Serving Barnwell County and its neighbors since 1852
The inaugural Blackville Phoenix Festival will bring food, fun and entertainment this weekend.
The festival will be held on Friday, April 24 from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. across from the Blackville Museum. It’s sponsored by the Town of Blackville and Blackville Downtown Development Association (BDDA).
“We are looking forward to a blessed and successful festival. We are very excited to celebrate our town’s history and build on it. Please come out and support it,” said Teresa Hughes with the BDDA.
The Blackville Phoenix Festival is replacing the Taste of Blackville and Blackville Music & Arts Festival, which have been held for many years in Blackville. Hughes said the town’s leaders decided the town would be better positioned to focus on one festival, rather than two.
The name of the new festival comes from the town’s history. Formed in 1833, the town was established as an overnight stop for the railroad. Blackville suffered four major fires in the 1800s, but rose each time from the ashes. This led the town to be nicknamed “Town of the Phoenix” for the mythical bird that is reborn from its own ashes.
On Friday, the festival kicks off with music followed by a historical segment at 6 p.m. by Dr. Walter Curry. This will be followed by entertainment from Blackville-Hilda public school students at 6:30 p.m. The Augusta, Ga.-based James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils at 7 p.m.
Festivities continue Saturday morning at 11 a.m. with the Phoenix Train Parade. Two gospel performances will be performed on the stage around 12 p.m. Local artists Chance Brabham and Kristie Hutson will perform in the afternoon along with a southern soul artist. From 4-6 p.m. the ATL DreamVision party band will perform while Lucky Leon from 103.9 will entertain the crowd from 6-9 p.m.
A car show will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday. There will also be a variety of vendors and other activities, such as bingo.
The festival will conclude with fireworks around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Organizers hope the new festival becomes a lasting tradition that brings the community together for years to come.
