Iris Festival Schedule

Download a PDF of the 2023 Festival Map.
Saturday, April 29, 2023

10:00AM - Iris Festival Pageant, Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main Street

May 19-21, 2023

All Day - Iris Jr. Championships National Level 6 Junior Event
This USTA event pits some of South Carolina's best junior tournament players against each other as they prepare for the state qualifier later in May.

 

Thursday, May 25, 2023

6:00PM -

7:30PM - The Phantom Tollbooth, Sumter Little Theatre

8:30PM -

  • Music ends
  • Boat rides end
  • The Taste at the Gardens Closes
Friday, May 26, 2023

9AM -

  • Tandem Health BP Screening begins, Visitors Center

10:00AM -

  • All Vendors Open
  • Petting Zoo Opens, beside Visitors Center
  • Education Day Activities Start
  • Children's Art in the Park begins
  • Backcountry Experience opens, Kids area
  • Kids Scavenger Hunt Begins (K-5)
  • Boat rides begin, Garden Street dock
  • Festival Trolly starts
  • Bill Eaker, Main Stage

11:00 AM -

  • Tandem Health BP Screening ends

12:00PM -

  • Karaoke with Bill Eaker, Main Stage

1:00PM -

  • Backcountry Experience ends

2:00PM -

  • From the Morning, Dock Stage
  • Violinist Martina Williams, Various Locations  

3:34PM - 

  • Fighting for Daylight, Main Stage

4:30PM - 

  • Just Vibes Band, Main Stage

5:00PM - 

  • Children's Art in the Park Ends
  • Education Day Activities End

 

5:30PM - 

  • Believer's Quartet, Main Stage

6:00PM –

  • All Vendors Close
  • Petting Zoo Closes
  • Boat rides end
  • Festival Trolley ends

6:30PM - 4th Fridays Outdoor Concert in Downtown Sumter at the Historic Sumter County Courthouse

7:30PM - The Phantom Tollbooth, Sumter Little Theatre

Saturday, May 27, 2023
Due to possible inclement weather in the forecast, the Sumter Iris Festival, including the parade, will be closed on Saturday. Don't worry though, we will be back open on Sunday!

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but the safety of our visitors and vendors is our top priority. So stay safe and dry on Saturday and come back on Sunday ready to enjoy the beautiful blooms and festivities!

 
Thank you for your understanding and see you on Sunday at the Sumter Iris Festival!

9:00AM -

10:00AM -

  • 17th Annual Shrine Day Parade Begins, Sumter Civic Center to USC Sumter
  • All Vendors Open
  • Carousel Opens, beside the Visitors Center
  • Petting Zoo Opens, beside Visitors Center
  • Kids Area Opens, Children's Playground Area and Garden Street Entrance
  • Children's Art in the Park Begins
  • SAFE Kids Adventureland Begins, Kids Area
  • Boat rides begin, Garden Street dock
  • Mary Hinson Flower Show Begins, Alice Boyle Garden Center
  • Mel Geddings, Dock Stage

10:45AM -

  • Hands on Praise Puppets, Main Stage 

11:00AM -

11:45AM -

  • Miss Libby's School of Dance, Main Stage

12:00PM -

  • USC Cocky @Visitors Center and throughout the Festival 
  • Frank Fickling, Garden St. Stage

12:15PM -

  • Iris King and Queens Introduced, Main Stage

12:30PM -

  • Dreamworks Dance Academy, Main Stage

1:15PM -

  • Sumter Tae Kwan Do, Main Stage

2:00PM -

  • SHS Show Choir, Main Stage
  • From the Morning, Dock Stage
  • Violinist Martina Williams, Various Locations 

3:00PM -

4:00PM -

  • Just Vibes Band, Main Stage
  • Mary Hinson Flower Show Ends
  • SAFE Kids Adventureland Ends

5:00PM -

  • Children's Art in the Park Ends

6:00PM - 

  • Boat rides end
  • Festival Trolley ends
  • Just Kidding Around Children's Area Ends
  • Carousel Closes, beside Visitors Center
  • Petting Zoo Closes
  • All Vendors Close

6:15PM - 

  • Shuttle Buses from Civic Center to Swan Lake End

7:30PM -

 

Sunday, May 28, 2023
IRIS FESTIVAL 2023 UPDATE:  Sunday, May 28 the festival will open up regular hours with vendors and food starting at 10am with varying activities throughout the day depending upon forecast. RtA will run from 10am - 6pm on Sunday.

10:00AM -

  • All Vendors Open
  • Boat rides begin, Garden Street dock
  • Petting Zoo Opens, beside Visitors Center
  • Shuttle Buses from Civic Center to Swan Lake Start
  • Boat rides begin, Garden Street dock
  • Festival Trolly starts
  • Boat rides begin, Garden Street dock
  • Kids Area Opens

1:00PM -

  • Frank Fickling, Garden Street Stage
  • Mary Hinson Flower Show Begins, Alice Boyle Garden Center, 842 W. Liberty St.
  • Sumter Cruisers Iris Festival Car Show Begins, Heath Pavilion

2:00PM - 

  • The Green Swamp Collective, Main Stage

3:00PM - 

4:00PM -

  • Mary Hinson Flower Show Ends

5:00PM - 

  • Festival Trolly ends
  • Boat rides end
  • Kids Area Closes
  • Petting Zoo Closes
  • All Vendors Close

5:15PM -

  • Shuttle Buses from Civic Center to Swan Lake End

 

Please note: event dates are subject to change or cancellation.

Please take a moment to thank our 2023 Iris Festival Sponsors!