COUNTY — Some of the recent days of September have brought with them a wonderful, fall-like feeling in their breezes. Pickens County certainly has a lot of natural beauty to boast during this time of year, and with cooler temperatures, fall seems the perfect time to be enjoying the outdoors.

All over Pickens County there are fantastic opportunities to spend time with family and friends, while simultaneously enjoying amazing autumn weather and the natural splendor this county has to offer.

As always, perhaps the biggest fall event in all of Pickens County will be the 34th annual Pumpkin Festival in Pumpkintown. The festival, scheduled annually for the second Saturday in October, will be held October 13. Beginning with a parade at 9 a.m., the festival as usual will feature arts, crafts, food, music and children’s entertainment in Pumpkintown. Admission is free.

The city of Clemson hosts Picnic in the Park every Wednesday in September from noon-2 p.m. at the Jaycee Park located on College Avenue. Folks are asked to bring their own picnic lunch, plus blankets or chairs, and Clemson will provide cold beverages and live entertainment.
The line-up of live musicians for Picnic in the Park are: September 12 — Tom Fisch; September 19 — Buffalo Barfield; September 26 — Tony Tidwell and on October 3 — Angela Easterling (a performance rescheduled due to inclement weather on September 5).

Parking for these events is available at the Fort Hill Presbyterian Church Student Center, located at 399 College Avenue and at the Larry W. Abernathy Waterfront Park. The city of Clemson asks that people please not park in the shops of College Place parking lot. For more information, contact program director Jamie Cathey at 624-1120 Ext.16002.

The city of Liberty will be hosting the Fall for Liberty festival on Saturday, October 27, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This family-friendly event features art and craft vendors, inflatables and games, a hayride and history tour, cake walk, live music and an amateur chili and BBQ cook-off. People interested in becoming a vendor at the festival or competing in the culinary challenge can download applications at www.libertyscevents.com. The deadline for vendors is October 15.

Checks can be made payable to Liberty Festivals & Events and dropped off at Liberty City Hall in care of Sue Woods. For more information and questions, contact Lisa at 907-3828 or e-mail vendors@libertyscevents.com.

Hosted by Dunburks Premier Events, the city of Easley is hosting its September movie series every Saturday night through October 6 at the beautifully renovated amphitheater in downtown’s Market Square.
Seating for the films opens at 7 p.m., with an 8 p.m. start time for the movies. Admission to Saturday night movies is free. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Folks are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs for more comfortable viewing.

Easley’s fall film line-up is as follows: September 15 — We Bought a Zoo; September 22 — HOP; September 29 — The Big Miracle and October 6 — Ice Age 4: Continental Drift. For more information, contact Dunburks Premier Events and Conference Center at 423-4344.
The Farmer’s Market in Easley has also planned a fun, non-sanctioned Chili Cook-Off for Saturday, September 29. To enter the chili cook-off you must register and pay a $20 entry fee; entries are limited to 25 contestants. Three people will be declared winners in the following categories — Beans, No Beans, and an overall People’s Choice Winner. For entry forms and more information about the Chili Cook-off, visit http://easleyfarmersmarket.com/or call 855-7900.

From now until September 22, the Easley Farmer’s Market, located in the parking lot in front of city hall, will be open between the hours of 8 a.m.-noon. Beginning September 29 until the end of October, the market hours will be 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fruits and vegetables currently in season include tomatoes, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, okra, corn, peas, green beans, butter beans, egg plant and potatoes.

On September 22, Main Street in Pickens will come alive with a Founders’ Day celebration music and cultural heritage. The free event will begin at 10 a.m. and end around 8 p.m. In addition to a wide variety of musicians and live performances, Founders Day will also offer an assortment of arts and crafts vendors and tasty foods and beverages. Numerous “lost craft’ experts will provide demonstrations on blacksmithing, quilting, musical instrument construction, gunsmithing, and more in Legacy Square. Special activities, such as face-painting and traditional games, will entertain the kids. The new “Turtles On The Town” tour will guide visitors to various historical sites around Pickens.

Andrew Pickens will be there throughout the day to tell of his life and have photos taken with him. Specially-selected vintage vehicles will be on display. The Pickens County Historical Society will display a large model of the downtown monument that will be constructed to honor the city’s namesake. The Hagood-Mauldin House and the Pickens County Museum will be open for special tours. Living history reenactments will be staged with musket, long rifle, and cannon firing demonstrations.
Visitors will actually have a chance to fire an authentic cannon. Hagood Mill will offer an alternative to the evening music and dancing with a unique mill site, one time only, candlelight history tour.

For more information about the city of Pickens’ Founders’ Day Celebration, visit their website at http://www.cityofpickens.net/ or call 878-6421.