A longtime Clarendon County tradition returns this weekend as the Puddin’ Swamp Festival brings three days of rides, music, food and hometown fun back to Turbeville from Friday, April 17, through Sunday, April 19.
While many of the festival’s favorite traditions remain in place, organizers say this year’s event will look a little different due to construction at the future Turbeville library site, which has long served as the heart of the festival grounds.
This year, the festival will be centered on the green space near the intersection of U.S. 301 and U.S. 378, between Dollar General and McLeod Health Turbeville. Festival co-chair Jennifer Powell said the main stage and carnival rides will be set up in the green space in front of the medical offices, with vendors nearby and the car, truck and bike show located behind Dollar General.
“The best place to come in for parking will be off 378 at the post office,” Powell said.
The festival opens Friday at 5:30 p.m., with carnival rides from 6-10 p.m. and live music by Chocolate Chip & Co. beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup begins at 10 a.m. with the annual parade through downtown Turbeville, followed by opening ceremonies, the announcement of beauty queens and art show winners, live performances, the car show and a full day of rides and entertainment. Saturday night’s featured concert will be Jim Quick and Coastline at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday’s schedule includes carnival rides, family-friendly entertainment from the Hartsville Bubble Guy and Todd’s Twisted Balloons, live gospel music by The Jacobs Family and a closing beach music set with DJ Dan E. Lockemy, who will serve as the festival’s DJ throughout the weekend.
One notable change this year is the parade route.
Because of the festival’s temporary relocation, parade participants will no longer line up on Hope Street. Instead, lineup will be on Smith Street behind the square, with participants asked to be in place by 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The route will travel east on Smith Street, turn onto Main Street and continue through the traffic light at U.S. 378 before entering the festival grounds near the post office.
Festival officials also noted there will be no fireworks this year because the event is being held in the area where fireworks are typically launched.
The festival’s car show is also getting a fresh look this year through a partnership with the Palmetto Cruisers of Florence, who are expanding the event to include cars, trucks, bikes and trikes across a wide range of classes. Registration is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Powell said the committee has also worked to keep the vendor lineup varied while bringing in some new options alongside returning favorites.
Presented by The Citizens Bank, a longtime supporter of the festival, Puddin’ Swamp continues to be as much about reunion and community as entertainment.
“My favorite part is just it being a huge community event, having folks come back to Turbeville,” Powell said. “Sometimes I see classmates that I’ve not seen in years, who come to town for the festival.”
For many families, that sense of tradition is part of what keeps the Puddin’ Swamp Festival a hometown favorite, bringing residents and returning visitors together each spring for a weekend built around small-town fun, familiar faces and community pride.
