Festivals

There are several unique festivals held year-round throughout the county. Our festivals reflect the celebratory atmosphere in the community that is highlighted even more at certain times of the year. The Bethune Chicken Strut Festival and The Elgin Catfish Stomp focus on family fun with entertainment for all ages while the Blues Festival and Bluejeans, Bluegrass, BBQ & Oysters festivals focus on the art of music. Each festival has its own flair and a uniqueness of its own and have been fixtures in Kershaw County for many years.

Bethune Chicken Strut

Back by popular demand!! August 24-26, 2017 Bring your family to the home of the Bethune Chicken Strut for a weekend of family fun and entertainment. There will be rides, vendors, street dances, live music, and equine events providing fun for "kids" of all ages. The Bethune Chicken Strut is a non-profit organization. The proceeds from the festival are distributed throughout the Bethune Community to organizations, such as the Bethune Fire Department, the Bethune Rescue Squad, the Bethune Boy Scouts Post, and the Bethune Police Department.

All activities are held in downtown Bethune and the at the Kershaw County Recreation Department of Bethune. One major highlight of the festival will be the beauty pageant, which will begin on Thursday evening for ages: newborn to nine years old. On Friday evening, it will continue for ages: ten to twenty.

The events on Saturday will kick off with the parade consisting of all pageant winners. Other events include a petting zoo, golf and softball tournaments, live music, street dancing, a 5K race, a poker run, a championship rodeo and an antique car show.

The festival opens on Thursday night with the pageants and also the vendors arrive with a variety of food and gifts for everyone. The opening night is also family night for the carnival in which wrist bands may be purchased for one price to ride and enjoy the carnival for the entire night.

For more information, contact Stacy Cobb, President of the Bethune Chicken Strut at (843) 861-4211, or contact the Bethune Town Hall at (803) 334-6234.

Blues Festival

In its thirteenth year, the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival continues to be a must-do weekend in Camden featuring legendary international talent. Each year the festival boasts several performances by 20 different bands at a variety of sites. The festival features blues for all tastes from traditional acoustic and classic soul to horn-driven funk and powers blues rock--and all points in between. Performances take place in a variety of intimate venues--both indoors and out--bringing you the best in blues artistry, up close and personal, the way it is meant to be experienced.

For more information, contact The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County at (803) 725-7676, or visit them online at www.fineartscenter.org.

Bluejeans, Bluegrass, BBQ & Oysters

Kick off Colonial Cup weekend with an exciting mix of art, music, BBQ, and mouth-watering steamed oysters. This annual event features an art exhibit, in the Bassett Gallery of the Fine Arts Center, and live music by the Hunt Family Fiddlers. The Hunts are a family of NINE world-ranked step dancers and champion fiddlers. They put on a must-see show.

This event is an fund raiser for The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County and tickets include a plate of BBQ with all the fixings, plus succulent all-you-can-shuck steamed oysters, the music of The Hunt Family Fiddlers, and cash bars serving beer, wine, mixed drinks, coffee & liqueurs and soft drinks.

Elgin Catfish Stomp

The town of Elgin jumps with excitement during this annual pre-Christmas festival. The festival has been re-organized somewhat because of the commercial construction on the primary festival site since the last event. A parade, children's activities, gospel singing, and lots of mouth-watering Catfish Stew top off the fun. The Catfish Stomp is held annually the first Saturday in December.

The Blaney Fire Department and some of our local volunteer firemen cook up and serve some of the best catfish stew you will ever eat. Fried catfish and all the fixings will also be available.

For more information, contact Elgin Town hall for more information at (803) 438-2362, Monday to Friday, between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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