Taste of Orangeburg: Crowd enjoys community’s flavors

Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association Director Ashley Bryan said the crowds came in waves throughout day as churches were dismissed.

“It’s probably the biggest turnout we’ve had in a few years,” she said.

The event concluded the South Carolina Humanities Festival, which was held in Orangeburg for the first time over the weekend.

Vendors had already begun to sell out of some items early on into Sunday’s event. The chicken mac and cheese and Italian ice were popular with attendees.

“We just enjoy getting out with the public and showing what we’ve got to offer,” said Rich Streeter, manager at Orangeburg County Country Club, which along with Buck Ridge Plantation sponsors the event every year.

Charles and Emma Madison said they came out to support local businesses.

“I was glad the weather cooperated, and it’s good being out and about,” Charles Madison said.

Janice Price said the event was “good family fun” and that she enjoyed everything she tasted.

“I just like the atmosphere,” she said. “It’s a good atmosphere, to be out and about and outside.”

Live entertainment was provided by St. Matthews band The Gaspumpers. Band member Randy McGee said the group enjoyed playing the event and would consider coming back.

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “The weather is beautiful, all these people out here and great food, couldn’t be any better.”

Fellow band member Thom Stone and his wife, Mary Ann, said they thought the Taste of Orangeburg was a good addition to the community.

Vendors also saw the event as a chance to connect with the community, including Laura Castillo, manager at Tulio’s Pizzeria and Restaurant. The pizzeria also set up at the event last year, she said.

“We’re still relatively new in the neighborhood. We opened about two years ago and we still are trying to get our name out there,” she said. “We want to get a deeper connection with the community. We see that Orangeburg is all about community, so we want to be there for the small events.”

This year’s Taste of Orangeburg served as the conclusion to the annual South Carolina Humanities Festival, hosted in Orangeburg for the first time this year.

Festival organizers have said they plan to make the festival an annual event. Organizers are in the process of figuring out the timing of the events held this year to have the best turnout, Bryan said.

Organizers want to extend the festival to six or seven days next year so more organizations can participate, she said.

Vendors and attendees said they were unfamiliar with the Humanities Festival but would be happy to see an annual festival in the future.

“From what I’ve seen, the community shows up,” Castillo said. “I feel like more events give more spotlight to the local businesses and that helps us. One local business drives the other one.”