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Six Mile hosts 25th annual Issaqueena Festival Saturday

Gov. Haley signs proclamation in honor of festival

 

By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff

SIX MILE — According to legend, the town of Six Mile received its name after the Cherokee maiden Issaqueena marked creeks on a ride to warn settlers in Ninety Six of an impending Cherokee attack.

This Saturday, the town will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the festival named in Issaqueena’s honor, held annually on the third Saturday in May.

In addition, Governor Nikki Haley has signed a proclamation declaring May 17 as Issaqueena Festival Day throughout the state of South Carolina.

The festival, held along Main Street in Six Mile, will kick off at 9:30 a.m. with words of welcome from mayor Roy Stoddard on the festival’s north stage near Six Mile Baptist Church, which will also host a car show during the event.

In addition to music and other entertainment, the festival will feature food, vendors with arts, crafts and jewelry and free inflatables on which children can play. The Pickens County Humane Society will also be in attendance, as will representatives for the organization “Hands for Soldiers.”

There will also be a 6K run starting at Ponderosa Park to benefit Dabo and Kathleen Swinney’s All-In Foundation, helping the fight against breast cancer. The Blood Connection’s mobile collection unit will also be on hand, accepting donations.

Following Stoddard on the north stage will be the Blue Ridge Mountain Cloggers at 10 a.m., followed by ‘50s music from OnStarz at 11 a.m. and car show announcements at noon. HotFoot Cloggers will take the stage at 12:30 p.m., followed by Mountain View Quartet at 1:30 p.m. and an encore performance by OnStarz at 2:30 p.m.

On the south stage, the Providence Quartet will begin the entertainment at 10 a.m., followed by the Pickens County Young Appalachian Musicians at 11 a.m. Providence will perform again at noon, with the DWD ensemble taking the stage at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., the HotFoot Cloggers will take over, with the Bailey Mountain Cloggers finishing the day’s entertainment at 3 p.m.

Admittance to the festival, scheduled to end at 4 p.m., is free.