Economy leads to smaller Tobacco Festival, chamber says

The economy has caused Lake City’s South Carolina Tobacco Festival to be scaled down in its 53rd year, but this September’s event will still include a street dance and golf tournament.

The Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce’s board met to review all aspects of this year’s festival, from Sept. 18-20, and decided unanimously to shorten the schedule of events, chamber Director Rita Smith said.

The chamber, however, is planning for the festival’s grand return when the economy improves, Smith said.

“The hope is that we’ll be able to do it even bigger and better than in the past, and we’re even working on that now,” she said.

The festival has had to rely on local businesses because it no longer receives grants or sponsorships from the big tobacco companies, according to a chamber press release.

The chamber said it would have felt remiss in asking the local businesses to provide extra money to put on a large festival this year.

Amid a downturn in the nation’s economy, Lake City has lost its three new-car dealerships within the past 10 months.

Floyd Motor Co., which was a Chrysler dealer, is still selling cars, but Raceway Chevrolet-Pontiac-GMC has closed only months after moving to the former site of Lake City Ford, which closed Dec. 10.

Nonetheless, the festival is “still saluting the men and women who till the soil and we are still remembering our farming heritage,” a chamber press release states.

Fortunately for the festival, it found sponsors in IGA and the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau for the Street Dance, which will fill the town square with music from the Band of Oz from 8 p.m. to midnight Sept. 18.

Last year’s weekend events also included a parade down Main Street, a car show, a fly-in at the Lake City Municipal Airport and entertainment on the town square stage.

This year, town square will feature no festival activities on Sept. 19, which will be a Saturday.

That day, however, the Florence County Disabilities Foundation will hold “Lake City’s Largest Yard Sale” at its thrift shop at 219 N. Church St.

The festival Beauty Pageant also will be held that day at the Blanding Street Auditorium, 125 S. Blanding St.

On the following day, Sept. 20, the Lake City Country Club will sponsor the festival’s golf tournament. Call (843) 373-1192 or the country club’s Pro Shop at (843) 374-3415 for more information on the tournament.

2009 TOBACCO FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Sept. 18

• Street Dance featuring the Band of Oz, 8 p.m. to midnight.

Sept. 19

• Lake City’s Largest Yard Sale, at 219 N. Church St., 7 to 10 a.m. Call (843) 374-2641 for more information.
• South Carolina Tobacco Festival Beauty Pageant, at Blanding Street Auditorium, 125 S. Blanding St. (different age groups at different times).

Sept. 20

• South Carolina Festival golf tournament, sponsored by Lake City Country Club. Call (843) 373-1192 or the country club’s Pro Shop at (843) 374-3415 for more information.

ON THE WEB

• Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce: http://www.lakecitysc.org
• Band of Oz: http://www.bandofoz.com
• Florence County Disabilities Foundation: http://www.florenceco.org/disabilities