Festival Receives State Tourism Award
February 12, 2008
GREENWOOD, SC - Officials from the Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation, the City of Greenwood, and the Greenwood Regional Tourism and Visitors Bureau attended the awards luncheon today at the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Travel for the South Carolina Festival of Discovery to receive the Bundy Award for Tourism.
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“We are absolutely thrilled to receive the Bundy Award,” said Angie Jones, Uptown Manager. “We are honored to be in the position of helping people 'discover' what makes Greenwood County and South Carolina an incredible place to live.”
The Bundy Award, sponsored by South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (SCPRT) honors outstanding local or regional programs in areas of South Carolina, particularly those that involve placing development projects in rural areas. |
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The award is named in honor of Charles Bundy, a chairman of the former SCPRT Commission who was a pioneer in efforts to ensure that South Carolina’s small towns and rural areas participated in tourism.
The Festival began in 2001 under the direction of then Uptown Manager Paula Brooks. The 3 day event celebrates two Greenwood and South Carolina traditions - Carolina barbeque and hash and the unique sound of Blues music.
The Festival achieved record attendance in 2007 as over 15,000 people packed Greenwood’s Uptown.
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The Festival features a barbeque cook off sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). In 2007, nearly 60 barbeque teams from 7 states participated in the cook off.
The Kansas City Barbeque Society is a nonprofit organization that sanctions almost 300 barbeque contests from coast-to-coast. KCBS offers educational programs and consultation services to help promote barbeque as America’s Favorite Cuisine. |
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“I want to personally recognize the support and leadership offered by the Kansas City Barbeque Society,” said Angie Jones. “Our KCBS representatives, Stephen Smith, Clif Welch, and Harvey Hamrick, bring an enthusiastic love of barbeque and a dedication to making our event successful every year.”
The annual Greenwood Blues Cruise held during the festival offers a Blues 'club crawl' at 7 different venues. The Blues Cruise is under the artistic direction of Gary Erwin, aka 'Shrimp City Slim.'
“On behalf of the Greenwood Blues Cruise and Blues fans and artists everywhere, thanks very much for recognizing our efforts to promote this great and enduring music. I can't think of a nicer place to hold a Blues fest than beautiful Greenwood, SC,” said Erwin.
The Festival of Discovery will receive recognition in numerous press releases statewide as well as recognition in “Tourism Today," SCPRT’s e-newsletter.
The Festival will also receive co-op advertising and a welcome center benefits package as well as coverage on DiscoverSouthCarolina.com for a specified period of time. Information about the Festival will be sent to national travel and tourism organizations including Travel Industry Association, Southeast Tourism Society, and/or an outlet of choice by the Festival staff.
The dates for the 2008 Festival of Discovery are July 10-12 in Uptown Greenwood. For more information on activities and how to participate, visit www.festivalofdiscovery.com.
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Below (left to right) - Chad Prosser SCPRT Executive Director, Angie Jones Uptown Greenwood Manager, Charles Bundy former SCPRT Commission Chairman, Kelly McWhorter Greenwood Regional Tourism Director, and Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson
