June 2023 Council Highlights

  • The Annual Housing and Job Fair is Saturday, June 24 from 10 AM-2 PM at the South Sumter Resource Center, located at 337 Manning Avenue. Family-friendly event with info on legal, medical and other resources too. Find out if and how to qualify for home ownership at this event! For more information on this event call 803-436-2419/2276.
  • We want to extend a thank you to Duke Energy Foundation for their $20,000 donation to the Sumter Fire Department for emergency preparedness planning. This grant will be used to increase the Sumter community's resiliency to major weather events. As June 1st was the start of hurricane season in South Carolina, it's important that we are all prepared for severe weather. In conjunction with the check presentation, Duke Energy Progress also held a Storm School for emergency personnel and community organizations to learn how to better prepare for emergencies. Meteorologists and staff shared the upcoming season outlook on hurricanes, discussed the importance of inter-agency communications, and performed safety demonstrations on the effects of human contact with electricity. Thank you to all who participated.
  • The 2023 Palmetto Pro Open was a huge success, generating an economic impact of approximately $100,000. Over the past 15 years of Sumter proudly hosting this global event, approximately $1.5 million has benefitted our local businesses and bolstered our community. There were 52 players, 25 USTA officials as well as many coaches and family members with each, with more than 90% from out of state and 100% outside of Sumter, staying in Sumter hotels, eating at Sumter restaurants, and shopping in Sumter stores.
    • Around 500 people were in attendance for the entire week, including numerous fans from neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia come to Sumter to watch the tournament. Sumter was also highlighted all week long in the media outlets across the United States and Europe and in many of the countries from where the players are from, including extensive mentions in media outlets in India and Ukraine, where our two top prize players were from. The widespread residual effects of this event place Sumter as a destination to visit for more than just tennis, therefore expanding our economic benefit worldwide.
  • Downtown Sumter Fourth Fridays Concerts are underway this year through September. Admission is Free. Concerts start at 6:30 PM and food and beverage will be available for purchase at local restaurants and some additional food trucks to help meet demand. There will be a few children’s activities each evening too. Bring your blankets and chairs, but no coolers, please.
    • The schedule for bands is:
      • June 23 - The Jebb Mac Band
      • July 28 - Elijah Bradford and the Coffee House Music Revue
      • August 25 - The Footnotes
      • September 22 - Terence Lonon and the Untouchables
    • In a new partnership with Shaw AFB and Santee-Wateree Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the Sumter Visitors Center is hosting a free shuttle from Carolina Skies Club to Downtown Sumter for each of the Fourth Fridays through September. This shuttle is open to all active-duty military and families that live on Shaw AFB. All riders must have a current ID with base access. For more info, contact the Shaw Public Affairs Office.
  • The Sumter Opera House 2023 family-friend Summer Cinema Series continues with admission $2/person and times for each movie start at 10 AM, 1 PM and 7 PM. Concessions are available for sale, but no outside food or drink. The schedule is:
    • June 27 – Lightyear
    • July 11 – Superpets
    • July 18 – Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
    • July 25 – Mummies
    • August 1 – Lion King (1994)
  • Spaces are still available for our Summer Youth Tennis Camp June 26-30. Apply today!

Open to ages 5-13 years

9 AM - 12 PM each day (Monday-Friday)

$125 per camper

You can download our application online at SumterTennis.com.

  • Join us for a summer full of safety & fun at the Sumter Aquatics Center, located at 1115 South Lafayette Drive. Please visit our website com for our Pool Rules & more information.

Public Swim Hours Through August 5 -

Tuesdays through Saturdays 12 - 5 PM

Sundays 2 - 6 PM 

Admission Fees -  

Infants (5 years & younger): FREE

General Public (5 years & older): $3

Seniors (65 years & older): $2

  • Team Sumter is a proud sponsor of a few Shaw AFB events coming up on July 4th.
    • First, the Salute from the Shore Event takes place along the South Carolina coast. The Shaw Weasels take flight starting at 1 PM in Cherry Grove, South Carolina and ending at 1:35 in Beaufort, SC. This event is in coordination with several military bases throughout South Carolina and most F-16s can be seen flying lower throughout the Midlands before and immediately after the event too! The role of this event salute and honor America’s Armed Forces on the Fourth of July by promoting a military flyover that stretches the entire length of South Carolina’s coast. 
  • End the day with at the Shaw Freedom Bash. This event is open to anyone with base access and their guests. The free event hosts a carnival, food trucks, rides, and music starting at 5 PM, and Fireworks at 10PM.
  • Team Sumter will also host fireworks in the park at Dillon Park on Saturday, July 1, with an expected start around 9PM. Visitors are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket.
  • Our new Insider’s Guide to the Sumter-Shaw Community is out in print now. This magazine replaces our older visitors guide and was designed and produced by our own Tourism department. The publication be marketed across the US and world to encourage more visitors and aid in relocation efforts through the Shaw Weasel Welcome and US ARCENT Newcomers events. The PDF guide is also available online as well as lots of more details and information at com.

We will not host a meeting on the first Tuesday of July, due to the holiday, but our July regularly scheduled City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Tuesday, July 18th at 5:30 PM. If you can’t make a meeting public comments may also be submitted online anytime through our website at www.sumtersc.gov/council/meetings, or city residents can contact the Mayor or their Council Representative any time prior to any meeting to discuss a concern or idea.

For more events around Sumter visit at www.LoveSumter.com.