Greer will celebrate its railroad heritage and promote rail safety on Sept. 10 at City Park with the inaugural Railfest from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Free activities and entertainment are planned for all ages and guests will have an opportunity to win trips on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City, N.C.
“The City of Greer really has grown along with the railroad over the years. With Inland Port Greer becoming a tremendous economic engine for the entire Upstate and trains passing through the city capturing the imaginations of children of all ages, it seemed like the right time to create a festival for our community that celebrates the railways,” City of Greer Events Supervisor Ashlyn Stone said.
Greer has forever been tied to the railroad, from its early depot that served as a stop on a line from Charlotte to Atlanta to the Inland Port that is served by the Norfolk Southern Railway.
Young guests will be able to ride trackless train rides in the park, as well as train-themed inflatable attractions. Crafts, coloring stations and an event hall displaying age appropriate train videos are planned inside Greer City Hall.
Adults will have their own video hall with information about railroad safety, Inland Port Greer and scenic train journeys in North America.
The GreerToday.com lobby will include a photo booth with train props and free themed items. It’s also the site of the Greer Depot art exhibition with paintings and photos of the old depot and other rail related scenes in the city taken by the late Curt Tillitson.
Other booths include Operation Lifesaver, the Norfolk Southern and CSX Rail Police, the South Carolina Railroad Museum, the Hub City Railroad Museum and the Greer Heritage Museum. Calabash Wagon will be on site offering food and drink selections throughout the festival.
Email Stone at [email protected] or call 968-7005.