Gohper Hill Festival - Ridgeland, South Carolina

GOPHER HILL FESTIVAL
Ridgeland, South Carolina

This year's T-shirt design by Allprint Custom T's and Embroidery

Get Excited about the 37^th Year of the Gopher Hill Festival!

We’re Going Green! That’s right! This year’s festival theme is “Gopher Green! Preserving our Past, Conserving for the Future”. As gas prices rise and the ozone layer thins the Gopher Hill Committee is going to do their part in supporting a cleaner, greener environment. This year’s Grand Marshal is Mrs. Anne Walker, who served 10 years with the Soil and Water Conservation and was instrumental in the development of the Blue Heron Nature Trail, and educating our youth on environmental education.

Our Festival will kick off on Wednesday, October 1^st at 6:00pm with opening ceremonies on the steps of the Pratt Memorial Library with “History of the Hill” night. The evening will begin with remarks from the festival chairman followed by “History of the Hill” by the Jasper County Historical Society. The evening will conclude with tours of the Pauline Pratt Webel Museum and light refreshments served by the Gopherettes.

Thursday night will be a time for all to come out and celebrate “Family Fun” night, starting at 6:00pm on Main Street with the ever popular Pink Tub races, followed by the return of the Pet Contest. The Pet Contest will consist of four categories: Best Pedigree Pet, Best Pound Pup, Best Trick Pet, and Gopher Costume Pet. This is where any pet dresses up like a Gopher tortoise (excluding turtles). The night will conclude with the parade of winners.

Friday night boasts lots of fun with the festival food and craft market opening at 6:00pm. And at 8:00pm it’s time to pull out the shaggin’ shoes as the festival bandstand comes alive with the original Joe Pope Tams and the 14 Karat Gold Band.

The fun continues on Saturday morning with the Grand Gopher Parade at 10am. The parade will be announced LIVE from the clock at the corner of Main and Jacob Smart by the “Voice of Gopher Hill” Mr. Lowery Bumgardner and will be covered and aired by WTOC Channel 11. The parade will include the best decorated float and best decorated bicycle contest. After the parade, the festival craft market will be filled with art and craft exhibitors showing off their personal creations. A variety of food vendors will be present. The annual Classic Car Show and Bike Show will line Main Street beginning at 9am.

The Gopher bandstand’s afternoon entertainment will begin around 12:00pm with demonstrations by Ridgeland’s own karate and dance studios, followed by a demonstration by the Department of Natural Resources. The fun doesn’t stop there! The Gopher “Turtle” races start up at 4:00pm, followed by karaoke at 5pm. The Gopher’s Street Dance II will be held from 5-10 pm with Sunshine Tunes DJ/Karaoke.

At 8:00pm the Grand Marshall Gala moves to the newly renovated Jasper County Farmer’s Market with entertainment by “The Foundations”, known for their hit “Build me up Buttercup”. “The Foundations” are sure to put on a show you will never forget. The Grand Marshall Gala will be an adult only dance. There will be a ticket price of $15 for singles and $25 a couple. Refreshments will be served.

The festival continues on to Sunday with “Southern Sunday” held “after church” on Main Street. Food vendors will be open for Sunday dinner. Bring your lawn chair and fans because nationally known, Ivan Parker will grace the Gopher Hill stage at 2pm with an afternoon of Ole Time Religion. It will be an afternoon many skip the nap for. The festivities will wind down at 4:00 pm.

And let’s not forget the pre-festival events on Saturday, September 27! Beginning with the Gopher 5K Run/Walk at 8am at the Jasper County Courthouse, with registration beginning at 7:30am. And the Gopher Hill pageants at 10am to be held at the Great Swamp Baptist Church Multipurpose Building. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. Children age 4 and under are free. Concessions and Gopher Hill T-shirts will be available.

I guarantee this year’s festival is one you and your family don’t want to miss. So tell your neighbors, bring a friend, call those out of town relatives, and come out to the 37^th annual Gopher Hill Festival. The tradition continues.

Best,

Ashley Rhodes

PLATINUM