Jim Fair
A new banner stretching across Trade Street at Poinsett Street signals the Family Fest is a free event in downtown Greer Friday and Saturday. The signage changed when Pelham Medical Center continued its sponsorship with its new brand.
Jim Fair
Streets in downtown Greer will be closed Friday morning through 2 a.m. Sunday morning. The street closings are here.
• See MTB: 'We're going to rock the lawn.'
Organizers were putting on the finishing touches Thursday afternoon, just 24 hours before the 30th annual Pelham Medical Center Family Fest begins in downtown Greer.
The weather forecast is near perfect for both days with high temperatures in the low to mid-70s during the day and cooling to near 50 degrees both evenings. The best news is there is virtually no chance of rain either day.
That means that the Marshall Tucker Band will entertain after being washed out of its performance last year. The biggest crowd ever to fill the lawn at City Park is expected. More than the 12,000-15,000 reportedly attended last year at Freedom Blast when the Swingin’ Medallions performed in near-ideal conditions.
“Most of the calls I’ve taken has been about the Marshall Tucker Band,” said Katie Witherspoon of the Greer Chamber of Commerce. “A year makes a big difference since (MTB) didn’t play here last year.”
The Family Fest is a chamber of commerce event organized by its staff and hundreds of volunteers.
All events are free. Complete schedules, food, entertainment and children and family activities are listed here.
Rudy Painter, chairman of the festival, is participating in his 19th. Witherspoon is working her first festival. “I am ready for it to begin,” Witherspoon said.
“Everything is going on the day before it begins. We got our T-shirts in, the streets are marked (for vendor positions) and are being wired. It’s exciting to see this all come together.”
Friday’s events are 6-10 p.m. and Saturday’s schedule is 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Greer Idol Season 8 and Teen Idol auditions begin at 6 p.m. and Corey Stevenson performing his repertoire of jazz, country, rap and rock. The East Coast Band and O’Neal Township will follow with performances.