Another Pecan Festival has come and gone, and I think this festival is going to be a long term success! As you know, I think Florence has been woefully lacking in the festival department prior to the Pecan Festival. How can we be a southern town without a festival? Despair no more… we finally can rightfully claim our status as a southern city. Now we just need a “Miss Pecan”…

Anyway. The festival was a blast. I got there early in the morning and did not leave until late at night… after the last band (The Okaysions). I really wanted to hear Drink Small on Sunday, but honestly my feet were just refusing to walk me anywhere else.

First, I have to thank this woman:

I have no idea who you are, but you are absolutely the Flossip’s favorite person. Why? I was standing behind you and saw that you had printed out the Pecan Festival schedule FROM MY WEBSITE. I felt… famous! So, thank you for reading. (Thanks to ALL of you that read, but especially my new friend.)

About 12:30 you may have noticed a strange phenomenon. Central United Methodist Church was actually LIFTED UP by the Masterworks Choir. Amazing!

I was not sure that I would be moved by the music, and I was so wrong. The songs were uplifting and beautiful. It actually felt strange to walk outside and smell funnel cakes and…

KETTLE CORN!!! (See how quickly I can change direction?)

Y’all. I have this friend that doesn’t believe in the sweet/salty combination. Personally, I think that Clay Smith’s Lowcountry Kettle Corn  is being served as an appetizer in heaven. It is just that good. (They sell it at the New York Butcher Shoppe as well).

I was getting tired then, so I checked out the Blues Breezeway.

This guy was awesome. You could tell all the kids were exhausted (I was kid free for once)… and he totally got them involved in the show. He would scream chicken, they would scream chicken… great fun (and the beer truck was right there as well).

There was a TON of food.
I found the people that make the fried strawberries… but they forgot the strawberries! They were SO nice and so apologetic… apparently I was not the only one that asked. He did promise me that they will have them next year…. sigh. Good things come to those that wait, right? (I confess I asked him where he will be in the next few months… desperate much?)

I also saw some great local artists that had some fabulous Christmas gifts. We have some really talented people in this area!

I KNOW that I saw many of you at the Pecan Festival… especially my best friend above. Next time you see me in my glasses and blue hat be sure to wave! (Perhaps I need to have a float in the Christmas festival. Who has a spare fence I can use?) I really can’t tell you how awesome it was to see downtown as it is meant to be– brimming with people, laughter, and places to eat. Hopefully this will transfer over to everyday downtown at some point!

Did you know that there is a cook off at the Pecan Festival this Saturday?  I actually did NOT know this until I went plundering around the website.

The cook-off will be held on Nov. 7th in downtown Florence, in the Irby St. parking lot of Central UMC, between Cheves and Evans St. Please arrive with your dish and entry form between 9:30 – 10:30 am. Judging will begin at 11:00 am.   **** Prizes will be awarded for 1st and 2nd place at 12:30.****Winners will be awarded a special embroidered “Pecan Cook-Off” apron.

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How awesome is that? The categories are cakes & pies, cookies & snacks, and “Savory dishes” (not sweet). I think the Flossip should be a judge, don’t you? (I guess I don’t really qualify as celebrity like the others though.)

McLeod Health

“Kids Fun Zone”

DJ-Maurice Coleman

10:00                  Opening Ceremony

(in front of City County Complex, 180 N. Irby St.)

SPORTS COURT – CHILDREN’S STAGE

10:30-12:30       FJFL Chick-Fil-A Cheerleading Expo

1:00-1:45            Williams Middle School  Phat Pheet

1:45-2:15             Fitness World Aerobics

2:15-2:30             North Vista String Ensemble

2:30-2:45             North Vista Dance Group

2:45-3:15             Sumter Double Steppers

OTHER ENTERTAINMENT FOR CHILDREN

Inflatables, the Scrap Exchange from Durham, NC, Petting Zoo,

Putt Putt and Tattoos, Face Painting, Balloon Sculpting, Tennis,

Fire Safety, Lynches River crafts, FAHS, Society for Creative

Anachronisms

Carnival Rides, Pony Rides

2009 South Carolina Pecan Festival Entertainment Schedule

Stage 1:     First Reliance Bank Stage

10:00 a      Wilson High School ROTC & Band

Invocation

Welcome

10:30 a      Florence Men’s Choral Society

11:30 a      Anisha Green (10 yr. old opera singer)

