SPRINGFLING 2008!
2008 FESTIVAL DATES
May 2, 3 & 4, 2008
Friday, May 2,
6-10 pm
Saturday, May 3,
11 am – 10 pm
Sunday, May, 4
1 pm – 6 pm
Share your Spring Fling Memories
We are putting together
a hugh display of past Spring Fling memorabilia.
If you have something you'd like share
Click on the little flower and send in your memory.
Please keep all images to less than 5MB.
Celebrating 30 Years
of Spring Fling Memories
History
In 1979, two local citizens - Bruce Alverson and Craig Lanford – contacted Mayor Frank Allen and City Manager Bill Carstarphen about an idea they had. The two men suggested that the City hold a spring festival. Alverson told them that he sees a festival as “an opportunity to get people out after being boxed up all winter.”
The two City officials also thought it was a great idea and quickly organized a meeting of people who could make such an event happen. A Steering Committee led by City Public Information Director Buddy Womick and the Arts Center’s Georgia Allen began the massive job of planning a community-wide festival in 60 days. The first weekend in May was selected as the date for the festival. A “Name the Festival” contest was held. Roxanne Reynolds of Gaffney was awarded $50 for the name “Spring Fling.” The festival had a budget of about $5,000.
Cloggers, Shriner Hillbillies and the civic ballet all took part in the inaugural Spartanburg Spring Fling the weekend of May 5, 1979. There was a foot race led by The Spartan Striders, some 38 different forms of entertainment, and food galore. Downtown merchants fell into the swing of things by taking to the sidewalks with special values on merchandise – Price’s Men’s Shop had a special on jackets for $8.17 and Carolina Cash marked children’s story books at 96-cents. Other activities were held all over Spartanburg, including the Sidewalk Art Show at the Arts Center and a “rock” concert at the Fairgrounds. Studebaker Hawk, Barney Barnwell Plum Hollow Band, Nantucket and Garfeel Ruff performed at the first Concert that attracted about 3000 people. Rumbling skies threatened rain off and on all day, but the sun stayed. The first Spring Fling was labeled as “a frolicksome success!”
Today’s Spring Fling
Thirty years later, Spring Fling is still “Spring Fling” and it is still going on strong. It is still held the first weekend in May and unfortunately, rain clouds still threaten (and sometimes wash out!) the festivities and months of hard work. Many of the same attractions also remain - great food, arts and crafts booths, sidewalk sales by downtown merchants (a few) a 5K run, and tons of entertainment. The face of the festival has changed in some aspects. Today the activities are all held in Downtown along several City blocks and inside Barnet Park. New activities like BMX stunt shows, skateboarding, gaming tournaments, a Professional Bicycle Race, Cornhole have been added to the festivities. The Fling is no longer just a community celebration – exhibitors and participants come from all over the country to be part of one of the largest festivals in the Upstate. The festival now has a budget of $197,000!
30th Birthday Celebration
In honor of this year’s Fling, a birthday celebration is planned for the festival. On Saturday, May 3, at 4 pm on Morgan Square, we will have a huge birthday party. There will be clowns, dancers, jugglers, music, and of course, cake and ice cream. And what would a birthday party be without presents? Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to bring the presents; the presents will be for our guests! (You can register all throughout the festival to win birthday presents.) Some of the original organizers of the very first Spring Fling will be recognized at the party. Special thanks to BI-LO, who is our Birthday Celebration Sponsor.
Share Your Spring Fling Memories
It is hard to believe that Spring Fling has been around for 30 years. That’s a long time. As part of the birthday festivities, we thought it would be fun to celebrate 30 years of memories. We’ve been busy digging through old boxes, news articles, files and photos and have found some pretty amazing stuff: photos and news stories from the very first festival in 1979; pictures of City Council members dressed up like clowns; old Fling t-shirts, and more.
We found lots of memorabilia, but we just know that 30 years of Spring Fling visitors have so much more that we would love to see or hear about. Do you have a favorite memory from Spring Fling? Do you have a picture when you were in the Miss Spring Fling pageant? Were you one of the performers in 1979?
There will be a HUGE display depicting 30 Years of Spring Fling Memories on Morgan Square throughout the festival. We will have what we’ve gathered on display and sure would like to have your things too.
If you have a favorite memory or a photo from a past Spring Fling, please share it with us by visiting the website at www.spartanburgspringfling.com and clicking on “Celebrating 30 Years of Memories.” (Note: Spring Fling will not be able to return photos. Please be sure to send a digital copy of your photo.)