The Village Group brings community and culture to life at eighth annual Tour de Plantersville

By Karen Owens
Publisher

The Village Group hit it out of the park Saturday with its eighth annual Andy Quattlebaum Tour de Plantersville and the accompanying Abie & Dorothea Ladson Cultural Festival at Plantersville Elementary School. With sunny skies and mild fall temperatures, it was a wonderful day to come together and celebrate a community with so much to share.

According to The Village Group founder and CEO Ray Funnye, a record 337 participants joined this year’s bike ride. The event brings casual riders and serious cyclists together to raise funds and awareness for the organization’s efforts to preserve Plantersville’s history and culture. That turnout is an encouraging show of support for this important work.

“This is our opportunity to come together and celebrate what makes Plantersville so special,” Funnye explained. “We’re excited to welcome so many families and newcomers to today’s festivities as we continue our work to preserve the history and culture of this community.”

After completing their rides of 12, 25 or 62 miles, cyclists joined friends and family for the cultural festival, named for two longtime community leaders who celebrated family, cultural identity and community values. Through music, food, performances and other activities, festivalgoers experienced the area’s heritage and supported local businesses, artists and organizations. To me, the gathering had the warmth of a family reunion—a reminder of what makes community celebrations like this so meaningful.

There was something for everyone, with plenty to keep children busy and smiling. Activities included painting fall-themed canvases, decorating pumpkins with spooky designs, tackling an obstacle course, exploring a bounce house maze and playing pickup basketball. The Vendor Village featured local artists, artisans and entrepreneurs selling books, sweetgrass creations, carved wood items, Gullah Geechee-inspired clothing and jewelry, along with jams and herbal teas from a local family farm. It was a welcome opportunity to enjoy and support the talent within our community.

For those who come to festivals for the food, there was plenty to enjoy. The offerings included the Plantersville Hunting Club fish fry, along with vendors serving barbecue, smoked turkey wings, baked spaghetti, hot dogs, slushies and ice cream. Onstage, musical performances, Gullah dancers, poetry readings and local history presentations celebrated the community’s culture, capped by a rousing choral performance by Lifted Voices.

I also want to recognize the Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation and Tidelands Health for providing vital financial support that helps make events like this possible. Their support deserves our thanks, as does The Village Group’s continued commitment to preserving and celebrating Plantersville’s history and culture.

If you missed this year’s celebration, I encourage you to mark your calendar for the next ride and festival, slated for October 30, 2027. It’s an opportunity to enjoy a day with family and neighbors while supporting the work that keeps Plantersville’s heritage alive.