Getting Ready for Spring

After the winter doldrums we are revving up for another busy tourism spring.  RenoFest, Southeastern Baseball Classic, Lamar Egg Scramble, Black Creek Arts Festival Artist Crawl, Black Creek Kayak/Canoe Festival, Black Creek Blue Jeans and BBQ Festival, assorted sports activities every weekend at Byerly Park and, oh yeah, a little event called the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway - all between the end of March and Mother's Day.  Pretty good for a little country area where you'd think there is nothing much going on except the weather.

The first major event on our calendar is always RenoFest, always the last weekend in March.  In its 12th season RenoFest has grown in to one of the premier bluegrass events in the country. This year's festival is set for March 27-29 at the Center Theater in Hartsville, SC.

As in years past the festival will open at the Center Theater on the afternoon of Friday, March 27, with the South Carolina Bluegrass Band Contest followed in the evening with the Downtown Hoe-Down featuring Barbeque and a free outdoor concert in Burry Park in downtown Hartsville.

Saturday morning revs up quickly with the South Carolina Championship guitar and banjo contests. Saturday afternoon and evening is dedicated to bluegrass music and those who love it with featured performances by: Church Street Blues (the 2008 band winner), Claire Lynch, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out and Ronnie Reno and the Reno Tradition. All events Saturday are held at the historic Center Theater in Hartsville.

The festival winds up Sunday morning with a free gospel music sing at Wesley United Methodist Church in Hartsville.

First Prize for the RenoFest 2009 Banjo Competition will be a Deering Terry Baucom Signature Model 5-String Banjo, one of the premier instruments produced by the Deering Company.

RenoFest was started in 1998 as a one-day concert in Hartsville, SC to honor the memory of Don Reno, a South Carolina native and bluegrass legend. Since then, it has become a regional tradition and wonderful opportunity to welcome both the beginning of Spring and the start of America’s bluegrass festival season. In January of 2006, RenoFest was honored by the SC Festival & Event Association with its most prestigious award, the “State Event of the Year.”
For more information on RenoFest and the 2009 festival go to: www.renofest.com or call 888-427-8720, 843-332-1600, or 843-332-5151.