Sumter's Iris Festival is South Carolina's oldest continuous festival and is consistently ranked among the top festivals in the Southeast. The 3-day festival includes concerts, an arts and crafts show, a flower show, a quilt show, car shows, and a number of contests and children's activities. The fun begins the evening before the festival, with the annual Crowning of The King & Queen followed by the Taste at the Gardens, featuring great music and great food from some of the area's leading restaurants and caterers.
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.
VIDEO SUMMARIES...
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Gateway to Gardening
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Market Place
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Arts & Crafts
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Kids Area
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Chalk Art Contest
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PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN SWAN LAKE IRIS GARDENS.
VENDOR APPLICATIONS ARE ONLINE NOW! Please scroll to the bottom of the page.
Iris Festival Taste at the Gardens, May 24, 2012
6 - 9 p.m.
Featuring TERENCE LONON & THE UNTOUCHABLES!
This favorite annual event kicks off the Sumter Iris Festival with great food and live entertainment. Tickets available at the gate for $5 (ages 5 and up). Children under 5 free admission. “Tasting” tickets are available in increments of $1.00 to be redeemed at the vendors’ booths. Come out and enjoy the music and sample some of Sumter’s favorite foods. Don’t forget your lawn chair or blanket and your dancing shoes.
Ongoing Events, May 25-27
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
All Events Subject to Change or Cancellation
- 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
- Quilt Show (Saturday and Sunday Only--Closes at 5 p.m.)
- Head Turnerz Classic Car Show (Saturday Only)
- Sumter Cruisers Show & Shine (Sunday Only)
- One Senior Place
- Military Displays (Saturday Only)
CONTINUOUS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT!
ALL KID'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD AT THE TENNIS COURTS AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
SUMTER IRIS FESTIVAL 2012
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, May 25
MAIN STAGE
11:30 a.m. Dr. Joe’s Magic Show
12:00 p.m. Rob Galloway
1:00 p.m. Crestwood High School
1:45 p.m. Hands-On Praise Puppets (Harmony Church)
2:30 p.m. Miss Libby’s School of Dance
4:15 p.m. Sumter High School Show Choir
5:00 p.m. Sumter Little Theatre
GARDEN STREET STAGE
2:00 p.m. Gene Ray & Company
3:00 p.m. Nicki & DaBlooze
4:00 p.m. Casey Schultz
5:00 p.m. Last Call Band
6:00 p.m. Sumter Community Concert Jazz Ensemble
Saturday, May 26
MAIN STAGE
10:15 a.m. Introduction of Iris Queens
10:30 a.m. Diaper Derby presented by Dreamworks Dance Academy
11:30 a.m. Sumter Tae Kwon Do
12:15 p.m. Freed School of Performing Arts
12:45 p.m. Lemira Lion Golden Steppers
1:30 p.m. Palms of Grace (Aldersgate UMC)
2:15 p.m. Mackenzie Conner
3:00 p.m. Zumba
4:15 p.m. Lemira Percussion Ensemble
GARDEN STREET STAGE
11:00 a.m. Hall & Gibbs
12:00 p.m. Prettier Than Matt
1:00 p.m. The Bendz
2:00 p.m. Topper (The Voices of Rock)
3:00 p.m. Johnny Watts
4:00 p.m. Black Bottom Biscuits
5:00 p.m. The SEACO Music Guitar Student Showcase
6:00 p.m. AS IF
On Saturday, May 25, Roaming Acoustic Musicians will include: Blaine Alan, The Dubber, Frank Fickling, John Boling, Joe Sanford, Brian Oseland and Ernest Michael in various locations throughout the park.
Sunday, May 27
MAIN STAGE
1:30 p.m. Dr. Joe’s Magic Show
2:00 p.m. Doug Back
3:00 p.m. Allison Skipper
3:30 p.m. Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church Flaggers
GARDEN STREET STAGE
2:00 p.m. The Peacemakers
3:00 p.m. Kenny Burroughs
4:00 p.m. Enon Missionary Baptist Praise Team
ALL TIMES AND PEFORMANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR CANCELLATION.
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 keep Sumter in the spotlight. 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 & EVENT APPLICATIONS (PDF)
Seasonal Business License Application
Arts & Crafts (We are sorry, but all vendor spaces are filled)
Iris Festival Marketplace (We are sorry, but all vendor spaces are filled)
Food Vendors (We are sorry, but all vendor spaces are filled)
Art in the Gardens (Fine Arts) (We are sorry, but all vendor spaces are filled)
Iris Festival Pet Show
Gateway to Gardening (We are sorry, but all vendor spaces are filled)
Taste at the Gardens
Chalk Art Contest
Iris Festival Pageant
Jaycees Iris Parade