The non-profit Johnston Development Corp. (JDC) has added some new art to welcome visitors to the Johnston historic downtown.

The new signage went up just in time to welcome all to the May 7 Johnston Peach Blossom Festival. 

The artwork is located in closed, unused windows on the side of Maxwell and Halford Pharmacy building on Hwy. 121, which is the second busiest road in Edgefield County.

The signs depict peaches inside baskets and the Town of Johnston logo.

This new art will help dress up the downtown area and is another way the JDC works to improve the greater Johnston area, said Don Smoak, JDC Chairman.

“Our organization decided that the wall is a great location to bring an additional welcoming message,” Smoak said. “It’s another way the Johnston Development Corporation Board has worked to improve the Town. We appreciate the merchants and others who worked with us on this project and our other projects as well.”

The JDC sponsors the Town’s annual Peach Blossom Festival. In addition, the group sponsors the community calendar, recently partnered with the Town on an economic vitality plan, and has donated to the Town benches, banners, a Christmas tree, and other improvements through the years.

Grand Marshal is Paralympic Fencer Ellen Geddes; Scholarship Winner is STHS Senior Taylor Dean

On May 7, the Johnston, SC, Peach Blossom Festival will showcase great entertainment, arts and crafts, food concessions, a parade, an area for children, a cruise-in, and much more. The popular Festival is now in its 38^th year.

The parade Grand Marshal this year is Ellen Geddes, who represented the United States in the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. The first-time Paralympian finished 10^th overall in the individual foil and 11^th in the individual epee. The U.S. team finished 7^th in epee and 8^th in foil.

In addition to her fencing, Ms. Geddes breeds horses through Magnolia Sport Horses in Aiken. Also, she has 17 more Magnolia Sport Horses broodmares and young stock at Maplewood Farm in Johnston. 

She got involved in the sport of para-fencing about a decade ago, after she was paralyzed in a car accident. She is now the top para-fencer in the United States in her category in both foil and epee, as well as the captain of the U.S. Women’s para-fencing team.  

She’s ranked 8^th worldwide in the combination ranking of her weapons and has been on the international circuit since 2013, getting gold medals at multiple North American cups and bronze at an edition of the Montreal World Cup.

Robert Herlong Scholarship

This year, the Robert H. Herlong Scholarship Award winner is Taylor Dean.

Taylor is the Student Body President at Strom Thurmond High School. She plans to attend Lander University.

She is extremely active in the community. She has raise thousands of dollars for the Ronald McDonald House through her families “gigantic” Christmas light display. She has also taken photos of the STHS baseball team players at no charge as a service to the players and their families.

Taylor is also a competitive swimmer for STHS, holding five records for the school and two for the region. Because of her love of swimming, she believes everyone should learn to swim, which is why she has provided swim lessons to families free of charge.

In addition, she assists with Special Olympics and Project Unify as additional outreach to her community. She was also one of two delegates for Palmetto Girls State.

The Festival begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, when crafters and food vendors open and entertainment begins. The parade is held at 10:30 a.m. A Cruise In will bring in many vehicles for participants to enjoy. The cars will be available for viewing after the parade through about 3 p.m. in the parking lot of All About Performance (formerly Jim Satcher Motors).

This year, Unique D-Zigns is featuring a “Fashion Stroll” in front of its store at 414 Calhoun St. in downtown Johnston at 3:30 p.m.

All events are held in historic downtown Johnston.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T. 

Other Corporate Sponsors are Generac, Vyve Broadband, Edgefield County Health Care, J.W. Yonce and Sons, NAPA of Johnston/Edgefield, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, Herlong Ford, National Wild Turkey Federation, KJs Market, SRP Federal Credit Union, and First Citizens Bank, Johnston.

This year’s Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Dr. Hugh Morgan Family Practice, Moorecraft Cabinets, Trantech Radiator Products, Pendarvis Chevrolet, and Titan Farms.

Thousands of patrons descended on Johnston each year to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area. Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to remind citizens about the peach industry and to open its arms to visitors. 

The Johnston Development Corporation, a non-profit volunteer organization, sponsors the Festival. The Corporation works to aid the community in areas such as economic development, education, recreation, historic preservation, tourism, scientific and cultural opportunities, and continued promotion of Johnston.

The Johnston Development Corporation (JDC) is sponsoring its second of three Community Concerts in the Park in Johnston on May 6.

The Concerts, which will be held 7-8 p.m., are free and open to the public, and will be held in Mims Park in front of Johnston Elementary School. The concerts are designed to present a diversity of music for concert-goers to enjoy.

Performing at the Concert on Friday, May 6 (the night before the Johnston Peach Blossom Festival): Cedar Creek Church, Ridge Campus. You wanted gospel music, so here it is! Come and enjoy hearing about the soul-saving music about Jesus. God is good!

