Summerton’s annual DuckFest is back on Saturday, Oct. 4, bringing a full day of contests, family activities, and outdoor traditions to the South Carolina Waterfowl Association’s Wildlife Education Center, the home of Camp Woodie. This year, the festival will be held in conjunction with the South Carolina Trappers Association’s annual convention, making for one of the most wide-ranging outdoor gatherings the region has seen.
The day kicks off at 8 a.m. with the DuckFest 5K and Fun Run, where all Fun Run participants will receive a T-shirt and 5K winners will earn medals by age group and overall category. Clarendon Hall’s Saints ClayFest also gets underway at 9 a.m., with awards scheduled for late afternoon.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., festival-goers will find plenty to do. The Children’s Corner, supported by sponsors, will offer free activities including bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, and a petting zoo, with pony rides available for a small fee. Food and craft vendors will be on site throughout the day, alongside crowd favorites such as duck calling contests, laser skeet, and an art competition.
Shared traditions
DuckFest committee member Emily Belser said the partnership with the Trappers Association came together naturally. “It just happened that the weekend best for DuckFest was the same weekend the Trappers Association had booked the facility,” Belser said. “It kind of just seemed like a good fit to have it together.”
Belser added that the contests are part of what makes the festival stand out. “The rice eating contest was new last year, and people loved it—it was hilarious to watch, even though the contestants looked like they were suffering a bit,” she said with a laugh. “This year we added corn spitting because ducks eat corn, and we wanted another fun, lighthearted event for folks to join in and enjoy. It’s free to enter, and winners in each category will walk away with a cash prize and a T-shirt.”
What is trapping?
For many attendees, the Trappers Association’s presence will provide a chance to learn about a practice that is often misunderstood. “Hunting with a rifle is a daytime activity—you have to see your target,” explained SCTA event coordinator Eddie Jackson. “Trapping, once it’s set, can run 24/7. In South Carolina, traps have to be checked every 24 hours, so it’s regulated and monitored.”
Jackson noted that most trapping is done for nuisance animals, but it can also be used for game. “People are surprised to learn that a lot of our trapping is done quietly, right around businesses or neighborhoods, and no one even knows it’s happening,” he said. “There are legal foothold traps for land, and certain water sets that are designed for animals like beavers or raccoons. What we want people to understand is how it works, what’s legal, and why it’s an important management tool.”
That’s why, he added, education is at the center of the convention. “Our biggest goal is to get correct information out and provide hands-on demonstrations,” Jackson said. “Every year, people bring us questions about traps they’ve seen or signs of animals they don’t understand. We want them to walk away with knowledge they can use—whether it’s about protecting their property or just understanding what they see in the woods.”
The convention will include live trapline demonstrations, fur handling, predator workshops, and youth activities led by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Competitions and entertainment
At 11 a.m., the Carolina Dance Academy will perform on the main stage, leading into the noon presentation of winners from the Miss DuckFest Pageant, bass tournament, and art contest. Demonstrations will continue through the afternoon, including Wood Rack Kennels’ retriever demo at 1 p.m.
Festivalgoers can test their appetites and lung power in the rice eating contest at 2 p.m. and the corn spitting contest at 3 p.m., both offering cash prizes. A cook-off begins at 4 p.m., followed by the ClayFest awards at 5 p.m.
Looking back, looking forward
DuckFest was first launched in 2015 by local leaders and the Waterfowl Association, with support from the Summerton Chamber of Commerce. For co-founder Mac Bagnal, the festival’s growth has been about more than outdoor sports. “We wanted to have something our local people could enjoy and also bring people in to see our small towns, stay in hotels, and eat at local restaurants,” Bagnal said. “It’s the fellowship and family atmosphere that makes it special.”
Bagnal said moving the event from downtown Summerton to the gated Wildlife Education Center improved safety, parking, and space. “People have told me it feels a lot safer for families — they can let their kids run around and know they’re contained,” he said.
This year’s event continues the festival’s tradition of giving back, with proceeds supporting Summerton community events and outdoor projects such as wood duck box installations.
Admission and parking are free. Sponsors include The Waterfowl Company, Brunson’s Pharmacy, Rigby Oil Co., Best Western, Bagnal’s Lawn Service, AAA Well Drilling, Walker Tire, Summerton Drugs, and Kitty’s Bounce House.
