Summerville Journal Scene
Due to a town ordinance designed with public safety in mind, pets are not allowed at the festival.
“We all love our pets, but please leave them at home,” Summerville YMCA Marketing and HR Director Liz Graham said. “We want them to be safe and out of the sun, plus we want the many who attend the event to be safe as well. Thank you so much for your understanding of this town mandate.”
Strollers are also banned because they can block festival pathways, many of which are very narrow. Other than that, the festival is a great place for a family outing and includes numerous things appealing to children.
Located jus off the main path, Main Street, the Kid’s Jubilee offers rides and other fun designed for young festivalgoers. Several vendors offer entertainment and toys that are usually a hit with the younger crowd.
Kid Stuff
Proclaim – Crossroads Community Church will have skits, clowns, face painting, various acts of entertainment. Located just across from the Kid’s Jubilee.
Kerry Dortch, The Puppet Farm, presents shows continuously featuring his handmade puppets. His booth is in the park just past the hut and the tennis courts.
The Little Blue Choo – Engineer Rick takes adults and their kiddos on a little tour (for a minimal fee). The train “depot” is on 6th Street near Main.
Diana Shockey, a new arts and crafts vendor, will have bubble makers and bubble wands for kids to try out. Her company is The Bubble Makers and her booth location will be on Main Street.
Get the kids silhouette drawn by new arts and crafts vendor Keith Donaldson, located on Main Street.
The YMCA booth, located in the parking lot of the Cuthbert Center, will have free balloons available.
Kids can get their rubberband slingshots, marshmallow guns and wooden toys from Karen Patillo/The Family Affair, Jolly Nichols/Jolly’s Toys and Tom Greene/Creekside Heirlooms.
Face painters at the festival include Dave Washburn (he also does caricatures) and Face Painting by Donnie.
Mothers and More will offer a nursing station with privacy screens and diaper changing station behind the Cuthbert Community Center. The diaper changing station will have free diapers and wipes while supplies last.
Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.
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If you are going to ban stroller, then you might as well say goodbye to 90% of your business. Moms with kids are who buy the monogrammed things for kids, and the wooden pop guns, and the snow cones. That is an absolute outrage. The YMCA needs to rethink this...I went on Friday and nothing happened and I had my 9month old son and DARED someone to say something to me about it. Hope this stabs the YMCA in the foot!!!
Posted by: Ashley
I think the ban on strollers is a joke. I have come to the festival for over 10 years but will boycott it this year since I am banned from taking my 17 month old great grandson.
Posted by: Julie
I am going to pick up my grandson and his stroller. I will go to the festival and HOPE that I am hassled or asked to leave. This is public property that my taxes pay for. I have already contacted my attorney to advise her of my intent. The Town of Summerville will need to get the checkbook out.
Posted by: Randall
I agree with Mrs. Ware. For an organization that does so much for children, I can't believe they are doing something that will keep a lot of children, not to mention adults, from being able to go to the Flowertown festival. I am a Mother and a Grandmother and have been going to the Flowertown festival for many, many, years and I don't ever remember having a problem with anyone pushing their child in a stroller. I know that if I had to carry my child or grandchild the whole time I was there, I probably woundnt't go. How can you carry a child, a diaper bag, that toy or blanket they can't live without, and shop at the same time???? How could you buy anything of any size and be able to carry it too?? I really don't understand this decision. I hope the Y will rethink this and change their minds..
I also agree that this article deserves it's own title and not buried under the "no pets" heading. People without pets probably wouldn't even read it... A lot of people are going to show up this weekend with their strollers because they didn't see the article and what then, will they be asked to leave????
Posted by: Harriet
The Azalea Festival is known to be a family event to raise money for childrens' activities through the YMCA. It is asking alot for someone to bring a small child or baby to the festival and carry everything that is necessary while out for an extended period of time. Strollers are no different than wheel chairs or any other rolling device to help people who can't walk for long periods of time or for parents who need a helping hand to hold everything. The walkways may be narrow but most people understand if you have a stroller. The decision to bann strollers does not seem to be a wise decision in my opinion. How will this bann be inforced? I have been attending the festival for over 20 years and never been annoyed by someone with a stroller. The safety issue of children under 3 in such a large crowd is also of concern to me. It is difficult for a family with several small children to enjoy the festival under these circumstances. The YMCA is raising money for childrens' activities and programs but asking parents to spend their money in support while unable to enjoy an event. I also think this article deserves it's own title. The information about the bann being placed in the fourth paragraph of an article about not bringing pets seems to be an inappropriate way to notify the public.
Posted by: Elizabeth Ware