33rd Annual Spring Fling Scheduled for May 6-8

Come Celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend in Downtown Spartanburg

SPARTANBURG, SC – April 25, 2011 – Spring time is here and in Spartanburg that can only mean one thing – it’s time for a FLING!  Thousands and thousands of people converge on Downtown Spartanburg for a weekend of shopping, entertainment, and tons of fun. Spring Fling will be held in Downtown Spartanburg Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 6-8.  Friday hours are 6 pm – 10 pm; Saturday runs from 11 am – 9 pm; and Sunday’s festival hours are 1 pm – 7 pm.  

This 33-year Spartanburg tradition offers something for everyone. Festival goers can look forward to a professional bicycle race, a nationally sanctioned Cornhole Tournament, lots of great shopping in the arts and crafts marketplace, savory food, tons of family-friendly activities in the Family Fun Zone, the Sparkle City Antique Car Show, an area for teens and twenty-somethings, an extensive lineup of great entertainment, and a whole lot in between. 

New this year at the Fling is The Underground, an area designed for the Upstate’s teens and college age young adults. The area will have an Open Mic stage that will showcase some of the area’s best young talent. There are over 25 local student performers scheduled to appear throughout the weekend. A huge Interactive Gaming Experience (with 17 game stations) and a XBOX 360 Kinect Video Game Tournament will be a key attraction in the area. Other Underground activities include a Texting Competition, paint your own pottery, and more.

Spring Fling falls on Mother’s Day weekend this year, so plan to bring dear ole Mom out for the fun and festivities. There will be various Mother’s Day promotions held throughout the weekend, including specials offered by food vendors.  Upstate Parent Magazine and the Spartanburg Downtown Association are sponsoring a scavenger hunt in which Moms have an opportunity to win an Upstate Mom Makeover Package valued at approximately $1,000. There will also be a Mother/Daughter Lookalike Contest on Mother’s Day.

Event organizers are thrilled to bring back the internationally acclaimed Disc-Connected K9’s – World Famous Frisbee Dogs, a professional touring show comprised of some of the best Frisbee Dogs on the planet. The show was a crowd favorite in 2009 and they will be wowing Spring Flingers again this year.

Trainer Lawrence Frederick and his team of incredible dogs are the most widely recognized Frisbee Dog Team in the world. All of their shows are family oriented; carry a message of fun, athleticism, canine bonding, and promote dog rescuing. Their routines leave even the oldest of children with a smile on their face and in their heart. Spring Fling Showtimes are Friday – 6:30 pm; Saturday – 12 noon, 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm; and Sunday – 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 5:30 pm.

Entertainment is always a highlight of Spring Fling and 2011 is no exception.  Two additional stages have been added this year, bringing the total performance areas to six. We have over 130 acts scheduled during the three-day festival, said Festival Coordinator Jane Warner. There should be music and entertainment to suit everyone’s taste – whether it’s rock, jazz, country, or pop. Festival organizers are very excited about this year’s headliners. Season 8 American Idol Winner Kris Allen will headline Sunday’s entertainment. Other exciting national touring acts that will appear at the Fling this year include We the Kings, Hot Chelle Rae, The Ready Set, The Downtown Fiction, Andy Grammer, Bobby V, & Donell Jones.  Some of the best local and regional acts will be appearing as well. There will also be roving entertainment, including clowns, stilt walkers, living statues, and more that’s sure to please all ages.

If you have a craving for food, you’re just about assured to have it satisfied at Spring Fling, said Special Event and Festival Manager Mandy Merck. We have over 30 concessionaires that will make it extremely difficult for you to decide what you’ll have for lunch or dinner. And don’t even think about trying to stay on a diet!  Food vendors, which are located on Church Street between Main and St. John Streets, will be offering a little bit of everything – turkey legs, crab cake sandwiches, gyros, blooming onions, philly cheese steaks, pizza, burgers, tacos, funnel cakes, cotton candy, and so much more.

Additional areas of the festival include the Arts and Crafts MarketPlace, featuring over 80 artists and crafters; a huge Family Fun Zone offering lots of things to keep the kids busy for hours including rides and free make and takes from The Scrap Exchange (everything is made from recycled materials); Cornhole de Mayo, a tournament that will bring in players from all over the nation; and the Community Showcase, an area that allows local non-profits to raise awareness of their issues.  Festival goers will have an opportunity to give back to the community by donating the gift of life – the Blood Connection will be holding a blood drive on Saturday of the festival from 11 am to 5 pm

We are so grateful for the support of local businesses that sponsor this great family festival, said Merck. Spring Fling would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.  The City of Spartanburg is the Presenting Sponsor.  Other Spring Fling sponsors include: Budweiser of Spartanburg,

Coca Cola of Spartanburg, TFE Logistics Group, B93.7, Magic 98.9, Upstate Parent Magazine, Comfort Suites, Extended Stay Hotels, Owens Lawn & Garden, Select Health of SC, and Home Depot.

Admission is FREE to the festival.  There are tons of free activities as well, including all of the entertainment. While most Spring Fling events are free, be sure to bring some spending money….you won’t be able to resist the wonderful smells of all the festival food!  You’ll also want to shop ’til you drop from nearly 100 vendors who are coming to the Fling from all over the country. There are also lots of children’s amusement rides that the little ones will beg to ride over and over again!

General Festival Information 

Parking: Parking is plentiful all around the festival area.  In addition to the on-street parking around the site, there are over 3,000 parking places in parking lots/garages in the immediate downtown area, including the new parking garage on St. John Street. And all parking is free!  

Pet Policy: No pets are allowed.  Wagging tails and festival crowds just don’t mix. Please leave your pets at home – for the safety of both patrons & the animals. 

Alcoholic Beverages: Anyone wishing to purchase an alcoholic beverage must be 21 years of age and present a valid ID.

ATMS: Several portable ATM machines will be located throughout the festival area.

Portable Restrooms: Restroom facilities will be located throughout the festival area.

Coolers: Spring Fling does not allow coolers to be brought into the festival area

First Aid: There are two first aid stations at the festival – Mary Black Memorial Hospital will be set up at Church and Dunbar. The HERT (Hospital Emergency Response Team) med tent provided by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System will be set up at the corner of Broad and Spring Streets.  Bicycle EMS personnel will also be riding through the festival area.

Spring Fling Information: Look for information huts throughout the festival area. Event schedules, entertainment schedules, and vendor listings are here.

Volunteer Station: The old Sandwich Factory building on Morgan Square will be transformed into the Spring Fling volunteer station during all three days of the festival. The festival would not be possible without the assistance of over 200 volunteers.

Street Closures:  The festival covers several city blocks so numerous downtown streets will be closed starting early Friday (May 6) morning.  (See attached street closure listing.)

Spring Fling is produced by the City of Spartanburg’s Special Events Office.  Please visit the festival website at www.spartanburgspringfling.com for information and find us on Facebook.