Chapin Labor Day Festival This Weekend

Chapin's Labor Day Festival is one of the best-attended community gatherings of the year in the Midlands.

The three-day celebration begins Saturday at 8 a.m. with the annual "Run or Walk a Crooked 5K for Meals on Wheels," sponsored by the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission. The race course is certified and part of the Tour de Columbia.  Participants may register at Crooked Creek Park. Registration and check-in starts at 7 a.m. at the park.

Then, on Sunday afternoon starting at 5 p.m., festival-goers can celebrate with a free bluegrass concert at Chapin Presbyterian Church at 600 Lexington Avenue.

Monday morning's annual parade is the highlight of the weekend. 

Floats begin lining up at 8 a.m. Monday, with the parade set to start at 9:30.

The floats this year will be decorated to reflect the theme "We Are The Champions.” The Grand Marshal is Chapin High School’s mascot Cecil the Eagle. Cecil represents a proud tradition, and a school which has recently received national recognition for educational excellence by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek magazine and The Washington Post.

Cecil is named for the late coach Cecil Woolbright, who came to Chapin in 1968 and proceeded to re-write the school’s athletic record books. Chapin’s athletic program has continued to grow and improve year after year.

There will also be vendors, artisans and crafters lining the streets after the parade, a book sale, a cupcake-eating contest, a car show and more. 

For up-to-date information about the festival, visit www.chapinsc.com or the Chapin Labor Day Festival Weekend Facebook page.