K. Lee Graham to Serve as Grand Marshall for Labor Day Festival & Parade
August 11, 2014
CHAPIN, SC – Chapin’s own K. Lee Graham, the new 2014 Miss Teen USA, will serve as the Grand Marshall for the 35th annual Chapin Labor Day Festival and Parade, scheduled for September 1, 2014, at9:30 am, starting from the GIS parking lot on Chapin Road and looping through historic downtown. This year’s Labor Day Festival and Parade is being presented by Lexington Medical Center as the Grand Sponsor.
The Chapin High senior will also be honored in a special ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, at Chapin High School in which Mayor Skip Wilson will present her with a key to the Town of Chapin in honor of her achievements and in recognition of her role as a special ambassador not only for Chapin, but also the Palmetto State and USA.
“We are excited to welcome K. Lee home and are grateful to have such an accomplished young person representing our community throughout the upcoming year as part of her Miss Teen USA travels and special appearances,” Wilson said.
As Grand Marshall, she will participate in the Town’s signature event which brings thousands of residents and visitors to the lakeside community for a day of family fun and festivities. This year’s theme, Hooked on Chapin, should provide parade entries with a number of creative options as they celebrate the many opportunities Lake Murray provides the community, including fishing, boating, camping and other outdoor recreation activities.
In addition to the parade, there is a children’s carnival featuring rides and games on Clark Street, a classic car show hosted by the Newberry Car Buffs in the Mt. Horeb parking lot off Beaufort Street, and nearly 100 street vendors selling a variety of arts and crafts, clothing items, food and knick knacks. The Associated Model Railroads of Columbia will have three model train layouts on display in the American Legion Post 193 (located on Lexington Avenue in the old fire station) as well as information on the South Carolina Railroad Museum and Operation Lifesaver.
The Chapin Branch Library will be holding its annual book sale in the Community Room at Chapin Town Hall (157 NW Columbia Avenue) until 2:30 pm, with proceeds benefitting children and youth reading programs. And Chapin Christian Counseling & Grace Chapel (209 E. Boundary Street) will hold its sixth annual concert after the parade featuring Bob Patterson, Bill Stockdell, Kahn and Deborah Chaddock and the St. John AME Choir.
The Chapin Champions Talent Contest, presented by Z-93 FM the Lake, returns under the tent immediately after the parade to showcase Chapin’s most talented performers. Mike Willis will serve as the emcee for the contest as singers, dancers, musicians and other performers compete for a cash prize and annual bragging rights of being the Chapin Champion in their age division. Then the Southeast’s newest super group, the OTC Band and Show, featuring the Southern Horn Dawgs horn section along with some of the area’s best musicians and vocalists, will perform a variety of music genres including disco, funk, beach, R&B, radio to rock and everything in between immediately after the talent contest. This concert is free and open to the public.
“This is a great day for our community, and we look forward to another great turnout of civic groups, churches, political candidates, businesses and beauty queens along with our award-winning Chapin High School marching band and NJROTC color guard in the parade,” Wilson added. “There is something for everyone and for all ages. You won’t want to miss our biggest day of the year so make plans now to come to Chapin September 1st.”
There are entry forms for the parade and talent contest located on the Town’s website – chapinsc.com – click on the Festivals link. And check out the latest updates on the Chapin Labor Day Festival Weekend on itsFacebook page.
