An event that is quickly becoming a staple of Striped Bass Festival opening night festivities has a couple of twists this year.
The 4th annual Kiss My Striped Bass will culminate the Friday night of the 38th annual Striped Bass Festival with Clarendon's queens kissing a fish, but instead of avoiding it by raising a certain amount of money, both ladies now need to hit a certain amount in order to make them do it.
Co-local Executive Director Carrie Trebil has upped the ante, as well. If she raises $2,500, the diehard Clemson fan will not only kiss a fish; she will also wear Gamecock colors.
Kiss My Striped Bass being held by the Miss Clarendon queens as a fundraising event for the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.
"This year, instead of having teams and having folks raise the most money not to kiss a fish, we decided to let the public vote with their money for the girls to have to kiss the fish," Trebil said. "I also agreed to wear that other school's colors as an incentive to those out there who would likely donate to see something like that."
Clarendon is represented in the Miss South Carolina Pageant Program in 2017 by Miss Clarendon Cortnie Stuppard and Miss Clarendon Teen Julia Herrin. Both have their own pages for donations: Stuppard's is at www.missamericaforkids.org/donate/cortnies, while Herrin's is at bit.ly/2nZB8LW. Trebil's link is at bit.ly/2oWB5OD.
The deadline for donations is April 19.
"So, we want them to donate early and often," Trebil said.
The event itself will be held during opening ceremonies for the 38th annual Striped Bass Festival, which will begin 6:30 p.m. April 21 at the Clarendon County Gazebo on Keitt Street in Manning.
