Iris Festival

Sumter's Iris Festival is South Carolina's oldest continuous festival and is ranked among the top festivals in the Southeast. The 3-day festival includes concerts, an arts and crafts show, a golf tournament, a flower show, a food tasting, the crowning of the Iris Festival king and queen, and a number of contests and children's activities.

Sumter's Swan Lake-Iris Gardens -- the main staging area for the Iris Festival -- is home to all eight types of the world's swans including swans from Asia, Australia, England and South America.

As the festival has gained popularity, it has become a favorite stopping place for bus tours from all over the U.S. and Canada and has been covered in "Southern Living" magazine. The annual event receives prominent news and advertising coverage in major newspapers, radio and television stations as well as on the world-wide Web.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN SWAN LAKE IRIS GARDENS.

Sumter Iris Festival

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

May 22-24

ONGOING EVENTS

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday

1 - 5 p.m. Sunday

· Art in the Gardens (until 6 p.m.)

· Gateway to Gardening (until 6 p.m.)

· Arts & Crafts

· Food Court

· Iris Festival Marketplace

· “Just Kidding Around”

· Childrens’ Art in the Park hosted by the Sumter County Gallery of Art (Fri. 12-5, Sat. 10-5, Sun. 1-5)

· Quilt Show (Saturday [closes at 5 p.m.] and Sunday)

· Sumter Cruisers Show & Shine (Sunday Only)

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

Saturday, May 16

Iris Festival Pageant, Sumter High School Auditorium, 10 a.m.

Thursday, May 21

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony/Crowning of the King & Queen, Heath Pavilion, 5:15 p.m.

Diaper Derby & Parade, Heath Pavilion, 6:30 p.m.

TASTE AT THE GARDENS with CHIEF COMPLAINT, Garden Street Stage, 6 - 9 p.m. (Tickets required--Admission $5 per person [ages 5 and over], food tickets available in $1 increments)

Friday, May 22

Tuomey Community Health Initiatives FREE Health Screening, Swan Lake Visitors Center, 9-11 a.m. (Hypertension, Cholesterol, Diabetes--Requires 12-hour fast)

Saturday, May 23

6th Annual Shriner’s Day Parade, Alice Drive to Sumter County Fairgrounds, 10 a.m.

Iris Festival Youth & Adult Chalk-Art Competition, Swan Lake Tennis Courts, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. (Ages 5-Adult; Awards at 2 p.m.)

“Kids Connection” sponsored by SAFE KIDS Sumter County and Kiwanis Kids Fingerprinting, Heath Gardens, 12 p.m.- 5 p.m.

Iris Festival Flower Show, Alice Boyle Garden Center, 2-5 p.m.; also open Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

Pet Show hosted by the SPCA, sponsored by King Supply, Heath Pavilion, 4:30 p.m. (Registration at 4 p.m.)

SUMTER IRIS FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

MAIN STAGE (Heath Gardens Fairway Area)

Friday, May 22

1 p.m. Doug Back

2 p.m. Kit Polutta & Family

3 p.m. Doug Back

4 p.m. Dreamworks Dance Company

Saturday, May 23

12 p.m. Bill Eaker

1 p.m. Andrew Brock

2 p.m. Hippie Mike

3 p.m. The Ya-Ya’s

4 p.m. Joe Sanford

Sunday, May 24

1 p.m. Monika

2 p.m. Common Ground

3 p.m. Brooks Shumake

4 p.m. Crowns

GARDEN STREET STAGE

Thursday, May 21

6 p.m. Chief Complaint

Friday, May 22

3 p.m. Adam Faber & Sam Young

4 p.m. Neon Candy

5 p.m. Jeff Liberty

7:30 p.m. Tommy Thunderfoot & the Accelerators

Saturday, May 23

12 p.m. What U Want

1 p.m. Within the Red

2 p.m. The Vine Tree Band

3 p.m. AS IF

4 p.m. Farpoint

5 p.m. Black Bottom Biscuits

7:30 p.m. Becki McLeod

Sunday, May 24

1 p.m. Koinonia

2:30 p.m. Enon Missionary Praise Band

Gospel Music until 5 p.m.

BLAND GARDENS GAZEBO

Friday, May 22

4 p.m. Scott Miller

Saturday, May 23

10 a.m. Kit & Darren Polutta with Family & Friends

1 p.m. African Drumming

2 p.m. Dulcimer Group

3 p.m. Charlie (Acoustic Guitar)

Sunday, May 24

1 p.m. Corey Jones & Friends

3 p.m. Acoustic Music

4 p.m. Scott Miller

Sponsorship Information

Sumter's Iris Festival has been ranked as one of the top 20 festivals in the region by the Southeast Tourism Association, and your company can become known as one of its major sponsors!

You can benefit from this high-profile festival and help put Sumter in the spotlight once again. Together we can bring thousands of people into Sumter and hundreds of thousands of dollars into our economy.

For Festival information, Parking & Shuttle information, or to become a sponsor, contact:

Iris Festival Commission
PO Box 1802
Sumter SC 29151
Phone: 803-436-2640 OR 1-800-688-4748
Fax: 803-436-2652

Vendor & Entertainment Applications

Applications for the 2010 Iris Festival will be posted in January 2010.

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