Festival of Flowers wins honors, including Event of Year
February 11, 2009
By ST. CLAIRE DONAGHY
Index-Journal staff writter
Greenwood, SC - The South Carolina Festival of Flowers emerged a winner from the Carolina ShowFest Conference on Feb. 7-9 in Greenville.
The conference drew event planners from South and North Carolina who are members of the association of festival and events for their respective states. The joint conference is conducted every other year.
Excellence awards were given in a number of categories:
* Best Web site in the events with a budget larger than $50,000 category, to the South Carolina Festival of Flowers: www.scfestivalofflowers.org
* Best Merchandise in the events with a budget larger than $50,000 category, to the South Carolina Festival of Flowers.
* South Carolina Director of the Year award to Kay Self, Festival of Flowers executive director.
* Overall Festival Event of the Year to the South Carolina Festival of Flowers.
Kay Self, who is gearing up for her third year at the helm of the South Carolina Festival of Flowers, said she is thrilled and honored by the awards.
“It validates all the hard work by the hundreds of volunteers, the event chairs, the sponsors and community collaborators who make this happen,” Self said. “To be recognized by people outside of our community will bring a tremendous amount of exposure to Greenwood.”
Carolina ShowFest is produced by the South Carolina Festival and Event Association and the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events.
There were more than 210 submissions for awards at the 2009 conference and trade show.
This marks the 42nd year for the South Carolina Festival of Flowers, a month-long June celebration with events for the whole family, ranging from topiary displays, sporting events, art and music.
In 2008, the Festival of Flowers had an estimated economic impact of $1.3 million, with some 40,000 attendees at its events, Self said.
“This festival has so many offerings,” she said. “The community is really taking ownership of the festival.”
A prime example, Self said, is the topiary project that debuted in 2008, involving local horticulture experts, businesses and school groups.
Other examples include the festival’s successful triathlon, which draws competitors from across the Southeast, and entertainment events such as the bluegrass concert, which has secured performers of national acclaim, Self said.
“This is the tip of what’s in store (for the festival),” she said. “We have the ability to make it happen and Greenwood benefits.”
Angelle LaBorde, president and chief executive officer of the Greenwood Chamber, said she’s “elated” the South Carolina Festival of Flowers won top honors as best festival in South and North Carolina.
“It’s refreshing to have industry professionals validate your efforts with an award of this magnitude,” LaBorde said. “We’re often so busy planning and implementing the festival that we don’t have an opportunity to step back and see how its perceived outside of the community.
“It’s a testament to our executive director, the festival’s planning committee, chamber staff and the countless dedicated volunteers who make each event the best it can be. Without their hard work, this award wouldn’t be possible.”
Trisha Craven, chairwoman of the Greenwood Chamber board said, “We couldn’t be more proud of Kay Self and the Festival of Flowers. Kay and her volunteers are most deserving of this recognition. Hundreds of people work behind the scene every year to showcase our community.
“The Festival of Flowers is a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors alike to experience Greenwood through a wide variety of offerings.”
James Kennemore, founder and chief executive officer of SCIT, the company that helped Self revamp the festival’s Web site, and owner of SimplePC, said he is excited about the festival’s Web site award.
“We went back and forth about several design ideas,” Kennemore said, pointing out two goals were to make it “appealing to the eye” and “user-friendly.”
During the festival itself, Kennemore said the Web site included live video feeds for some events, and that might be expanded this year.