12:00 n      Kelly’s Fine Arts & The KFA Dance Company

12:30 a      Flowtown Band (Rock)

1:30 p       E-Z Street (Beach)

2:30 p       Pantasia (Steel Drums)

3:30 p       School of Dance Arts

4:00 p       Clay Brown & Band (R/B & Beach)

5:30 p       The O’Kaysions (Beach)

Stage 2:     (Blues Bash) First Bank Stage

10:30 a      Matt Walsh Band

12:00 n      Charlie Sayles & the Blues Disciples, featuring Tony Fazio

1:30  p      Bill Lupkin & The Chicago Blues Coalition

3:30  p      Daddy Mack Blues Band

4:30  p      Studebaker John & The Hawks

Stage 3:     Crown Beverages Stage

10:30 a      Nuevo Guadalajara (Mariachi)

11:30 a      Lady Di & Company (Jazz)

12:30 p      23-19 (Rock)

1:30  p      Free Spirit (R/B & Beach)

2:30  p      David Wayne (Country)

3:30  p      Uncle Buddah & DJ J. Watts (Urban Hip-Hop)

4:30  p      The Woody’s (Rock/Beach)

Stage 4:     Hope Health Stage

10:30 a      Vocal Reunion (Southern Gospel)

11:30 a      Three Day Funk (Rock)

12:30 a      TOS Band (Jazz, R/B, Beach)

1:30  p      Borrowed Time (Bluegrass)

2:30  p      Sensational Brown Brothers (Gospel)

3:30  p      William Taylor (Classic Pop)

4:30  p      Barry Brown (Country)

Stage 5:     (Blues Bash-Acoustic Alley) BTC – Business Technology Stage

11:45 a      Shrimp City Slim

1:00  p      Juke Joint Johnny & Drew Baldwin

2:15  p      Freddie Vanderford & Brandon Turner

3:30  p      Cotton Blue

4:30  p      Jeff Norwood

I **may** have mentioned my love for the Pecan Festival before (and not just the fried strawberries)(though those ARE a factor…). I have a nice countdown in the sidebar that will tell you EXACTLY how many days before the Pecan Festival begins.

The Day will kick off with the annual “Run Like a Nut.” This is a great 5 and 10k that winds through downtown Florence. I would love to see every single one of you out there. You can register with All Sport Running.

Run like a Nut is now 2 races.We are offering a 10k, 5k and 1 mile fun run for kids. The courses are very flat and fast as it winds mostly through median divided, established neighborhoods near downtown Florence. The run is part of the Downtown Development Corporation’s annual Pecan Festival. The race kicks off the event at St. John’s Episcopal Church,one block from downtown, so the participants can walk directly to the festival once the race is concluded. There is no fee for the festival. Indoor facilities will be available in case of inclement weather. T-shirts guaranteed to all pre-registered runners and awards to top 3 in each age group. Corporate teams may register as well. Race starts promptly at 9am. Registration opens at 7:45am. Runners may call or write Robin Parker for additional information. Runners may register in person or mail to the Fitness Forum 120 E. Elm St. Florence 29506

The “Downtown Street Festival” will start at 10 am. There is absolutely something at the Pecan Festival for every age and personality in Florence.

This year I am really excited about the Pee Dee Blues Bash running simultaneously with the Pecan Festival. (They also have an awesome website.)

I will be updating about the Pecan Festival a LOT between now and November 7. Stay tuned for details!

When I tell you that we did the Pecan festival yesterday, we pretty much did it all. Starting with Running like Nuts in the morning, we left at 4:44 p.m. with one crying child and one sleeping child. We really wanted to see Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, but it was just not meant to be.

I didn’t get as many pictures as I intended because somehow lugging two children, a pocketbook, camera, Lowcountry Kettle Corn, Cotton Candy, and drinks was just more than I could handle. While I am happy that it was so crowded, it also makes me super paranoid, so we had all hands on deck to make sure the kids didn’t get lost.

My absolute favorite part of this years Pecan Festival? FRIED STRAWBERRIES. Hands down! I told Mr. F that I was trying them out for your benefit, to see if it was worth it. I fully believe that when you are at a festival you absolutely must indulge in festival food. They were so good that I am tempted to look at the SC Festival Schedule and figure out their next stop. I thought they would be gross, but basically he dipped a skewer with five fresh strawberries in the funnel cake batter and then tossed it straight in the fryer. Absolute piece of heaven on a stick.

