Belton Standpipe Heritage and Arts Festival

October 7, 2023

10:30 AM – 8:30 PM

When the colors of the leaves turn brilliant hues of orange, gold and burgundy, people know it’s time for the Standpipe Heritage and Arts Festival.   This year, thousands of people will converge on the Square in Belton for the 36th year of family fun and entertainment on Saturday, October 7.

Sponsored by the City of Belton and with a variety of events hosted by city partners, the Belton Standpipe Heritage and Arts Festival is a must-visit event in Anderson County.  Admission and parking are free.

What can you expect?

American Legion Breakfast:  (Campbell Street, 8 – 10 AM) — For $10 where else can you find a hearty man’s breakfast including cooked-to-order eggs, sausage and bacon, biscuits and gravy, and grits!  All proceeds benefit American Legion youth programs.

Clinkscales Chevrolet Open Car Show – (Belton Square, registration 10 AM – 12 PM, awards presentations at 2 PM) — Vintage and antique automobiles as well as newer models will be entered into competition for cash drawings, cash prizes and trophies. All exhibitors get to vote on the top 20 cars.  Over 100 cars are anticipated for this renowned cruise in.

Opening Ceremonies on the Main Stage: (11 AM) — Free to the public; the Opening Ceremony begins at 11 AM with the Presentation of Colors by the B-HP AFJROTC followed by the National Anthem.

Live Entertainment: (Main Stage, Belton Square, 11:30 AM – 8:30 PM) — Free to the public; various performances and demonstrations will take place throughout the day. Featured performers are Flourish Creative Arts Studio, Tailgate Homeboys (multi-genre), Fish Out of Water (Classic Rock), The Sensational Southern Echoes of Belton (Gospel), and headliner Clay Page (Country).

Belton Standpipe Heritage and Arts Festival Juried Art Show and Market (Belton Center for the Arts, 11 AM – 2 PM) — Free to the public;  65 pieces of contemporary art representing all mediums and styles are on display.  In addition, patrons are able to browse artwork for sale which benefits the BCA. 

BCA Children’s Art Activities: (Belton Center for the Arts, Belton Square, 11 AM – 2 PM) — Free to the public; youngsters can enjoy creating fun fall crafts.

Children’s Play Area: (Belton City Square, 11 AM – 8:30 PM) — Inflatable bounces and games and model train rides to make every child smile, fee for each.

Heritage Days at the Depot: (Greenspace surrounding Historic Belton Train Depot, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM) — Free to the public, event celebrates our folk heritage through demonstrations and presentations by 12 traditional skills artisans and historical interpreters including a duck call maker, a goat farmer/cheese maker, an apothecary/surgeon, a stained glass artist, a pirate, a potter, a story teller, a Native American silversmith, a zither maker, a seamstress, a brick maker, and wagon train camp cooks.  Sponsored by SC Humanities, City of Belton HTAX, WebbCraft Family Foundation, Anderson County Recreation Fund/Councilman Greg Elgin, Foothills Community Foundation, Darby Metalworks, Commercial Bank, Publix, McDonalds, KFC, Hardees, and Subway of Belton.

BAMA Exhibit-On the Road:  The History of Transportation (Belton Depot, 11 AM – 4 PM) — Free to the public, check out the exhibit that includes everything from cart wheels from Italy, train stock from the Blue Ridge,  and model vehicles of all varieties, all with stories attached.  Sponsored by S and M Auto, WebbCraft Family Foundation, City of Belton HTAX, and Anderson County ATAX.

Axe Throwing and Gem Mining:  (On the Square, 11 AM – 8:30 PM) – Come try your hand at these amazing family fun skills.  Fee for each.

Locomotive Tours: (Belton Depot, 11 AM – 2 PM) Free to the public, Pickens Railway Company will have a locomotive on the tracks for people to view the mighty machine and learn about the newly installed rail system, train safety and history.

Tours of Historic Belton Standpipe: (Campbell Street, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM) — Free to the public, these tours feature an entertaining look inside this historic structure which has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

SC Tennis Hall of Fame Tours: (Belton Depot, 11 AM – 4 PM) — Free to the public.  The SC Tennis Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of SC’s famous tennis stars.  Stories by former and current tennis players can be heard while touring.

BTA Learn to Play Mini-Clinic: (Depot Anderson Street Parking Lot, 11 AM – 2:30 PM) — Free to the public, people are invited to try their tennis skills with the help of veteran players.

Name the Giraffe:  (Depot, 11 AM – 4 PM) — $1 fee to give your submission for the naming of the metal sculpture giraffe as a fundraiser for the newly formed SC Museum of Natural History.

Lion’s Club Booth: (Belton Square, 11 AM – 8:30 PM) — Sponsored by Belton Lion’s Club, visitors can receive information about events and activities while checking out the famed Lion’s Club items for sale.

Craft Vendors:  (On the Square, 11 AM – 8:30 PM)—Over 40 quality craft vendors will be selling everything from handmade items including jewelry, candles, dog biscuits and wood crafts to the latest in styles and fads.

Game Day Hospitality (Sugar Hill Tap House,  Noon – 11 PM)—Ballgames will be playing on the big screen all day so no one will have withdrawal symptoms while attending the festival.  The Clemson/Wake Forest game will be featured at 3:30 PM. Variety beers and wines are available for purchase.

Food Vendors:  (On the Square, 11 AM – 8:30 PM)–From barbecue to hot wings, from ice cream to Boba tea, from freeze dried candy to Asian Fusion, from hamburgers to street corn, and from cotton candy to funnel cakes, there’s so much variety, you can’t go away hungry.

Blood Drive:  (On the Square, 11 AM – 5 PM)—give the gift of life by donating blood at this year’s festival.  Receive a $20 gift certificate for your donation.

Fireworks Extravaganza (Belton Square, 8:30 PM) — Your family will ooh and ahh as colorful fireworks burst over the historic Standpipe to end the festival.

*Events are subject to change due to weather or unforeseeable situations.

Why don’t you grab your friends and neighbors and come on down to the longest running fall festival in Anderson County!