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.
SUMTER IRIS FESTIVAL EVENTS
Saturday, May 15
Iris Festival Pageant, Sumter High Auditorium, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, May 23
Sumter Community Concert Band, Patriot Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 27
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony/Crowning of the King & Queen, Heath Pavilion, 5:15 p.m.
TASTE AT THE GARDENS with THE FOOTNOTES
Garden Street Stage, 6-9 p.m. (Tickets required)
Friday, May 28
Tuomey Community Health Initiatives FREE Health Screening, Swan Lake Visitors Center, 9-11 a.m. (Hypertension, Cholesterol, Diabetes--Requires 12-hour fast)
Saturday, May 29
7th Annual Shriner’s Day Parade, 9 a.m.
Time-Warner Youth & Adult Chalk Art Competition, hosted by Sumter High School National Art Honor Society. Swan Lake Tennis Court Area, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
FREE Quick Start Tennis Clinic, grounds in front of CW47 Main Stage (Garden Street Entrance), 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
“Kids Connection” sponsored by SAFE KIDS Sumter County/Kiwanis Kids Fingerprinting, Heath Gardens, 12 - 5 p.m.
Iris Festival Flower Show
Alice Boyle Garden Center, 2-5 p.m., Sunday 2-4 p.m.
Children’s Pet Show hosted by the SPCA, sponsored by King Feed, Heath Pavilion, 4:30 p.m. (Registration at 4 p.m.) Please remember, pets are not allowed inside the main gardens.
Sunday, May 30
Diaper Derby & Parade, hosted and sponsored by Dreamworks Dance Academy. Proceeds benefit Camp Tracy. Main Stage, 3 p.m.
Ongoing Events, May 28-30
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday
1 to 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” Children’s Area
· Children’s Art in the Park, hosted by the Sumter County Gallery of Art (Fri.
12-5, Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-5)
· Quilt Show (Saturday [closes at 5 p.m.] and Sunday)
· Sumter Cruisers Show & Shine (Sunday Only)
CONTINUOUS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT!
IRIS FESTIVAL 2010 ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday (Taste at the Gardens)
6:00 THE FOOTNOTES
Friday, May 28
Main Stage (Heath Gardens)
1:00 Local Musicians’ Showcase
2:00-4:00 Blues, Rock and Country
CW47 Garden Street Stage
2:00-4:00 Dupree Cantley
3:00-3:45 The Last Call Band
4:00-4:45 Under the Sun
5:00-6:00 Ray Piazzola
7:30-9:00 RADIO CULT
Saturday, May 29
Main Stage
11:00-1:00 Live Your Dreamz (Presented by the North HOPE Center)
1:00-1:30 Sumter Tae Kwon Do Demonstration
1:30-2:00 Anne Galloway & Linda Beck
2:30-3:00 Sumter Tae Kwon Do Demonstration
3:30 Lunchmoney (Alternative for Kids)
CW47 Garden Street Stage
12:00-12:45 Essence
1:00-1:30 Ernest Michael
1:30-2:30 “The Dubber” & Zach Fowler
2:30-3:00 The Lee Central Choir
3:00-3:45 DB Bryant (Acoustic)
4:00-4:45 Sundown Band
5:00 SEACO Music Student Guitar Showcase (Presented by Dave Auerbach)
Sunday, May 30
Main Stage
1:00 Another Dimension (Reggae/World Music)
2:00 Dreamworks Dance Company
3:00 Diaper Derby & Parade
3:30-4:00 Miss Libby’s School of Dance
4:30-5:00 Indian Classical Music
CW47 Garden Street Stage
1:00-1:45 Empire State
2:00-2:45 King’s Road Quartet
3:00-3:45 Unbroken Circle
4:00-4:30 Enon Missionary Baptist Praise Team
TIMES AND PERFORMERS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR CANCELLATION WITHOUT NOTICE.
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.