The corn dog was good as well and I am not kidding when I tell you that my entire family was able to snack on one.

Second favorite of the festival? Lowcountry kettle corn. I need to find a website for them, because this is the best popcorn ever. It is somehow sweet and salty at the same time. We came home with a big bag. (Speaking of which I need to find that before someone else eats it all.)

There was art, there was culture, country music, beach music, hip hop, bounce castles, politicians, hot rod’s… I just can’t do justice to the entire festival. The only thing I wished for was a picnic table. I am sure there were some, I just wanted one to magically appear in front of me so that I didn’t have to look for one.

One thing about having downtown blocked to traffic… it was nice. I enjoyed sitting in front of Central UMC and having lunch without cars driving by.

And hey, Big Willie says that he likes it too…

Yeah! The Pecan Festival is tomorrow. I have a pdf schedule of events for you here (thanks to Ashley). You still have plenty of time to register to either run or walk like a nut! The run/walk starts at St. Johns Episcopal church. You should be there by about 8:30 a.m. and it is a great way to kick start the day!

We usually move throughout the festival without a plan. I know that we will watch the Masterworks Choir at Central UMC at 1:00. We will probably eat some really unhealthy food before the concert and just wander around. I would also love to see the Blue Dogs at 2:30. I think the kids would like the Hip Hop performance at 5:00 (and myself as well). Hopefully they will last that long.

There is a map in that pdf as well, so that should help you navigate to where you want to go tomorrow!

LETS GO NUTS!!

Do you like my handy little countdown ticker? (look right under the header box)

Yes, I really am this excited about the Pecan Festival. I have already told you about the years I spent being jealous of the festivals in other cities. We tried to pretend that May Fly was our festival… but as much as I love May Fly, it is NOT a festival. Festivals are every year and have the word “festival.” May Fly is in a separate category of Florence awesomeness.

I decided today is the day to start counting down to the festival. Please email me if you have something specific you would like for me to highlight. If you are curious about WHY I chose that particular icon– it is because I will be Running Like a Nut. Hopefully, I will be passing YOU. (Here is the application front and application back if you need it!)

I received a nice email from George Jebaily, the Chairman of the Pecan Festival Committee, filled with details. It took me 72 hours to link these businesses, so please for the love of all that is holy– click through and support Florence businesses. First person to click to everyone gets a fabulous prize from me. If I missed a link– email it to me– I couldn’t find a site for everyone. Thanks!

Dear Flossip:
This is a “Save The Date” email reminding folks that the 5th Annual Pecan Festival, hosted by the Florence Downtown Development Corp. and the City of Florence, along with Presenting Sponsor, Piggly Wiggly, will be held all day on Saturday, November 1st, in Downtown Florence. It begins early that morning, with the “Run Like A Nut” road race, sponsored by the Fitness Forum, followed by the festival running from 10:00 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. There will be over 150 food, arts and crafts vendors; a Classic Car Show, sponsored by Newsome Automotive and American Luxury Coach; ScienceSouth on Wheels, sponsored by Roche Carolina and Jebaily Law Firm; an art exhibit and stained glass tour in the Central United Methodist Church; a military display, sponsored by the South Carolina National Guard, and much more!

As always, the festival will be featuring the Kid’s Fun Zone area, sponsored by McLeod Health, with loads of games, slides, contests, a petting zoo, performers and activities for the children, all free to the public!

We are very excited with the lineup of performers this year that will be performing on the four stages, sponsored by Arbor One, Crown Beverages, First Reliance Bank, and the Business Technology Center. We are particularly excited with the variety of music that will be offered. There will be everything from current rock/blues (Blue Dogs); to beach (Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs); to classic rock (The Woody’s, Flo-Town Band); to pop/blues (Clay Brown Band); to bluegrass (Borrowed Time); to country (Barry Brown, Lisa Hudson); to gospel (Sensational Brown Brothers, Men of Vision, Bread of Life, Prodigal Sons); to classical (The Masterworks Choir); to dance (Kelly’s Fine Arts Dance Team, Williams Middle School Step Team)………..and much, much more!!

For additional information, people can go the FDDC web site, www.florencedowntown.com or call 665-2047.

Whew, I am tired after all of those links. How spectacular that so many businesses are involved in this festival!