new leaves.

The main weekend of the 2007 Festival of Flowers is June 22 through 24.

Festival of Flowers director Kay Self, and the 2007 festival chairman, Ruple Harley Jr., said flowers are a big part of the festival this year, at events ranging from Flower Day at Park Seed to an art show at the Federal Building.

That hasn’t always been the case, Harley, said, adding that he’s attended every Festival of Flowers since its inception in 1967, and has served as festival chairman multiple times.

“During the 40 years, the festival has had its ups and downs,� Harley Jr. said. “I don’t know what happened. Maybe things got a little stagnant, but one of my goals (as chairman) has been to bring back flowers. Another was to move a number of events back to Uptown Greenwood.�

At 40 years, the Festival of Flowers is one of the longest-running festivals in the state, and it’s a top tourist draw.

The idea for the festival originated with a former Greenwood Chamber of Commerce director, Al Parker, who realized the George W. Park Seed Co. was attracting people from all over for its Growers’ Day.

Park’s Seed Co. has been providing innovative, top-quality gardening products for people since 1868. And, Wayside Gardens, established in 1916, is a premier source for the newest, most unusual and hardest-to-find plants from around the world.

Every year, during the festival, thousands of visitors come to Park Seed for Flower Day.

“There are not many festivals that have been in operation for this long, so something must be working,� Self said, of the Festival of Flowers, adding that a major component of the festival is the “promotion of the appreciation of flowers and the beauty they bring.�

With that in mind, Self said this year’s festival goers “might see flowers at different venues than before,� in some places other than garden tours and at Flower Day.

For example, local orchid grower Connie Moody is displaying her blooms along side juried works of art during “Orchids and Art,� a new event this year at the Federal Building in Uptown Greenwood.

“This year, we’re emphasizing flowers, flowers, flowers,� Harley Jr. said. “We’re encouraging everyone to put out flowers, at home in their yards, in their gardens and at places of business. Things are even being planted along South Main Street.�

In addition to the art show, other events slated for Uptown include an “art market� on Waller Avenue, and the photography show is also at the Federal Building.

“I think it’s important to have lots of events Uptown,� Harley Jr. said. “Especially with the way Greenwood is growing and all of the revitalization Uptown and the plans for the new library.�

With more events centralized in Uptown, Self said “people can gather together, walk around, and be outside.�

The festival began as a small affair, with just a handful of events, located at the Greenwood County Courthouse, Harley Jr. said.

Now, the schedule includes some 35 events, at places throughout the county, and spans nearly the entire month of June.

“We have so many events that they can’t all fit in to that main weekend,� Self said. “It’s a real boost to our economy. Our local hotels and motels are telling me that people are already calling in and making reservations. That’s a positive sign.�

New ideas, and events, keep the festival growing, Self said, as well as “perennial favorites� that draw crowds every year, including the craft show, the Festival Chorale concert and the triathlon.

“A number of different things have been tried through the years, from beauty pageants to softball tournaments and even a country music concert,� Self said, noting some things have worked and others have not.

Changing things up, Harley Jr. said, is a way to appeal to different segments of the population.

“We try to offer events for everybody,� Harley Jr. said.

This year, first-time offerings include a seniors golf tournament, a juniors golf tournament, a gala in the garden fundraising event, the orchid and art show, a new juried art show, and a luncheon for mothers and daughters and the daughters’ American Girl dolls.

“It’s wonderful,� Self said, when festival events work, and become continuing traditions that several generations of a family can share.

One long-standing Festival of Flowers tradition is a small army of dedicated volunteers, including event chairmen, festival steering committee members and countless others.

They help with tasks ranging from parking to ticket collection to T-shirt sales.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of this festival,� Harley Jr. said. “Without them, it wouldn’t work. And, anybody can volunteer. You don’t have to be associated with the chamber (of commerce) or the festival.�

Other vital participants are the numerous sponsors who help cover costs associated with festival events.

“We have more sponsors this year, and they are all very supportive and involved,� Harley Jr. said. “People are really excited about being part of the festival.�

Another tradition is bringing in top-notch talent from both the entertainment and horticulture industry, Harley said, adding that 2007 is no exception.

Special guests this year include:

Entertaining entrepreneur and author Kimberly Kennedy, winner of the CBS reality TV show, “Wickedly Perfect.� She has a demonstration at the festival luncheon.

Jim Cothran, author of “Gardens and Historic Plants in the Antebellum South,� is speaking during the garden tour.

Ben Geren Keys and Doug Kennemore’s works will be displayed during the photography exhibition.

Nat Chandler and Teri Hansen, direct from Broadway, are scheduled for a performance at the Lander University Cultural Center.

Joe Lampi’il, current host of “GardenSMART� on PBS, is a speaker at Park Seed’s Flower Day.

Joyce Lavene, a Southern garden mystery writer, syndicated columnist, and Master Gardener, is presenting a program on forensic botany and poisonous plants.

The Embers are scheduled for the festival beach dance.

The festival’s economic impact on the area is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, Self said.

“It helps our economy,� Self said. “Hotels and motels are booked and restaurants are busy.�

The festival brings in people from out of town and out of state, Self said.

Word about the festival is spread through magazine ads, billboards, cable TV ads and print media, Harley Jr. said, but the festival’s revamped Web site, which is soon to be up and running, is also going to be a large part of that.

“The updated Web site has more photos, a version of our brochure that can be downloaded, ticket information, new maps and other items,� Self said. “I would like to see the festival to get national exposure, so that people across the United States become familiar with it.�

For years, festival organizers have also put out a brochure complete with descriptions of events, maps and other information. This year, Harley Jr. said the brochure will be a “full-sized� anniversary edition – complete with photographs, a history of the festival and event listings.

“I want people who live here to want to be a part of (the festival), and I want visitors to find it to be first-class, and want them to come back next year,� Harley Jr. said.

To keep things “moving in a positive direction,� Self said she wants to hear from the local community about its “wants and needs� for the South Carolina Festival of Flowers.

For information, call the Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce at 223-8411.