2019 Standpipe Festival Features Week Long Activities

For over thirty years the Belton community has come together to celebrate hometown living in the midst of the upstate’s beautiful fall weather and foliage.  This year’s Belton Standpipe Heritage and Arts Festival will combine the best of the past and infuse the event with new and fun activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Featuring local and regional entertainers with live onstage acts, unique arts and crafts from all over the United States, local food venues, and more, this festival is the longest continually running fall festival in Anderson County. The festival will take place on the square in Belton on Saturday, October 5, from 11am to 9pm.

There are many events in the week leading up to the festival. On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Belton Center for the Arts will open its display of over 80 extraordinary pieces of artwork, curated from artists hailing from a tri-state area.  The celebration is open to the public and begins at 7pm.  On Tuesday, October 1, you can enjoy classic rock, favorite covers, show tunes and more when the Combo Kings take the stage at the historic Belton train depot at 6:30pm. Admission is $10 and the show benefits the Belton Area Museum Association.

Belton Depot and the SC Tennis Hall of Fame

Thursday and Friday, October 3 and 4, will be Education Days at Heritage Days at the Belton depot. Over 2000 school children will enjoy interactive and hands-on instruction in the skills and artistry of their ancestors. School groups and homeschoolers will attend sessions from 8:45am to 2pm each day.

Beginning Friday, October 4 and continuing all weekend, the Belton Tennis Association will host the South Carolina Men’s Collegiate Tennis Championships.  Players representing 12 state colleges and universities will be competing in singles and doubles.  Matches will be played at the Belton Tennis Center, Leda Poore Park and BHP High School and everyone is invited to cheer on the players.

New this year is a carnival, with rides featuring the tilt-a-whirl, caterpillar roller coaster, dragon pods, and the gigantic metal slide.  It opens up on Thursday and Friday night, beginning at 5pm.

Activities on the day of the festival are aplenty.

There will be an open car show on the square from 10am to 3pm. Vintage and antique automobiles as well as newer models will be entered into competition for cash prizes and trophies. Traditionally, over 100 cars have participated in the renowned cruise in each year. Visit the Belton Alliance website to register.

After the opening ceremonies at 11am on the main stage, entertainment will begin at 11:30am and continue throughout the day. The Dance Belton at Flourish Co. groups will kick off the entertainment followed by the Belton and Honea Path Middle School choirs. Enjoy blues, gospel, country, classic rock and diversions throughout the day. The Eric Scott Band will finish it off with a street dance party at 6pm.  The Disney princesses Anna and Elsa and Mr. Twister the Clown will also make appearances, to the delight of the children.

Other activities throughout the day include over 80 crafters and business booths, a children’s fantasy carnival, pony rides and a petting zoo, City of Belton fire truck rides, gem mining, axe throwing, museum and Standpipe tours, art activities, locomotive tours, demos by heritage skills artisans, and a corn hole tournament. Food offerings on the square from 12 vendors will run the gamut from fried fish to bratwurst, gourmet baked potatoes and Asian noodles, barbeque and hot wings, lattes, fried Twinkies and Italian ice.

Interested parties can get a full list of all activities at www.beltonalliance.com. Look for the Events tab and click on Standpipe Festival for more information. The night will end at 8:30pm with a fireworks show.

This year’s festival is sponsored in part by the Belton Alliance, the City of Belton, Waste Connections, Clinkscales Chevrolet, and Anderson County ATAX.

Admission and parking are free.

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