These concerts will be held rain or shine. In case of rain, the concerts will be move inside the Johnston Elementary School Gym. 

No coolers or alcohol will be allowed. Concert attendees should bring their own chairs.

The Johnston Development Corporation, a non-profit volunteer organization that has helped the Town of Johnston grow in many ways for over 30 years, works to aid the community in areas such as economic development, education, recreation, historic preservation, tourism, scientific and cultural opportunities, and continued promotion of Johnston.

The Johnston, S.C., Peach Blossom Festival entertainment for the day is now set, with a variety of performers for the May 7 event.

The day’s entertainment begins at 9 a.m. with a Prayer of Dedication from Johnston-Harmony United Methodist Church Rev. Amanda Richardson, followed by the Presentation of the Colors by Boy Scout Troop #30, and the National Anthem performed by Taylor Sway Brown of Strom Thurmond High School. Then, the Johnston Mayor will give a welcome, and Sandra Key will sing.

From 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., the entertainment continues with the Abney Family performing, followed by the Johnston Elementary School Chorus at 10.

At 10:30 a.m., the parade will be held in downtown Johnston.

At 11:20 a.m., the band Digital Vinyl will perform. Following them at 12:25 p.m. are the Rhythm and Class Dance Studio, and at 1 p.m., the Robbie Cockrell Band takes the stage. Rounding out the entertainment at 2 p.m. is S&S Dance and Cheer, followed by Aiken Sound Express from 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.

At 1 p.m., the weigh-in to determine winners of the Bass Fishing Tournament will be held in front of the Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce Building. 

The entertainment is free and concludes about 4 p.m. 

Thousands of patrons descended on Johnston each year to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area.  Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to remind citizens about the peach industry and to open its arms to visitors. 

The popular Festival is taking applications for individuals, organizations or businesses interested in being a part of the event in the areas of:

• Arts and Crafts: Donna Livingston, (803) 275-7002, P.O. Box 311, Johnston, SC 29832
• Parade: Debra Aston, (803) 275-2345, 416 Lee St., Suite 2, Johnston, SC 29832

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T. 

Other Corporate Sponsors are Generac, Vyve Broadband, Edgefield County Health Care, J.W. Yonce and Sons, NAPA of Johnston/Edgefield, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, Herlong Ford, National Wild Turkey Federation, KJs Market, SRP Federal Credit Union, and First Citizens Bank, Johnston.

This year’s Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Dr. Hugh Morgan Family Practice, Moorecraft Cabinets, Trantech Radiator Products, Pendarvis Chevrolet, and Titan Farms.

The Johnston Development Corporation, a non-profit volunteer organization, sponsors the Festival. The Corporation works to aid the community in areas such as economic development, education, recreation, historic preservation, tourism, scientific and cultural opportunities, and the continued promotion of Johnston.

The Bass Fishing Tournament and Cruise-In are now accepting people interested in being part of these events at the Johnston, SC, Peach Blossom Festival, May 7, 2022.

Bass Fishing Tournament 

Anglers who want to show their fishing abilities can sign up for the 8^th Annual Bass Fishing Tournament, part of the many Festival events.

The Tournament will be held May 7, the same day as the popular Festival. Check-in is at 6 a.m. that day with weigh-in held in downtown Johnston shortly after 1 p.m.

The entry fee is $50, which includes $10 for big fish pot. This Tournament is pond fishing only and for Jon Boats only. Payback is based on 20 boats on the five-fish limit Tournament, including a first place prize of $400, second prize of $240, and third prize of $160, along with $150 for the largest bass and $50 for the second largest.

Entry deadline is May 6.

For a complete list of rules and to enter, please call Cindy Sullivan, 803-275-2594.

Cruise-In

Now in its sixth year, the Cruise-In has become a crowd favorite.

The Cruise-In will bring in many interesting and exciting vehicles for participants to enjoy. Some of the cars will be in the parade, which starts at 10 a.m., then the cars will be available for viewing through about 3 p.m. in the parking lot of All About Performance (formerly Jim Satcher Motors).

Those who want more information or are interested in participating should contact Tony Friar, 803-640-2593. In addition to vintage cars, the Cruise-In is also looking for old motorcycles or antique tractors as well.

The popular Festival is taking applications for individuals, organizations or businesses interested in being a part of event in these areas:

• Entertainment: Gaye Holmes, (803) 275-4234
• Parade: Debra Aston, (803) 275-2345
• Food Concessions: Noah Peterson, (803) 480-0135
• Arts and Crafts: Donna Livingston, (803) 275-7002
• Corporate Sponsorships: Dean Campbell, (803) 275-3635
• Program Book Ads: Debra Aston, (803) 275-2345

The Johnston Development Corporation, a non-profit volunteer organization, sponsors the Festival. The Corporation works to aid the community in areas such as economic development, education, recreation, historic preservation, tourism, scientific and cultural opportunities, and the continued promotion of Johnston.