File photo from 2019 festival

Fort Mill’s award-winning S.C. Strawberry Festival will shrink to just a single day this May, according to city officials.

That’s because of construction taking place in Walter Y. Elisha Park with the new amphitheater, according to Jacona Hester, who has replaced Caroline Hasty as the town’s events coordinator. The festival will take place on Saturday, May 2, and will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 10 p.m.

“Due to upcoming construction scheduled for a portion of Walter Y Elisha Park, as well as the temporary closure of Old Nation Road, the Town decided to move the annual event to a one-day festival because of space and parking concerns,” says a note on the festival website.

One new feature: a S.C. Strawberry Festival 5K, which is scheduled for April 25. More details will be released on that soon.

See also  Fort Mill Police: No charges for driver in death of school crossing guard

There will also be the usual pageants, golf tournament, Downtown Strawberry Jam and Car Show Event, Hester said.

Here is a description from a festival brochure:

“The Strawberry Festival will be preceded by a number of events this year, including: SC Strawberry Festival 5K, Little Miss Strawberry Shortcake Pageant, SC Strawberry Queens Pageant, Strawberry Cup Golf Tournament, Downtown Strawberry Jam and Strawberry Stroll Car Show & Food Truck Friday. This year’s week of events begins Saturday, April 25 and ends on Saturday, May 2, 2020 with the Strawberry Festival. The SC Strawberry Festival features a day of entertainment, eating contests, food, vendors, rides, fireworks, strawberries and so much more!”

Greg "Ricky Bobby" Rickabaugh has lived in the Fort Mill and York County community since 2006. He has covered the area while a reporter for The Charlotte Observer and a freelance writer for The Fort Mill...